Purpose of clutch pedal spring?

BenI · 05-05-2003, 06:15 PM

I'm rebuilding my pedal cluster and found my clutch pedal spring is broken. I'm referencing the PP tech artical (very helpful!) and can't figure out why you need this spring. Does it work in conjunction with the pressure plate springs? Do I have to have this spring?

kellzey · 05-05-2003, 06:28 PM

I would imagine that if Porsche used this same pedal assembly on hundreds of thousands of Porsche cars WITH the clutch return spring, I imagine it is important (and purposeful).

You can buy the replacement springs from our host. They are not that expensive.

Replace it while you are in there!

Regards,

kellzey · 05-05-2003, 06:30 PM

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/9144/por_9144_pedals_main.htm

$5.75

BenI · 05-05-2003, 06:30 PM

But it's so much easier to be lazy!!! I'm getting together an order right now for the spring and other parts from PP-I'm more curious what the function of the spring is...

kellzey · 05-05-2003, 07:15 PM

I believe the spring keeps tension on the clutch cable... otherwiset the pedal "could" just flop all the way forward

John Rogers · 05-05-2003, 09:07 PM

Yes, you need the spring. I was told by a couple of old 914 guys that the spring on the pedal is to make the pedal go down so it is easy to get the pin and clevis off through the small access hole next to the accel pedal. Especially if a cable breaks such has happened to me at the race track. The last one I did at Willow Springs took longer to jack up the car and put it on stands than to replace the cable. A bungee cord is handy though to hold it back up when the front of the cable is reconnected. Good luck.

BenI · 05-05-2003, 09:17 PM

Huh, my pedal drops to the floor even without the spring. Maybe it takes up the slack in the cable so the TO bearing fully releases.

74914 · 05-05-2003, 09:23 PM

I've heard it was to keep the TO bearing spinning all the time so you don't end up grinding it into the pressure plate each time you disengage the clutch.
Ed

kellzey · 05-05-2003, 09:26 PM

I have my pedal cluster out currently. In it's disconnected state.. the clutch pedal is pulled/pushed forward (toward the front trunk) by the spring.

When the clutch cable is connected, the pedal is pulled forward to it's normal static position driving position. You can adjust the clutch play by adjusting the cable.

When you push the clutch in (towards the floor board, it pulls the cable and the clutch fork around the pully on the tranny... blah blah blah).

So.. the clutch spring, keeps the clutch pedal out towards the driver when connected to the clutch cable and it keeps tension on the cable.... which, you are right, assists in releaseing the throwout bearing.

Hope this thoroughly confuses you.

Karl

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

The other likely-sounding explanation that I've heard is that it keeps tension on the cable so the cable stays firmly on the pulley.

Sounds good, but that doesn't explain why the same spring is used in 911 pedal clusters where they have no pulley! So I suppose the "throwout bearing" theory is more reasonable.

--DD