Clutch or pressure plate?

Electricguru · 05-15-2006, 08:15 AM

Not sure what the issue is. When I try to leave in 1st gear from being completely stopped, my car jerks violently. All shifting and gears work properly after that. I have to dump the clutch in 1st gear very slowly with no gas so my car will not shake. Is this a pressure plate issue? If so, can I just replace the pressure plate without buying and installing a complete clutch kit?

mschuep · 05-15-2006, 09:09 AM

Replace your transmission mounts first, I bet that is your problem

Electricguru · 05-15-2006, 12:19 PM

Thanks for the info, just replaced them, still shakes really bad. Should I go to the motor mounts next? They look identical to transmission mounts. Are they the same?

jmohn · jmohn's Garage

What model year? Does it have a clutch cable? Have you replaced it recently? If so, possibly not enough "bow" in the bowden tube.

Jerry M
'78 SC

mschuep · 05-15-2006, 01:19 PM

I think they are the same...I guess that could be a clutch disc slipping bad, but it seems funny that you wouldn't have any problem at all when switching to other gears. Any other 1st gear problems?

Electricguru · 05-15-2006, 01:49 PM

Just 1st gear, jerking so hard the gearshift will throw out of gear. I'm gonna do the motor mounts tonight. I'll let you guys know.

Electricguru · 05-15-2006, 01:57 PM

I think the gearbox is a 76 model. The engine is an 87. The clutch cable seems to be fine, I substituted the small V nut that slides into the backside of the shift lever with a regular oversized nut. But that rigging seems to work fine.

Electricguru · 05-15-2006, 04:43 PM

Motor mounts did not fix the problem, guess I will replace the pressure plate first.

jmohn · jmohn's Garage

I still think you should look at adjusting the clutch cable connections. If there isn't enough arc in the bowden tube, you'll experience the very symptoms you've described. I went through this last year. Luckily I did a search and found a description of how to adjust the clutch cable connections to be certain the bowden tube is correctly arced. I adjusted mine and that solved the problem. It's easy to do, certainly easier than replacing the pressure plate, and costs nothing but a little time (took maybe 20-30 minutes).

Good luck,

Jerry M
'78 SC

Electricguru · 05-15-2006, 07:40 PM

I'm am really new to all of this, so I'm not really sure where the "bowden" tube is. Is that the black sheath over the cable? If so, that sheath on my car slides back and forth over the cable. I have however, had to tighten on the cable before to adjust the clutch pedal.

Electricguru · 05-15-2006, 07:46 PM

Okay, is it the guide tube that is in their parts database? I typed in bowden tube and it showed a pic of a metallic piece. I am sure I don't have that on my car.

Electricguru · 05-16-2006, 03:38 AM

??

Electricguru · 05-16-2006, 10:40 AM

Just replaced the clutch cable...problem a little better, but not solved. I am a desperate man.

midlife · 05-16-2006, 10:54 AM

There is a tech article on this site describing the clutch adjustment procedure. If you don't get the right tension on the bowden tube, it will shudder violently.

midlife · 05-16-2006, 10:58 AM

Here:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/911_clutch_cable/911_clutch_cable.htm

Electricguru · 05-18-2006, 04:03 PM

Hey ya'll...I FIXED IT! This is what happened, my gearbox was set up with a 76 clutch cable and shift lever. After a little research, I found out i have a 78-82 gearbox. Long story short: new clutch cable, different adjustment lever, backlash spring, and the car runs like a dream!! Thanks for all the help you guys offered!