Offroad-Express

Well the heading says it all. The clutch which started slipping on the trip down from Auckland finally let go. Okay it's still driveable, but any revs and its all noise, stink and funny looks. Gave me afright the other day in traffic but I assumed the gearbox had somehow jumped out of gear (quick dash through some traffic - didnt work!!!) and put it down to foolishness. Today when pulling away from lights the revs climbed quick but the vehicle stayed still (okay crept ahead).

Clutch is only a few years and maybe 30K old, not impressed so will be interesting to see what the problem is and I'll bung a heavy duty one in (or at least heavier duty than whats there now).

Booked in at 4wd Acc so I'll get that snorkel fitted too for the full on offroad warrior look ( - poser car park vehicle that it's used for now, no excuses soon - ).

I guess I will be parting with more $$$ now - bugger, I had hoped it was just some shite on the clutch and it would wear off - guess not.

Rear crank seal leaking maybe?

Rick removed the clucth etc and it was sent off for checking.

It came back as being fine (like new) condition and clamp pressure etc was on the money. Reassembled it and checked the pedal and cylinders.

It seems the last place to work on it (the place that did the work when it was installed) had not adjusted the pedal freeplay (or what ever it is) so the clutch was never being fully released.

My Nana driving style just kept it going and after a while it just started to slip. All fixed now and working great. Got a breather fitted to the gearbox and taken up to the engine bay while it was easy to do.

Snorkel fitted too for that poser value in the carparks in town Ditched the pipework inside the guard and fitted a flexy hose which is routed through another hole cut in the guard straight to the airbox. Nice and simple and less joins to worry about.

Just got off the phone with the guys in Auckland who fitted my clutch. Deny any responsibility and said that the adjustment should have been checked first before ripping out the clutch. Although in the sentence before he said that they dont adjust them when they do a clutch because they are set at the factory (so why even check it then?). Problem is they replaced part of the master cylinder when they did the clutch. I put it to him that when they replaced the parts it would have needed adjusting. No answer to that, just a hollow sounding appology and me out several $$$ for work/labour not required.

Shame they treat their old clients this way because I remember this stuff and will tell my mates to go elsewhere (already have). If they were straight up then fine, shame the cost of bussiness for some is to have their personal morals compromised.

All this diatribe is not about 4wd Acc as I found them to be straight up, its about the place in Glenfield Auckland I used to go to for everything...