Help Diagnose Clutch Problem!!!!
 

My car is a 88 Carrera 3.2 with G50 trans. and hydraulic operated clutch.
with 120K miles

Here is what hapened: I Was turning into a parking lot and when I pushed the clutch pedal it went to the floor, had no prior indication of problem.
I pulled the pedal back up to the correct position and now the pedal will not push. If I try to push the pedal with the engine running I get a grinding sound and can feel the vibration in the clutch pedal.

I drove the car home, about 10+ miles by putting it in 2nd gear and starting the engine, and I could hear what sounded like something rolling around in the clutch area (like broken parts). I'm sure that my car has the original clutch with the rubber center.

One other thing I just remembered.......maybe 2 or 3 weeks ago I pushed the clutch pedal and heard/felt a sound like something had broken, sort of a click or snap sound. And noticed that my clutch had become a little easier to press and really felt much better. But after driving the car and everything worked I just forgot about it. This might have been a warning.

I'm pretty sure that the cllutch is gone but would like to hear from others who may have had similar experiences.

I would like any other info that you think might be helpful, like whitch clutch to use, replace pressure plate or flywheel. Oh yeah the cross shaft upgrade will be on my list also.


HELP..........PLEASE and Thanks

:eek: Wholy Smokes Batman,

I wished I knew more about the Hydro Clutches.

Best wishes brother hope you resolve that issue.

The problem is almost certainly in the back. To make sure just pull up the footboard over the pedals and make sure the pedal is moving the master cylinder and nothing has fallen into the mechanism. Can't imagine how it could be in the pedals but cars like to do things that you can't imagine.

The rubber centered disk in the Carreras isn't usually a source of trouble like the earlier unit was but it is still possible. The release fork in the rear can fail or it may have come out of the throwout bearing. The throwout bearing might have pulled out of the diaphram fingers... Lots of things could have happened.

Either way, if it is in the back you are going to have to pull the engine/tranny. Not sure how much you have worked on these things. If you have worked on cars it isn't as bad as you would think. It takes some time and an experienced helper takes some of the trial and error out of it. Pulling it yourself will save a HUGE quantity of $$$ and the added familiarity with the car really can help you in the future.

BTW - If you car doesn't have the factory update cross shaft I would suggest the aftermarket update with bushings. It doesn't require machining and it is supposed to be at least as good as the factory upgrade.

I hope you haven't broken one of the ears off the trans case....you might as well drop the engine and trans and redo the whole set of clutch parts... I recommend the no drill type of upgrade shaft. There is an upgraded fork and a different size tube... if you call EBS they can sell you the whole 9 yards.... it is a fun project and gets you familiar with your car. Then you don't have to worry about the clutch for years. I had my flywheel cut 0.005" or a bit less to clean it up... the machinist should know that you cut both surfaces... and of course if you have a rubber clutch.. get that out of there....with the engine out you can replace a few of the hard to get at items at the back of the engine....did anyone mention slippery slope?

Don't panic. G50's are fairly strong. Its prolly a release fork problem. Was it ever upgraded? Do you have the original rubber centered clutch? You will prolly have to do an engine drop and separate engine and trans. A clutch job is not mechanically hard but not cheap either.

KC,
That sucks as the weather is perfect for driving right now--heading to the mountains this afternoon. Whenever you want to start on this let me know as my schedule is open for most of this month. I don't think this will be too bad of a job with our mechanical ability, parts are just going to be expensive but labor will be free. Are you glad you redid the shop for this? On the positive side at least we will be experts for when mine goes as I have a feeling it will need to be addressed this spring. Give me a call later on today.

Just to be sure I'll check the pedal area, but the sounds comming from the back when trying to prerss the clutch pedal make me sure that something broke.
I have years of mechanical experience and am pretty sure that with a little help from a couple other members of this board I can make the repairs.

Now only If I can get them to help out with $$$$$$$$$ :D

[QUOTE=hcoles;3580870]if you call EBS they can sell you the whole 9 yards.... QUOTE]

i don't think wayne would like that recommendation.

good point... I should not have said that. I don't remember at the time why I was getting most of the parts from EBS... I think I was new to all of this... also I'll look but is the Pelican shaft upgrade the no drill type? Anyway - Wayne - my bad.

I just checked.. looks like all parts, including the no drill type shaft upgrade, can be obtained from our host...I would recommend doing that..