Clutch pedal developed play

Won · 11-23-2005, 08:15 AM

Hi all,

I was driving to school this morning and I heard a couple "clicks" from the pedal cluster area when I depressed the clutch pedal. The first click didn't do anything but after the second one, the pedal sunk about an inch towards the floor board. I could still shift and go into reverse without grinding, but the engaging point moved towards the board with the pedal, hence only allowing very short travel. It doesn't seem to have gotten any stiffer. I can pull on the pedal and there is an inch of free play towards me. What broke here, spring in the pedal cluster, the pin, helper spring, cable, or a clutch disk on its way out? I wish I can get home tonight without calling a tow truck

turbo23dog · 09:13 AM

I've recently faced a very similar problem on a 80SC. Thought for sure that the clutch fork in the bellhousing was going.

I got under the car and disassembled, cleaned and lubed all the moving parts external to the bell housing. This includes disconnecting the clutch cable and removing the big lever with the horseshoe spring. Something must have been binding somewhere in there because when I put it all back together and readjusted the clutch, the clutch pedal now feels smooth as silk, and I have much improved shifting feel in all gears.

I still have an occasional touch of baulkiness going into first gear so its not a complete panacea...

zotman72 · 11-23-2005, 09:18 AM

Yep, take a look underneath at the clutch arms and spring. Things might be working themselves free, maybe the circlip on the arm has slipped off. I just replaced my sheared clevis pin in the clutch pedal arm last weekend. You might be beginning to shear that pin like I did, hence a little play. Be prepared to shift without a clutch somewhere soon if you do not find the problem. At stoplights, turn off engine, then start the car in 1st gear (a good battery helps), sync shift to second and hope you do not need anymore gears until you return to your garage.

Incidently, my shifting is much improved as well once I replaced the sheared pin and readjusted everything. HTH

Won · 11-23-2005, 08:19 PM

Thanks guys.

I got home without any problem, seemed like the pedal moved just far enough to shift without grinding. I took a look at the transmission end of the cable as well as pedal cluster, and everything appeared fine, no broken parts, loose parts, elongated holes or sheared clevis pin. Bushings and the roll pin seemed ok, but the "stop" on the clutch pedal that rests on the little rubber thing wasn't in contact.

I assume that the pedal should come all the way up and rest on the rubber stop?

When I pulled on the pedal I could feel the slack in the cable. So I adjusted the cable by the clevis pin to take up that slack. Come to think of it, I noticed very slight binding when pressing on the pedal lately. Where could that slack have come from? Is there anything that can cause binding inside the tunnel?

ianc · 11-23-2005, 10:17 PM

Sometimes the clutch pedal will begin to fray and a few strands will snap on its way out. This can cause increased free play. I don't think you'd get a full inch out of that though...

ianc

turbo23dog · 11-24-2005, 04:48 PM

I think the slack is coming from the clutch end of the cable. Check to see that the part the cable attaches to at the bell housing is moving freely. It may be binding on that end, not the clutch pedal end.

Won · 11-24-2005, 10:51 PM

When I pulled up on the pedal the hook on the clutch end of the cable also moved a little, so my guess is that the clutch lever and all the springs were back to their full engage position and the slack was from the cable. Everything around the bell housing looked and felt tight, with the little bolt gapped to 1mm and all, but I didn't want to take them apart, because usually I end up breaking something that wasn't broken.

I'll just pull out the cable to see if there is any fraying. I think it's been on the car since 1990 so might as well replace it with a new one.

turbo23dog · 12-01-2005, 06:14 PM

Ok, I was ready to post this in the "Stupidest Thing I've Done" thread. My clutch pedal went to crap again just like before with it not returning all the way and friction point grabbing at the floorboard. I think its my clutch cable. Here's a picture:

Duh. I'm off to source a replacement. No offense to our host but I'm hoping to find one locally before ordering on-line.

MobileWrks · 12-01-2005, 10:00 PM

At the bottom of the ARM to the clutch, there is a pin that set it into place, the break, and relocates angle...
Check this before you dig into it..

Good luck

Won · 12-01-2005, 10:37 PM

Wow, Rich, I have a feeling that mine would probably look the same...

Unfortunately, due to the exam season I was unable to work on the car. But I did take it out to my cul de sac covered with fresh snow, fun fun fun.

MobileWrks, I'll look into that too! Thanks guys.