clutch bang with a difference

[gavinlit]

Went to shift up in traffic today, heard a bang (the type that leaves you looking wildly around the car for the bit that obviously just fell out) and then couldn't push the clutch in more than a couple of centimetres. Thought I was sunk but it was still acting normal - just only a couple of centimetres of travel - mostly. Occasionally it would push down just like it normally has.
Anyway, turned around & came home with minimal changes, parked in the garage &just spent the last hour reading through clutch posts.

Havn't found one where the problem resulted in the clutch cable being more difficult/impossible to depress. On my last visit to the mechanic he told me that clutch was taking more pressure on the pedal than it should've & I'd probably be looking at a cable some time in the short/mid future. Didn't think it'd be quite so short
Naturally I'm hoping it's a cable issue but the obvious nagging worry is the 'exploding centre' that I've heard about.

Any thoughts on what this is likely to be? My wallet is feeling lighter already

[Bobboloo]

I thought that the rubber centered (exploding) clutch wasn't used until the SC's came out. I know the 77' Carrera was the pre-cursor to the SC though. Is there a reason you think you might have one of these type clutches? Even if the car came with it it would be hard to imagine that it was never changed to the spring type.

[gavinlit]

No, no particular reason. I'll go through the records and crawl under the car tomorrow. Hopefully it's just a cable or something else minor.

[jluetjen]

Clutch cable helper spring(s)?

[jdowty3]

The BANG was probably your clutch helper spring letting go.
Part # H-116-064-06 for a 77. Not too difficult to replace. There's an article in the Tech section on how to do it.

911_clutch_cable.htm

[Quicksilver]

I've seen spring centered clutch disks come unglued in odd ways too so I suspect that it is the clutch disk. It seems likely that the limited travel is happening at the pressure plate caused by chunks-o-clutch but that doesn't make a difference as it still means that it is going to have to come out.

I can't think of a linkage failure that would limit travel and make a bang.

Time to open wide and say $@#%*&$$$!!!

[gavinlit]

ok, opening wide but with a glimmer of hope in my eye.

[gavinlit]

Bumpity bump - anyone else had something similar happen at some point

[BernieP]

Clutch helper spring BTDT twice!

[gavinlit]

Yep, turns out it was the helper spring with additional culprits being a shot cable and pedal assembly.