Clutch Upgrade Transit Connect

[Brad93]

I've just really killed the clutch in my van on the hills in Sheffield at morning rush hour.

It's 18 months old genuine ford (assuming they did fit one!) and has never had what i would call a good biting point since fitting.

Is there an upgrade/bigger clutch maybe from a focus or fiesta ST (common mod on the older fiestas).

Gearbox Is a 5 speed manual box, quite rare in these transit connects.

Van was heavily loaded this morning with two men and tools.

 

[carbonarc]

Why not give the supplier of the "genuine ford clutch" notification of the failure and demand that they fix the problem. Suggest that you will take the vehicle to an independent investigator if you are presented with reluctance with further mention a "small claims court" action. The time since fitting points to a defect not connected with usage.

 

[Brad93]

Why not give the supplier of the "genuine ford clutch" notification of the failure and demand that they fix the problem. Suggest that you will take the vehicle to an independent investigator if you are presented with reluctance with further mention a "small claims court" action. The time since fitting points to a defect not connected with usage.

Won't get anywhere with that 18 months down the line

 

[8ob]

Competition clutch? Bound to be something in the ford lineup that will fit.

Bob

 

[qwakers]

i did a 2020 connect clutch in 50k miles from having the van delivered to me brand spanking new.

it was the only connect that i had (of 6 or 7) that made it to 50k before having major mechanical issues and being replaced by the lease company.... so make of that what you will

 

[indy4x]

Is it the 2l ecoblue engine?

Will this do do it

Clutch Kit Ford Transit 2.0 Ecoblue - 3000950689-S

Performance clutch kit for Ford Transit 2.0 Ecoblue (V362/V363), art.no. 3000950689B-S. ✔ Uprated Ford Transit SACHS clutch kit for higher demands.

www.sachsperformance.com

 

[m_c]

It'll be a 1.6 PSA Stellantis engine in a Connect.

@carbonarc warranty on friction linings is very limited as they can easily be worn out due to driving technique, unless it can be proven to be caused by something else failing I.e. the flywheel, in which case you'd get a consequential claim on the friction material, provided you got a successful warranty claim on the flywheel.

 

[MetalMonkey]

Competition clutch? Bound to be something in the ford lineup that will fit.

Usually best avoided unless actually using them for racing where you need to handle a large amount of torque, they are typically heavy, have no slippage - either on or off, and they don't last very long.
I drove a a car with a cerametallic paddle 500 miles home with a barely functioning clutch cable. My right knee was never the same again.

Better off with a performance one designed for fast road. Doesn't handle quite as much torque, but at least you can drive it in traffic.

 

[dobbslc]

I'd struggle pressing my clutch down with the wrong leg as well

 

[MetalMonkey]

jesus. I don't even know how I typed that - I can usually tell them apart, honest.
I'm blaming it on this flipping flu I can't seem to shake - that's my excuse anwyay and I'm sticking to it.
Left hand up a trifle...

 

[Robotstar5]

It'll be a 1.6 PSA Stellantis engine in a Connect.

@carbonarc warranty on friction linings is very limited as they can easily be worn out due to driving technique, unless it can be proven to be caused by something else failing I.e. the flywheel, in which case you'd get a consequential claim on the friction material, provided you got a successful warranty claim on the flywheel.

A friend of mine ran a small garage in the 80's, one of his regular customers was the local infants school head mistress, she would bring in her Morris Minor every year for a new clutch due to driving with her left foot resting on the clutch pedal.

 

[Smallfry]

I've just really killed the clutch in my van on the hills in Sheffield at morning rush hour.

It's 18 months old genuine ford (assuming they did fit one!) and has never had what i would call a good biting point since fitting.

Is there an upgrade/bigger clutch maybe from a focus or fiesta ST (common mod on the older fiestas).

Gearbox Is a 5 speed manual box, quite rare in these transit connects.

Van was heavily loaded this morning with two men and tools.

Give Luke a call at LOF clutches. Their main business is heavy duty Land Rover clutches, some of which use Ford engines. He might be able to help, or at least tell you where you might get something ?.

 

[zzr1200]

I've just really killed the clutch in my van on the hills in Sheffield at morning rush hour.

How come you escaped the flat lands of Essex???

 

[Bullet2012]

Take your big clumpy work boots of and try using the handbrake instead of the clutch to keep the van stationary

 

[Brad93]

I'm pushing the van a lot harder than it's designed for i think.

It's a long wheel base version for starters, it has a large roof rack and internal racking being ex-sky so that's all weight.

Then you've got my toolbox at about 40kg.
Just my tool bag with welding bits & bobs must be 25kg. Plus all the other stuff in there and it doesn't take long to start adding up.

I've probably done 30k miles since clutch was fitted but like i say it was never 100%.

It has towed a small caravan around three times too which it does struggle with despite being within the towing limits of the vehicle.

It's a 1.5L TDCI engine - DuraTorq
Same as this - mine is also a 2017

 

[Melvyn Best]

How come you escaped the flat lands of Essex???

Desperation?

 

[Melvyn Best]

A friend of mine ran a small garage in the 80's, one of his regular customers was the local infants school head mistress, she would bring in her Morris Minor every year for a new clutch due to driving with her left foot resting on the clutch pedal.

I can beat that, one of my customers would go through the clutch on his Austin Maxi in 6 months, the last time I replaced it the car was brought in by a recovery truck with the engine apparently seized. I had to smash the clutch housing off in bits to find the thrust bearing friction welded to the clutch cover. Of course he wouldn’t accept it was down to his driving , it was always a faulty clutch or workmanship

 

[Brad93]

The van is still driving, okay with normal weight in it, albeit the flatlands of Essex, can't risk it breaking down when I go up to Sheffield again so I'm taking a different van next time.

I think I will be relegating this van to a runaround soon for a bigger, more powerful van

 

[anto44]

I've done a lot of clutches on these, I use luk kits and haven't had any problems. The main issue with these clutches is they're just small and wimpy. They look like what you'd expect to find in a small petrol hatchback car not what you'd expect in a diesel commercial vehicle.

 

[Brad93]

I've done a lot of clutches on these, I use luk kits and haven't had any problems. The main issue with these clutches is they're just small and wimpy. They look like what you'd expect to find in a small petrol hatchback car not what you'd expect in a diesel commercial vehicle.

That's what i expected, thank you for confirming that. Really a 1.5 diesel has no place in a small commercial van either - the old 1.8 diesels had a lot of torque. You have to rev the nuts off this 1.5 to get anywhere.

See with the old fiestas i used to muck around with we used to replace the standard clutch with the larger 2003~2008 Fiesta ST 230mm? clutch.

Wasn't much bigger but made a massive difference compared to the standard.