odd clutch "click"

[toman]

just a quick question before I get under the car; my clutch is making a sharp click when I let it out, as it gets almost all the way out. It seems to be coming from the firewall area, and I can feel it through the pedal. Any idea what to look at? Thanks in advance.

[Mark Howard]

The same thing happened to my 356/B about 2 days before the clutch cable broke. The strange clicking noise was the the frayed wire catching against a small piece of sheet metal in the tunnel. Of course, I pulled on to the highway, shifted to second just fine, on the way to third and the clutch pedal never returned. And there I sat. No shoulder, no cell phone. Check the cable!

[toman]

ahh, that would make sense. If that turns out to be the case, what all is involved in changing the clutch cable?

[Mark Howard]

Disconnect the cable from the pedal assembly (not sure how on a 914, but on my 356 it was just a little retaining screw), disconnect the cable from the rear pulley (done this before, really easy), cut the cable where the fray is (if you can get to it) get ready for alot of nasty grease (shop rags) and pull it out the rear. Get the new cable, grease heavily, and re-insert from the rear. Connect the rear first then the front. Careful when tightening the cable up front, I think you need to leave a little play in the cable or the first push of the clutch may bend something out back (the "fork" on the tranny of my 356). Test in driveway before getting on the road.

Hope this helps.

[toman]

whew... that sounds simple enough. Thanks for your help!

[914]

Toman,
Also Ck The Clutch Tube That Goes Thu
The Firewall,Mine Broke With The Stress
From The Clutch,Mine Needed To Be Brazed
Be Careful Not To Melt The Fuel Lines.
Alan