hdi90 clutch woes!!!!

[flyin2wheeler]

so,clutch in the hdi 90 is making a grating noise when I push the pedal down and can feel a pulsing at the clutch biting point so seems to me its about to go off very soon.On one occasion the pedal stuck at the floor and when I started the car,the pedal came up again(weird)!!!
So..im reckoning my pressure plate and thrust bearing is fooked and going to die soon!
Being a bodywork man by trade for 20 odd years,im gonna have a go at changing this myself as im capable at work to remove engines and other associated removals needed in the trade.
What im unsure of is,once I have the box out,is the pressure plate bolts standard bolts or are they torx or multispline?
I think this car has the bog standard clutch and isn't a DMF set up.
expecting all bolts to be tight as I reckon cars a clutch virgin and its on the original one at 112k.
Anything I need to worry about and is it a one man operation?
1 last thing,whats a half decent clutch brand? QH is one brand I used in the past but that was on chevettes and mk2 escorts!

[Welly]

Not sure in the bolt types but most say an LUK branded clutch is a good OE match.

The job itself is supposed to be an arse and take about 5 hours, member jasper5 here has done these before and is a skilled mechanic so may be able to point out some of the pitfalls etc.

Good luck!

[flyin2wheeler]

A pal of mine that's a mechanic says it will be a days work.
apparently some of the bolts are hard to get at but since I now him,hes gonna do it for 120 if I supply the clutch kit.
cant be bad at that.
One question though he didn't know the answer to was if the cradle needed dropped but looking back through posts you don't have to do this on a 90 brake

[jasper5]

Yes, a bog standard clutch in the 90...the easiest of the 406 clutch jobs.
The clutch bolts are torx....can't remember the size.
Best clutch makes are (as Welly said) LUK or Valeo...I've used QH clutches not too long ago that came with Valeo ones in the box, but don't count on it.

A couple of things to watch out for....
On the right hand driveshaft there are 2 bolts holding the centre bearing in that are a bit awkward (11mm spanner size) getting at the nuts is a bit tricky...you have to twist the bolts to get them out.
If you are thinking of replacing the driveshaft seals always get genuine ones...the non-genuine ones don't fit!
Be prepared to replace the clutch release bearing shaft...these can get damaged if the release bearing fails, they aren't expensive...maybe you could get one sale or return if you are in the trade.
Bottom ball joints can be a bit tight to get out of their taper, but just crack the side of the bottom arm with a good size hammer and they jump out.
You will need 2 litres of 75w80 gearbox oil and you fill it from a plastic plug on top of the gearbox...the breather.
Where the earth wire fits on the starter bolt watch out for the starter bolt coming undone before the earth strap nut comes undone...had a bit of drama with that before.
You don't usually need to drop the subframe down on the 90, but if it gets tight just lower the bolts an inch or so at the left side.
Nothing to get worried about with the 90.....good luck

Last one I did took 5 hours.

[flyin2wheeler]

so..it died today ,lol
heading to work after lunch,had just left the house an from 2nd into 3rd,it wouldn't accept 3rd gear or any gear there after
Thrust bering through the pressure plate,no clutch slip.
Managed to get the car turned for home and with the engine off put her in 1st,hit the starter and got it mobile to get it to the house!
couple of moments with oul cadgers in cars as I couldn't stop,only alter speed,lol
had to be forward thinking on the road of other road users especially when I got into our estate!
So,this weekend,very late at night,i gotta take it 18 miles to my pals and using my clutchless gear change technique(I live right beside the m1),il get it on the m1 in 4th and make the trip,lol
Local motor factors prices,luk clutch kit £100 or can get a borg an beck kit £75

[Blubayou]

Hi Guys,

Are all 406 HDi clutches the same? Euro Car Parts are knocking the LUK 3 part out for £86 delivered at the mo.

I will need one soon, but intend to set aside a couple of days in decent weather to get it done.

Dont' want to order it & then find out it's the wrong part in 6 weeks time.....

[dirtydirtydiesel]

Yours is a 90 by you sig so no D.M.F, are you sure it's on it's way out on only 108k
these clutches can easy do over 200k but it's down to driving style & type of course

[Ady1985]

Grabbing a luk clutch kit for my 2000 406 110 with just over 180k miled on as mines staring to slip under heavey acceleration. me and the cousin going to be doing outside the house in a few weeks hopefully, been reading up on it and looks pretty straight forward to do, so a few beers and a bbq on the go at the same time should take us a few hours lol