fc-racer

Hey guys,

Got a quick question that isn't answered by searching the archives. The clutch engagement point on my car seems to have moved higher in the pedal travel range and the actual sweet spot of engagement has become trickier, more like an on/off switch.

Is this the normal change that occurs due to it being worn or do I need to start chasing some hydraulic or other issue? Given the car's use and mileage, I would not be upset if the clutch is done, but wanted to make sure before I spend money and have the same issue in the end.

Thanks in advance!

TRAKCAR

My GT3 was like that, as are others with perfect clutches.
It's almost like something "stretched"

aussie jimmy

sounds like it's on the way. keep monitoring the feel, if it becomes sloppier, and you feel like you're riding the clutch and there's slurring in the upshift and slippage, then it's time to check it.

997gt3north

Farz,

As an FYI, something I just found out with some researching, the stock PP on the 2007-2008 gt3/RS are 2 strap design - because our car's don't have lots of TQ they are perfectly fine for a DD and also a good amount of track days but they are not super duty track PPs. The 2010-2011 RS got a slightly upgraded PP, and by coincident, about 6 weeks ago when I had mine replaced, Porsche recalled all 2010-2011 PP - they wouldn't even allow the dealers to ship parts that were on route. This 2010 part has been superceded with the RS 4.0 PP which is a 3 Strap design - I believe this is also the gt2rs part (this has to be checked). The 2010-2011 RS with it's 30 more TQ than our car's has apparently had a few too many exploding Pressure Plates during rev mismatches so that is why it was pulled for the upgraded part. Here is the goodie - the upgraded part is $$$ - ie not $500.

Your PP is likely on it's way out - a wear part for a DE car (likely). Your decision is going to be replace with same 2 strap PP which you know will last 30k miles and X DE days or put in a 3 strap PP which will last likely much longer.

Phone Alex at Sharkwerks - he has seen the 2010 issues and of course has picked an uprated PP for their 3.9 car.

I was going to go with the 2010 part number until it was pulled the day of my decision and decided myself to go with the OE part again - only because Porsche was asking crazy $$$ for the 3 strap uprated part - and in another 30k I will convert to a 3.9 and change the clutch anyway.

I see no issues with the OE part - it works as a daily and works for DEs - but it will slowly go as it sees track time as any clutch does.

This of course may not be your issue.

Paul

Izzone

Paul.....am I reading too far into this?

Recalled PP for 2010-2011 GT3 RS? I kno wthere have been probelms

CRex

Subscribed. I've seen three 3.8 RS clutch failures on the track in the past 12 months alone. The weak pressure plate you mentioned seems to make perfect sense...

997gt3north

Randy,

There wasn't a re-call but after we met at Mosport and I re-did my PP, this coincided with my placing an order for the PP from your car as an upgrade. It just so happened, that the day of the order, the 2010-2011 PP was pulled from inventory, they would not release even those in inventory, and a new part now exists - I believe the part is now the 4.0 RS triple band PP. Because of the nature of people not wanting to advertise a PP explosion from a HT downshift mismatch, Porsche clearly has not advertised the issue but after a few calls to locate a PP, the issue came up a few too many times to be a coincident. The 3.8's redline at 8500 versus 8400 for the mk1 and 8200 for 996gt3 has clearly found a weakness in the PP if a poor rev match happens - thus the update to a stronger part that you would see traditionally in high TQ turbo cars.

I also heard from 2 different people who have seen 30k mile driven gt3.mk1s that you can see fatigue in these PP that have been DE'd. From my high HP turbo days, I have a lot of experience with trying to find the right Friction Disk and Pressure Plate that would both hold the power yet be streetable. When I first did the lwfw mod years ago, I was somewhat surprised upon seeing a gt3 PP and FD as they clearly look like they are not Trackday designed. But I was so biased coming from 500tq car's that I did not really understand yet that a gt3 while high HP is really a low TQ car - and thus really doesn't need a PP built for a crazy turbo car.

But, turbo car's don't see 9000+ rpms on HT misses so I'm guessing that the 3.8 car's have exposed this and thus the beefed up part.

Not a big deal - Alex at Sharkwerks puts in similar type PP into his 3.9 as part of the package.

kyrocks

Mine did same (the "stretch") as well at 2000 miles from new. No issues though. Clutch works fine.

drdrank

I know of 2 other guys up in Canada that apparently had a clutch issue.

Should I take mine in for a 4.0 pressure plate?

Been working fine this far.

Izzone

Drive it until it breaks, or until the recall the 3.8 RS PP. I think it is a bad design.

I was having shifting issues and took my car in. They fixed it under warranty, but do not think they did the pressure plate

BBMGT3

I believe you can get some decent stuff from Sach's Design

stujelly

We have a friend with a 10 gt3-rs in our run group who's pressure plate grenaded. Approximately 9k in miles. he said it got harder and harder to shift gears then, wham the plate came apart. Replaced under warranty.

mooty

U trailer your car. look for tilton or sach racing clutch and pp. you do want to beat reter right?

Izzone

Good call

I am considering ordering yoko slicks for winterfest

TRAKCAR

I can always bring a backup set of slicks for the last session..
Hoosiers should be 2:17/2:18's slicks 2:14/2:15's.