So Less than a year ago I got UMW clutch kit installed when I was getting my transmission rebuilt. The very first day I picked up the car, I called the dealer and told them I was having problems getting into reverse and first gear. The Service Advisor told me that its probably the 997ssk and it needs some time to 'break in'. We agreed if it's still bad, we would change it out and get a stock 997 shifter. Now I took the car in for some warranty work two weeks ago. And the tech/sa called me back and told me the tech experienced the same problem I did the very first day, and I got it repeatly, once in awhile(and still do). Anyaways, we agreed to bleed the clutch system free of charge. Today they called me back and he tells me the input shaft is sticking to something ( can't recall). I was annoyed, since i brought up this problem the very first day of drving the car when the clutch/transmission was rebuilt. I called Kevin at UMW and he gives me a whole explanation of corrosion etc. I told him three times, it happend the very first day since the rebuilt. He then said I probably burn my clutch already ( WTF ?!?!?! ) I had 65k miles on my stock clutch with no slipping and over 65% of life left on my clutch. And I learned how to drive manual with that car, and the previous owner was a lady. I know for a fact i'm VERY easy on the clutch.

So Kevin keeps saying its hummidy, and drag racing. I'v only launch my car TWICE. And those two times were on the forum wars event. He then asked me how many track miles do I have, I told him about 150 miles on it since the rebuilt. He then said thats about 12,000 street miles and i'm due for a new clutch, ? How weak is the clutch he has on the kit ? I did over 20 track events on my stock clutch with 0 issues.

Now my Tech/SA is recomending dropping the tranny and seeing if it's the clutch kit that UMW provided. I'm extremely dissapointed. Mostly at the fact that Kevin won't listen to what i'm saying and keeps throwing his theorys as pointing at my fault. The slave clutch system, is less then 1.5 years old, so i doubt its that. Have any of you guys have had this kind of issue ?

My tech thinks it has to do with the UMW parts or the shaft not being well lubricated.

since my rebuilt I have about 3,000 miles on the car! I don't mean to brag but I know i'm a VERY good manual driver. And it's definetly not the clutch as Kevin from UMW says.

 

What was wrong with your transmission that required a rebuild in the first place?

This sounds more like a transmission problem, not a clutch/LWFW problem.

 

2nd gear pop out. Transmission was rebuilt by a Porsche dealer.

 

Almost a year ago you noticed some issues, did nothing, and now want Kevin to cover costs in advance of anything definitive?

Frankly if I was a vendor I'd have issues with that.

Now, I am not privy to the details, so I cannot know what was said or who is responding to what.... but one thing for sure- I'd have keep this private. You really burn bridges by posting private matters.

You should cover the costs to open it- if there is a defect in the parts then you have a warranty claim, but if your failure to address any issue promptly is the cause, you cannot blame UMW. Indeed, the P dealer talked you out of doing anything, why are they blameless? Do we assume that they do flawless work since they have the P sign?



My 2 cents

A

 

A,

I'm not trying to burn any bridges, i'm just seeing of anyone here has this issue with the umw kit. My tech says its something wit the umw. I brought it up the first few miles, they said its fine, and now my tech says its not. I'm not a professional in mechanics of a vehicle. If he said its fine the first time i believe him. If he said its not fine now, i believe him. I don't want kevin to cover any cost. I hope that is clear. I don't expect a tunner to cover any cost. I know for sure, none will only perhaps TechArt or Ruf. So who are we kidding about 'covering cost' .

I just want to know if anyone else has had issue with his kit, and what is the solution. I have to spend a few thousand of dollars dropping the transmission and putting it back on, i'm not to happy if it has to do with his parts, and i'm not to happy if its because the tech installed something wrong. because at the end of the day, it comes out of my pocket. And no, I wont hide my issue behind doors like most pp do. This is a forum, and I would like to share valuable infromation so buyers are aware of the consequenses. I really dislike it when members don't post because they are afraid their tunner is going to rip them a new one.

I have no problem with Kevin. I have his flash and I like it.

 

 

What clutch do you have?

 

I am sure that you will get this rectified. Keep us posted!

 

i have kevin's clutch in my car and it seems to be working fine.

 

^^ Fair enough. Take it apart and see what you find.

I agree that the "150 track miles = 12000 street miles" and "therefore you need a new clutch" is hyperbole, and not supportable. Maybe true in the end, but that is not a fact for all cars with 150 track miles or even 12k street miles!

A common theme I've seen, and I am sure you and others, is that the mechanic that installs the parts (no matter what the parts) is rarely to 'blame' since he controls all the information. You believe him then and now. I see this as being an issue on occasion.... maybe not now, but just saying.


Good luck-
Adam

 

For sure. I went to a Porsche dealer he recommended. And I had the tech he knows, and recommended, work on my car. As for what clutch I have, i think its the one that holds up to 650bhp. I only have a flash and exhaust for power. What got me was his comments on 'corrosion', 'clutch dust', 'you need a new clutch ' and when I told him the tech said to give him a call, as Danny wanted to speak with him, he seemed reluctant to do so.

 

IMO, your mechanic talking to your parts supplier isn't going to solve anything. It will just become a he said, she said, and might make it even harder in the future, if it turns out to be a faulty piece of hardware. I have personally heard a few stories of "parts sellers" (not that Kevin is one) yelling at 30yr Porsche mechanics and telling them they don't know what they are doing...

Best bet is to just take it apart and see what the deal is, and go from there. If the clutch is worn, buy a different clutch this time. If it's not the clutch, must be the install...can't be much else...

 

You are correct on the first part. But they know each other. Anyways, if I do need a 'new clutch' I'll be going back to stock. I don't want to get clutches that wear out with 150 track miles. From what it seems, i did not get an upgrade, but a down grade from oem.

 

Yeah, it sounds like you don't have the clutch you need, despite what you ordered? I have the Stage 3ish Clutchmasters kit and have about 30 dragstrip passes, countless 60-130's and thousands of miles on it and it still holds at 600whp...Good Luck with whatever direction you go.

 

+1 Stage 3 Clutchmasters can really take a beating! No problems