Judder from clutch??

zzf00l · Unread post by **zzf00l** » 22 May 2005, 01:09

Xantia 1.9TD 1999
I am experiencing a violent juddering when changing down and releasing the clutch. This juddering seems at it's worse at speed, perhaps changing down from above 40mph. No problem when starting from rest! Any thoughts/comments would be appreciated.
Cheers Ian

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 22 May 2005, 01:36

The more common causes would also be present when taking off from start ?
#1 suspect would be engine mounts rubber.
#2 suspect is an oil contaminated clutch
#3 suspect would be loose/missing gearbox to engine mounting bolts
As a guess I'd say a broken spring in the friction plate could give worse clutch symptoms at speed.

Kowalski · Unread post by **Kowalski** » 22 May 2005, 01:46

My older Xantia did this for half a day then stopped doing it. About 2 years later the clutch disintegrated, the springs managed to escape from the friction plate, that was when I bought a new Xantia. The old one did eventually get sorted out and all is well again.

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 22 May 2005, 03:37

try adjusting clutch,if it is biteing at wrong point dose cause judder regards malcolm

zzf00l · Unread post by **zzf00l** » 22 May 2005, 12:10

Ok, I'll try the easy things first

Check for soft/broken mountings, clutch adjustment and if still no joy I'll try a new clutch.
Cheers Guys

PeterMann · Unread post by **PeterMann** » 22 May 2005, 15:16

Changing down to use engine braking makes sense in racing, where the brakes take a terrific beating, but for almost anything else it is preferable to use the brakes to increase deceleration. Less work, smoother deceleration, and replacing a clutch is about 10 times the cost of servicing the brakes.

Kowalski · Unread post by **Kowalski** » 22 May 2005, 22:54

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by PeterMann

Changing down to use engine braking makes sense in racing, where the brakes take a terrific beating, but for almost anything else it is preferable to use the brakes to increase deceleration. Less work, smoother deceleration, and replacing a clutch is about 10 times the cost of servicing the brakes.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Except when you're going down a long decent especially when heavilly laden where the brakes will overheat, then engine braking is a necessity.

zzf00l · Unread post by **zzf00l** » 23 May 2005, 23:33

Point accepted with regards to engine braking, but I was simply changing to a lower gear to be in the correct gear for the vehicle speed... not for engine braking!