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Weird clutch behavior - Printable Version

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Weird clutch behavior - harsh_ride - 06-21-2006

Took the cover off my '94 Cab today for her semi-weekly keep-the-moving-parts-moving run. (I've been bicycle commuting since taking the Bar Exam, and saving my pennies towards the overhaul the '68 desperately needs.) Weird thing with the clutch... (I should say the car has almost 94,000 miles and the original clutch.)



The pedal was lower than I remember it being, about an inch and a half closer to the firewall than the brake pedal next to it. Should they be about the same height?



Also, when it was cold, it was *sensitive*. Rapidly engaging, with less than half the travel I remember it having. If you weren't directly "on" with your application of gas, you'd stall out, like the friction zone was binary instead of analog -- off or on, nothing in between.



As I drove her, the clutch operation became more like what I was used to, but the pedal is still low. Everything else seems to be fine, hill starts (westbound Olympic stopped alongside the hospital, etc) were normal, nothing is amiss when driving.



Is there an adjustment I should be looking at? Might the system need bleeding? Is it just that clutch's time? (I also have a '95 Jeep Wranger, with the torquey 190HP 200+ ft lbs 4.0L straight six, which, with ~91,000 is also on its original clutch, though I did manage to completely wear out the clutch on my 140,000-mile '89 Wrangler 4.2L six, while I was using it as a chinese food delivery vehicle in high school. The Porsche doesn't feel like a clutch gone bad, but, it's not an American truck, so what do I know... <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> )



Thanks all!

Weird clutch behavior - 94SilverCab - 06-21-2006

Just a quick suggestion...maybe it will work...



Remove Clutch inspection port plug and spray the fork down with some lubricant..may take several tries...also, I wouldn't be AT ALL surprised of the plug was missing and the fork is rusting. Seems to be a problem on 99% of the cars that roll into RS Barn.



Best of luck,



Jay

Weird clutch behavior - Chuck@paragon - 06-22-2006

Harsh Ride,



I think you may have hit on the problem regarding bleeding the system. Consider checking the fluid level in the brake resevoir. There could be a leak.



Spraying lubricant on the fork sounds like good preventive maintenance and very well could solve the problem.



Regards,



Chuck

Weird clutch behavior - 968bill - 06-22-2006

Writing as one who has just done a clutch replacement (106k mi. on original) and also having issues bleeding the clutch system afterward I would HIGHLY recommend performing the clutch thickness measurement at the same access port where the previously mentioned clutch lever lube is done. You do this using standard sockets, just measure the outside width of the socket that fits between the end of the clutch activation arm and the other side of the inspection hole. Then compare that to the wear limits in the service manual (somewhere around 36 - 38 mm if I recall correctly).



Personally, I would rather replace it a little early than late (see my previous thread on clutch replacement). Think about it, do you believe you'll ever have to put another clutch in the car? Will you be keeping it for another 90k+ mi's? Check the wear limit. Do it early rather than late!



I won't try to diagnose your car from reading your post because it could be any number of things from the clutch arm fork shaft bearings drying out to worn bushings in the clutch pedal but I would suggest doing a search on this forum for clutch related issues, there's a good bit of info/suggestions already written.



Best of luck, HTH,

Weird clutch behavior - pguria - 06-26-2006

I've had a similar problem with the clutch on my '94 cpe. I just purcahsed this beauty with 32k miles. Drove it all the way from Detroit to San Francisco, and the car performed flawlessy. Then I made a short trip to Sacramento, and when I exited the freway, the clutch pedal didn't pop back to its correct level. I was able to engage the gears as normal, but the pedal stayed low. I ended up pulling it back in place with my foot, and haven't seen the problem re-occur since. Could this be also a hydraulic issue?

Weird clutch behavior - 968bill - 06-27-2006

Yes, this sounds like a hydraulic problem (clutch master cyl, slave cyl) problem. Of course the first thing is to make sure you have sufficient fluid in the reservoir. Only about 1 sq. in. of the left front corner of the reservior is for the clutch system, make sure it's not low.



It could also be the return spring system, I think there is a potential issue with them too. I suspect if it was the return springs it would happen every time the pedal was pushed though.