Planet 9

Hi Everyone,
I have an 06 cs with 35k miles. During the past week the clutch has felt like it has begun to soften and it's release point seems to be higher. Purchased the car with 9k miles. 90% of my 26k miles have been on the highway.

You know the reaction a car gives you when you fail to match revs properly during an up or down shift? That reaction has lessened and shifts have an eery Cadillac like smoothness to them.

Coincidentally, I have an overdue brake/clutch flush scheduled this weekend and plan to have them take a look. Unfortunately, I don't think new clutch fluid will do it.

If you've replaced the clutch, do these symptoms sound familiar?

If it is the clutch is there anything I should be aware of? e.g. purchase kit online ($350) and bring to the shop?

Thanks in advance!

Really depends on how you drive and how the previous owner drove the car. There is no reason a clutch shouldn't last 60k miles or more if you have any idea how to drive a manual. Sounds to me like your clutch is broken-in, not worn out. I'd be much more concerned if say in 3rd with the clutch completely let out/engaged, you step on the gas and the rpms climb rapidly but you don't speed up (ie the clutch is slipping), then you have a problem. If engagement is smooth from a complete stop, and if it is holding when torque is applied, then there is nothing wrong with it. Engagment point and feel will change throughout the life of your clutch, but without abuse it should have a lot more life left.

Now if you routinely perform 6k rpm clutch drops, have not idea how to rpm match during downshifts, or no idea how to drive a manual, or any of that applies to the first 9k of the car's life, then I would be worried.

Sounds to me like your pressure plate has either fully or partially collapsed. Mine went at 36K. See here and here.

I know how to drive a manual btw, so I'm convinced the Sachs pressure plates are prone to early metal fatigue.

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Now producing 100bhp/l - thanks to Planet 9!

I owned a Nissan 300ZX for 16 years and put 80,000 miles on it. I never had an issue with the clutch.

My 07 Cayman S clutch was replaced around 30K miles too. One of the springs inside had broken and it was fixed under warranty.

Clutch? Under warranty?

You should consider yourself one of the luckiest men in the world.

Shouldn't that just read: 'Porsche Warranty'. Luckiest man alive!

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Now producing 100bhp/l - thanks to Planet 9!

Presumably Porsche don't cover clutch failure then going by the above posts? I'm based in UK by the way.

Update:
Had the clutch and brake flush done (this was way overdue) and the clutch feels much better. The shop also told me there was nothing wrong with the clutch and of course it's feel would change over time.

The mechanic then told me there was a computer (which they paid 35K for) that they could hook the car up to and get a read out on remaining clutch life, which he put at 75%. I've never heard of such a thing- in any case the flush really helped.

The this was an indy shop whose mechanic was a tech for Porsche for 10 yrs.

I guess I had read too many clutch failure posts.

@revy, Any links to the $350 clutch repair kit? so far I have only seen $540 kits

ZM, see below.

06 2006 Porsche Cayman Clutch Kit - Clutch - Sachs - PartsGeek

They've been saying to keep an eye on my clutch since I bought my CS (26K odo.) I've got 36K on it now, still feels the same to me. I don't track, but I'll occasionaly launch and drive a bit aggressively for fun on backroads. The clutch pedal doesn't really snap back, and it feels a little heavy on roll outs, but it doesn't overrev, or slip.

Clutches are hit or miss. A good driver can drive a car for it's entire life without needing to replace. I've taken 2 cars to 100K before replacement. I have an 06 Civic DD, and the clutch went at around 13K, HondaCare said I needed to learn stick. Put 80K on since, still feels like new. When it died on the civic, there were almost no warning signs, drove it 300 miles the day previous, and then with 10 miles was completely shot. Previous cars, I saw it coming months in advance.

Bottom line, if you need a new one, don't wait, and as long as the cost of parts and labor isn't obscene, just get it done. Sooner or later it won't go in gear and then you'll need to throw a tow on top the bill.

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2006 Cayman S [Arctic Silver/ Cocoa]
Sport Chrono Plus, PCM 2.1, Heated Seats, Bose
35,050 miles (06/12/2011)

thanks revy, just wondering if contains all the parts needed or if you need to purchase other extra parts

ZM,
I believe the kit and contains all you need but you may want to inquire with some other members that have changed the clutch before.

I think there is also a DIY article on pelican parts that walks you through the process and lists the needed parts. Looks like a real pain in the...

Might want to verify if the pilot bearing should also be replaced or not. Kit indicates that it includes the throwout bearing, which should be replaced, but nothing on the pilot bearing.

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Les

I've never had to replace a clutch on any manual cars I've owned. The two with the longest mileage -- a BMW 5 series and a Saab 900S -- had clutches that were still going strong at around 120K miles. My 968 clutch was perfectly fine when I sold it at around 56K miles. Sometimes I can't believe how fragile these modern Porsches are when I read the stories of low-mileage clutch failures (engines, too, for that matter). Is it a sign of cost-cutting or too much focus on building higher-profit SUVs?

The pilot bearing is included in this kit. I bought the clutch kit from there when I did my lightweight flywheel install. It came with pressure plate, clutch disc, throw-out bearing, pilot bearing and grease.

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2006 Porsche Cayman S (Adriana)
2004 BMW 745Li (Vanessa)

Ah, thanks. Missed that when I read through it. Probably advancing oldtimers for this old dog.

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Les

It doesn't say it anywhere in the listing or anything. I saw it and had it left over when I did my install. The lightweight flywheels come with a different pilot bearing

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2006 Porsche Cayman S (Adriana)
2004 BMW 745Li (Vanessa)

Yep, yep on the previous owner thing!! I bought a 08 CS CPO and the clutch is gone at 27K! I bought it with about 23K on it. I had to drive few hours to buy it so taking it back to them wasn't really an option to me. It never really had a "bite grab" under heavy throttle when I got it, but more of a smooth drag then grab. Local Porsche dealer said it was a "wear and tear"...$2,800 later I'll start from scratch. His tech said the bulk was a $1,200 flywheel, that had to be changed or I most surely would feel some "chatter" and would be back shortly after I picked it up. I'm still searching to see why the flywheel is part of the wear and tear group. I think it should separate and if a new clutch kit doesn't work right because of a worn flywheel then it should be covered by the warranty. Anyone heard of having to replace the flywheel for causing chatter with a new clutch? This was my 8th manual car and I have never had one go this early. I abused!!! my BMW M3, Supra turbo, and many others that the all years in the military had me driving and they lasted 60-90K. I this seems the "hit or miss norm" for some Cayman owners.