Clutch Kits - which make/supplier?

[mike@thenook]

Now nearing the point where I will putting all back together (I have two blocks built and ready for fitting but just can't decide which one to use yet) I decided to fit a whole new clutch too - why waste the opportunity even though mine has plenty of life left it would seem..?
The problem is that I have a BorgnBeck clutch which has never gievn me any problems at all with judder etc that a lot seem to get BUT when it comes to all our main suppliers none of them have this kit;
Robsport offer an AP plate with an un-named cover (and another make altogether of Thrust Bearing
Rimmers don't say what make
Paddocks don't say what make on the uprated one but again - who by? (They have an AP plate)
LD offer both an AP plate and AP cover but they don't have any covers at the mo'..
This leaves me with one supplier on e-bay (at a sensible price) who can offer a complete 3 piece BorgnBeck kit
It seems that for an extra £8.00 getting an oe make kit with the whole lot matched is just a no brainer compared to the different bits and pieces on offer from the main guys where I cannot be convinced the outcome would be a good one.
Anyone any ideas or experiences? I know there is a lot of chat on judder but i'm particularly interested in who is fitting what and from whom.

Cheers!

[len]

hi
i would go Borg and Beck all the time.in fact i did !
some people seem to have clutch judder with this system ,but i didnt and stuck with it .
pretty sure AP is top quality though

hope this helps
len

[mike@thenook]

Thanks Len, I'm in favour of that too - out of interest where did you get yours, was it a main SOC supplier or from FirstLine (who own B&B) via an ebay shop?

Cheers

[len]

hi
cant say for sure , it was about 5-6 years ago, but would have probably been SOC spares,/Robsport,
len

[mike@thenook]

Ok cheers

[V Mad]

My clutch plate and cover was bought by the PO, so dont know the origin. I bought a thrust bearing and carrier, and carefully checked all the parts were in good condition (fork, cross shaft etc). Bolted it all together and it has been fairly good. I paid no attention to special alignment of bell housing, just bolted it together.

Maybe I was just lucky.

[mike@thenook]

Must admit I didn’t take too much care when I put it all together 20 years ago at the re-build and about 2 years ago when I put a new box in - its been perfect but I don’t want to mess it up on the new one!

[mike@thenook]

Just got some more information from Peter at LD;
AP actually make the B & B parts but the B & B name is owned by First Line - Peter reckons the AP parts are getting too expensive so he may be offering an unbranded cover of same quality with an AP plate. The up-rated release bearing is another make (Powerline I think) but also used by Robsport (and maybe others too) with I gather no problems.
Maybe the pattern parts will be ok, I am certain Peter would not consider this without serious testing etc..

Cheers

[ChasR]

B&B is owned by First Line, one of their depots is just off the M40 .

AP seem to be OK but I have had issues with pattern clutches. The biggest issue is how 'snappy' they are. In my 205 (which IIRC uses the same clutch as the 306 XU engined cars) which has a QH kit, the clutch is way harder to control than the stock or Sachs that were in both of my 306s. Whilst I am ok with this, my two friends (who own a share in the car) find the car almost unbearable around town (I shall admit unless you wish to move quickly things either get jerky or you need to slip the clutch more than one would). I have driven other 205s with clutches more progressive and without being as heavy. An Espace I owned years ago on a Transmech clutch was just as bad (although one can argue with what did someone expect for £50 from a clutch kit!).

More recently the Mondeo V6 daily broke the centre plate on an LUK clutch within 300 yards. As you can expect the garage was far from pleased when they had to take the entire lot apart again (I was warned about this by my Porsche specialist who had seen it happen before, but I (and a few others) have fitted LUK clutches without issue).

[mike@thenook]

I'll stick with the B&B unit then, there's no difference in cost once you take post into account with say a Robsport one which uses an unnamed cover. Sound advice, thanks

Cheers!

[Tony Triumph]

A Triumph Stag mechanic told me to skim the fly wheel face when ever fitting a new clutch. This is to get rid of the metal glazing effect on the flywheel which will cause any clutch to judder regardless of make.

[flying farmer]

A Triumph Stag mechanic told me to skim the fly wheel face when ever fitting a new clutch. This is to get rid of the metal glazing effect on the flywheel which will cause any clutch to judder regardless of make.

I used to have a dreadfull judder on the Stag engined TR which I put up with for years, however when I put that engine into the Estate I realised I couldn't live with it any more. The friction area of the flywheel was covered in tiny cracks with two particularly "burnt" looking areas. I had to have 80 thou skimmed off to get to a clean surface. It cured the judder even though I reused the old clutch

Neil

[Arbman Al]

If I recall correctly Russ fits the complete modified clutch kit from Paddocks. I wouldn't touch the other kit they do, as it has a picture of a Britpart box (not reknowned for their quality)

[len]

hi
borg & beck 3 piece clutch on ebay £137.31 2 year warranty

Len

[mike@thenook]

hi
borg & beck 3 piece clutch on ebay £137.31 2 year warranty

Len

Hi Len,

that's the guy I was looking at and ordered from him yesterday, it's the only way to go..

Cheers