Clutch Kits (Specifically Release Bearing Differences)...

[bacardincoke 44 1 Cars]

Late October 1989 UK registered phase 1.5, 1.9 (128hp) GTI, original engine and no reason, until the contray is shown, to suspect the gearbox isn't also... cars exact manufacturing date unknown.

 

BE3 box - Intention is to change the clutch in the near future.

 

LuK is my preferred maker, due to previous good experience on other cars.

 

Below is a link to their own eCatalogue... you'll see it lists two potential kits.

 

LuK / Schaeffler

 

My interpretation is each kit consists of the pressure plate / disc and release bearing.

 

The difference between the 2x kits is soley the release bearing, with the disc / plate being shared.

 

You'll also see the cut off dates that differentiate one kit from the other are for vehicles manufactured up to 06/89 and from 07/89.

 

Sods law dictates my box (if original to the car) could potentially be either.

 

While the date of when the box's outer casing was cast is May 1989 and predates 06/89, it's not inconceivable it could have been used to assemble a post 07/89 box.

 

The images of the 2 x types of release bearing are from the interweb, so subject to confirmation, but if correct you can see the differences.

 

Soooo, to the question... Anyone found themselves in the same boat and if so some pointers (or any other thoughts) to help me source the correct kit! 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

[welshpug 1,682]

be3 in a 205 uses the bearing with the plastic clips, cross shaft with arm on top rather than the ball pivot arm with a quadrant that BE1 uses.

[welshpug 1,682]

your's would also have the rares of the 3/4 clutch cables used, clevis pin on the pedal, but BE3 at the gearbox end clips directly into the casing.

[SRDT 204]

To know if you have a BE1 or a BE3 you just have to check where is the reverse gear: next to 1 for the BE1 and next to 5 for the BE3.

 

Late BE1 casings are the same than early BE3 ones so it's not really helpfull when you're too close to the switch date.

[bacardincoke 44 1 Cars]

Cheers... so just to clarify (and assuming the box is the original) the 07/89 onwards kit 620 1150 00 with release bearing 500 0327 10 (that's pictured below), is the one to go for.

 

For once I appear to need the cheaper version of something!

 

The cable was the next thing I was going to ask about.

 

The cars current one is of the type also pictured, with that hook on attachment at the pedal end.

 

They appear to come in different lengths (possibly because of LHD / RHD versions) ... most though are advertised as 660mm from tip to tip and 367mm between the grommets.

 

I can't get in well enough to measure my own, but at a guess I would say it's not too far off those figures (assuming of course the correct one was previously fitted).

 

Thanks...

 

 

[welshpug 1,682]

the cable pictured is a post 1990 variant, yours being 89 'should ' have a clevis pin attachment to the pedal.

 

not that it matters.    the length of a rhd cable is around 1400mm

[bacardincoke 44 1 Cars]

Thanks, that's something I always have to take into account with this car... has anything been changed away from standard or from what's expected? Hence the double checking.

 

Cheers for confirming the length, had wanted to avoid taking the old one out just yet, before getting another, but think It'd be wise to do it just to be sure.

 

 

[welshpug 1,682]

its not uncommon to find a clutch pedal swapped for a post 90 variant, MA and BE use the same pedal.

[bacardincoke 44 1 Cars]

Thanks... The car does seems to have had a history of period mods done to it over its earlier years that (prior to me getting it) have mostly been removed / reversed back to standard.

 

Was trawling through Miamistu's site to see what other seals etc. it would be wise to replace while the clutch / box is out.

 

Below are the drive shaft seals (left and right), plus that single one at #5... it seems to have multiple versions that are all very slightly different sizes and not clear which is applicable to my car.

 

Miamistu

 

I'm only starting to delve into the mechanical side of the car, so learning as I go along... are there any other seals or similar I'm not yet aware of, plan is to get all that's needed up front and have the car off the road for as short a time as possible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Tom Fenton 1,569]

No 5 is a shim, used to set the preload on the diff bearings. If you are not changing anything to do with the diff then leave it alone.

 

There is an o-ring that isn't shown on that diagram, that seals the speedo housing to the side of the gearbox.

[bacardincoke 44 1 Cars]

Cheers, different widths make sense then.

 

The speedo o-ring, can't find a reference to it other than possibly this?

 

Miamistu

 

which if correct, appears to be this - 

[Leslie green 130]

There is an input shaft seal in the gearbox , the earlier machined type you just replace the seal inside  and the later type is pressed and you replace the whole piece. There is a paper gasket on the machined type.

[bacardincoke 44 1 Cars]

Cheers... Hoping the input seal is pretty new already, if the seller was to be believed the 'box had received a full refurb. (at a reputable place that's not too far from me), who've since confirmed the work.

 

New cable in yesterday and what a difference!

 

Compared it against the old one (and it was old) but there's no measurable difference in length, so suggests stretch wasn't behind anything... have to put the improvement down to simply the act of taking it all apart, cleaning / replacing and adjusting as necessary.

 

Old gear oil was still amber (presumably having been refreshed post the refurb.) but for all the price of it / ease, mad not to make it routine and that was done today.

 

I've unfortunately lost contact with the previous owner (was 6 years ago nearly), so can't check and there's nothing in the car's paperwork to say one way or the other, but the gear change / pedal action is now perfect and it wouldn't surprise me to find he'd done the clutch as well... so that's going on the back burner for a while, to see if things stay as they are.