I have read in several post that the SC rubber-centered clutch is not good but I fail to understand what the problem is. I am a newbie to the 911 world and would like to understand the problem. I would appreciate if someone could educate me on this.

 

Heat and age and heat result in the rubber becoming brittle and then little bits and pieces begin to separate from the rubber hub and then lodge between the clutch disc and the pressure plate and now you can't "quite" de-clutch to change gears.

Rumor is that Porsche decided to try the rubber clutch as a result of too many american drivers complaining of the noise from the conventional clutch's center springs.

 

Can you feel the problem getting worst and worst over a period of time or does it happen all of a sudden and you find yourself stuck on the side of the road with a broken car?

 

Just for the record: 79 is the last year of the SC having such a clutch setup. 80 and up did not have it. George

 

But that didn't stop them from putting them in the 944...

BB.

 

SUDDEN!

 

Porsche also put them on Carrera's as my 88 Carrera had one. When it goes out (begins to disentegate) you will not be able to shift the tranny while the motor is running due to the debris flying out and lodging in the disk area. I found that I could stop the engine, put the tranny in a gear (usually 2nd gear) and proceed slowly home. Otherwise, you will need a faltbed tow.

 

How long do they normally last? As discussed in a separate thread, I am about to buy a 79 SC with only 21,000 miles on it. Will it be urgent that I replace the clutch?

 

Pierre:

I would replace that disc as soon as you can.

When (not "if") it falls apart, you'll be walking.

Everything else inside there should be fine.

 

My 78 failed in 84 shortly after 40K miles.

 

There were different rubber centered clutches that were used on the SC - Carrera series. As stated, the early SC ones were too weak to last - 40K was doing well, many went out sooner! There are 2 alternative approaches, a) get the upgraded rubber centered clutch that achieves smooth & quiet (American?) operation, or b) get the "Euro-type" clutch. I understand that either alternative is a good solution and last equally long on standard cars in standard usage.

I just changed the original rubber-centered clutch on my '87 (at 95K mi.) w/ a Euro-type, cost was a wash.

 

So my 82 SC Targa should be ok. What type of clutch center does it have? The spring center?

 

So Steve, the '84-'89 Carrera 3.2 used a rubber-centered clutch as well? I assume these are better than the early SC clutches, or should I expect a premature failure?

Thanks,
Sean

 

I have heard so many different things about this. I have heard that ALL SCs and Carreras have them. I have heard that Euro cars did NOT have them. I have heard that between 80 and 83 none had them. Does anyone know deffinately which cars had the rubber centered clutch? Accroding to some, my 81 ROW would have a spring centered clutch, but I have also heard otherwise. On another note, IF my car has one, it has 77k miles on it, and shows no signs of wearing out (yet). Also, my father has an 88 Carrera with 87K miles on it, and no troubles with the clutch. I really see no reason to replace it before it goes, unless you have money to blow or are relying on that car to get you somewhere very important and suspect it to go soon. I don't think it damages anything when it does wear out.

 

I just checked Randy Leffingwell's buyers guide book and he gives 78-80 as the years with the rubber center clutch being an issue. I trust the info in the book to 99%.

George