It's been a while!
As you may know from other threads on the forum, my clutch started slipping
After much debating, ringing & under-3k driving, I managed to get an uprated Abarth SS clutch, with a new standard flywheel. I was inches away from buying the TMC Motorsport Monomass conversion, until they told me it was + VAT
A few days later, and I'd already encountered a problem. I specifically ordered the LUK Flywheel from Euro Car Parts (After countless emails ensuring it was the right one). However, it came in a Valeo box! :bang:
So I was straight on the phone to them, they can't understand how it happened because apparently Valeo don't make flywheels..
After reading the part number on the invoice, box and flywheel itself, the bloke on the phone agreed it was the wrong one! He told me to just post it back to them, and they'd post me a new one, which of course wasn't good enough; with a slipping clutch on a daily driver, time wasn't exactly on my side! After a while of convincing, he sent a driver with the correct flywheel up to Newcastle to drop off the flywheel at my local store.
What's next, you may ask? I go to the local store the next day, only for them to know absolutely nothing about it!! But luckily after 5 minutes of chatting to the guy on the desk, the supervisor came over and realised they'd set the flywheel aside for me. PHEW!
I'd spoken to a few local garages, including the Fiat dealership, and nobody really filled me with confidence that they'd be able to do the job properly. :bang:
After exchanging a few emails with ProAlfa in Watford, I got the car booked in. The guys seemed really knowledgeable, so that's why I figured it was best to go with them.
Firstly, as I do before any long journey, I checked the oil, tyre pressures and of course gave the car a wash and wax. So here it is gleaming the day before I set off:
Still gleaming halfway there, had to park up at a service station because nature called.
280 Miles and 48MPG later, I arrived at proalfa
Bloke was very friendly, showed me the special tool for fitting the self adjusting clutch:
After a bit of a look round the garage at some of the other cars in there, I signed the papers for my courtesy car (2.0 Alfa 145
) and off I went to stay with friends in London for the weekend!
There were some issues with the new concentric slave cylinder not fitting, myself and ProAlfa tried our best to ring up and get a new one in time, but with no luck. So the old one was cleaned up, reconditioned and put back on. Thankfully no leaks
The rest of the pictures were taken by ProAlfa
Old flywheel & clutch
New Flywheel
New Clutch
New Clutch installed
T-Jet on the ramp
I also decided to have the oil seals and oil changed in my gearbox, whilst it was off, to keep everything running smoothly.
The next day I picked the car up, and after many compliments from the guys at proalfa (It drives nicely, the engine bay is dressed up really well.. etc.
) I was off happily motoring again!
If you've read this far, well done!
