Maserati clutches

lozcb

Member
Messages
12,586
Just had a long drawn out conversation with Valeo head office re their licensing agreement with Maserati , all they would eventually reveal is that they have a life time license and not the usual 10 years , seems were never going to get them or the release bearings on an aftermarket basis , tried to initially scare me off with a fifty minimum order so i agreed and they still came back with no joy ........... definately the way to go with belfast brakes in future , i'll be sending them an old clutch to refurbish and see what happens , original refurb quotes were in the £50 bracket, Frank i'll need your help on this one


regards loz
 

Parisien

Moderator
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34,927
Finished for the day....just chilling.........have to wash the beast.......get her ready for the Irish meet with Dan!!!


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Parisien

Moderator
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34,927
Got a flywheel that they can look at too....plus fire in the release or thrust bearing...so they can see if they can match up!


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sibradbury

New Member
Messages
201
Loz,

Whilst Valeo may have a perpetual agreement with Maserati for the supply of release bearings, other parties would be free to produce replica release bearing without fear of being sued by either Valeo or Maserati. So if we could find another party who would be happy to make the bearings then there shouldn't be any problems legally - I guess its just a matter of finding someone who would produce and sell the things.......

Simon
 

Parisien

Moderator
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Si, there is an alternative release bearing being make, it alleged to be of a better quality, but its the same price.

Lets see what BBrakes say and pick their brains and contacts for starters and take it from there.


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sibradbury

New Member
Messages
201
The other thing that springs to mind is if Valeo and Maserati have this agreement and your only place to buy the OEM part is via Maserati, there may be a EU competition issue. No doubt Valeo may be a little more helpful if they thought that the European Commission were going to investigate matters further.......
 

Parisien

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34,927
Interesting Si....restriction of trade etc.....we will get Dems Missus onto it, prepare the legal papers.....:)?!

I thought there was a limit on these things, ie allowing patent parts to be made after a certain period?!


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NickP

Member
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1,623
The life of a clutch on a Maz seems ridiculously short, surely an upgrade to kevlar would be the best solution? Mine needs its 2nd clutch at 60k which is dreadful, I don't think they are fit for purpose.
 

Parisien

Moderator
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34,927
The Kevlar option had been tried in the USA Nick, I don't believe it was a success....Loz will know more. Some clutches have lasted longer than 30K, plus on other supercars...their lives are a lot shorter!

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Parisien

Moderator
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34,927
Clutch costs..........I believe they recommend changing the bearing every 2nd change, plus flywheel if badly marked.

Complete clutch £ 644,21
Flywheel £ 333,39
Thrust bearing £ 292,83

TOTAL £ 1.270,43 plus VAT and carriage


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NickP

Member
Messages
1,623
Clutch costs..........I believe they recommend changing the bearing every 2nd change, plus flywheel if badly marked.

Complete clutch £ 644,21
Flywheel £ 333,39
Thrust bearing £ 292,83

TOTAL £ 1.270,43 plus VAT and carriage


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Plus fitting.....
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,673
The life of a clutch on a Maz seems ridiculously short, surely an upgrade to kevlar would be the best solution? Mine needs its 2nd clutch at 60k which is dreadful, I don't think they are fit for purpose.

You think that's bad, my GS had it's second clutch at 22k now that is bad.

The previous owner drove it in auto all the time so that probably accelerated the problem.
 

2b1ask1

Special case
Messages
20,307
You think that's bad, my GS had it's second clutch at 22k now that is bad.

The previous owner drove it in auto all the time so that probably accelerated the problem.

Mine had it's clutch replaced at 18k under warranty and it seems the early owners (two) both left it in gear at lights etc... It is not the auto that lunches it its sitting in gear stationary and caneing it off the mark...

I have mine in auto most of the time and overide it when I want a quick burst and go flappy paddle only when I'm playing; which is getting more frequent! I still get it rolling and then floor it even off the lights!

I do have a pet owl in the thrust bearing during damp conditions... it was there last Friday but was gone by Sunday it's very strange but doesn't bother me too much it is just a little embarising when pedestrians are about and it does it...

Seems mine didn't get the thrust bearing done with the warranty work so it would have done 46k now!
 
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lozcb

Member
Messages
12,586
Sitting at lights in gear , 2b1 doesn't harm the clutch at all , providing your foot is on the brake , in gear at idle no foot on the brake will keep the clutch in permanent slip mode (not recomended)



regards loz