Emergency clutch pedal help needed...

[Pazuzu]

The clevis pin tore through the clutch pedal assembly while getting ready to go to lunch today

Car is reasonably safe at work. New clutch part is coming Monday. I had enough tools here to remove the pedal cluster, and can get it home tonight, then back to the office tomorrow.

Anyone have ideas on how to get this thing to hold together for a 15 minute drive home tomorrow? Do you think I can just go to town on it with a 4 pound hammer until it resembles a circle again, and cross my fingers? Yes, that is a bushing in there, it was put in place about 25k miles ago. Maybe I can get that spun 180 degrees, and locked into place?

[pete3799]

I would at least have someone weld it closed after you beat it into shape. Without the weld it will just bend back again.

[tobluforu]

I have driven cars without a functioning clutch a very long way.. Not sure where you live, but if its close without many stops, place car in third gear with engine off, then start the car. Car will lurch and off you go. But I think you can bang that back in place enough to get a few pushes of the pedal, or drill out a hole right below it.

[rusnak]

^ Yeah, 15 minutes? You can speed shift it home. The only tricky part is stopping. Be sure that you can shift into neutral and coast to a stop w brakes.

I know, I know....tranny syncros don't like that, etc. But it's that or a tow.

[yelcab1]

zip tie that sucker in place. it will last 15 mins

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by tobluforu

or drill out a hole right below it.

That sounds like a plan...

I also figured that binding the clevis all up to it with wire would work, but it's a bear getting in there...

[brcorp]

Moving the hole lower might solve the problem but you may have an issue with the cable length now as you'll need more travel to compensate for the hole being moved closer to the rotation axis. You could mitigate by adjusting the clutch travel stop on the floor board though this is a bit of a risky move as you might over travel the pressure plate unless you check the travel at the trans. Why not grind the old bracket off, fab a new one and have it welded on??

[Pazuzu]

I ordered a whole new piece, which I will put in on Monday evening when it arrives.

I just need enough clutch action to limp the car home from work tomorrow, then it will sit in the garage until it's fixed right.

[Pazuzu]

Hell, I have a dremel here at work, maybe I should just spend an hour messing with it here and try to get it going good enough...I'm sorely tempted to, instead of taking the bus home and using better tools to do the job.

[brcorp]

It's worth a try! Should be quick work if you have the right dremel bits....

[gregoryp]

Just installed the bronze bushings in mine, was hoping they would last longer than 25k.

[DRACO A5OG]

Take it to a muffler shop, have them weld it up for $20-25 the re-tap a new hole for a new bronze bushing or buy a new one and bushing.

Wow, that is ugly, sorry to see that, man you pressure plate must be really heavy?

[Pazuzu]

Now I know why they made that assembly out of a rod, a piece of plate, and lots of ugly welding!

The steel upright is very soft, like malleable soft. The rod is very hard. The weld is ugly probably to get them to stay together

You can see tooling marks from my vise! Using a 4 pound hammer and the anvil part of my vice, I was able to turn the brass bushing 180 degrees, then securely lock it into place by peening the metal around it. I expect that in an emergency, one could use a heavy rock and a concrete curb to do the same in the field...
I also used the dremel to shave down the clevis pin a bit, so I know it will fit in there even if the bushing isn't completely round right now. I have a new clevis coming with the new pedal shaft.

So, pedal cluster is back at my office, and I will install it after work in the parking garage, and limp home...


Where the new pedal assembly will be waiting, because Pelican shipped it too fast, so it arrives today instead of Monday!

[tharbert]

I'd still consider a zip tie around the perimeter of the rod for good measure. A little pressure and I think that's fall apart. Good Luck!

[Pazuzu]

I have zipties and several feet of good heavy wire, I'll wrap it up as well.