Clutch Question

Dave L · 10-21-2007, 07:47 PM

I have an intermittent problem with my clutch. Sometime when I start it up the clutch doesnt fully disengage despite having the pedal all the way in. The car will start but I believe the clutch slips (otherwise I would be through the wall of my garage) I also sometimes have an issue taking the car out of first and need pull more than normal to get to second. The clutch itself is most likely original with 150,000Km (less than 100k miles) but does not slip at all in any testing I have done. Is there any adjustment that can be made here? shift linkage problem, Clutch adjustment??

speedracing944 · speedracing944's Garage

There is an inspection window on the clutch bellhousing where you can measure you clutch plate thickness. clarks-garage may have a write up on this.

I don't know of any adjustment but you could try bleeding the clutch.

Speedy

Dave L · 10-21-2007, 08:06 PM

master and slave cylinder were replaced last year

Eldorado · 10-21-2007, 11:14 PM

the fact that they were replaced last year doesn't mean anything...
I'm going through them yearly.. and vinman i believe went through 4 in a year.. they're pretty weak points on these cars..

as for starting it up, why not just start it out of gear?

Dave L · 10-22-2007, 05:52 AM

The clutch master and slave were changed last year so the system was bled then. The problem existed before the new parts and still now. I will still check the salve/master to rule that out. As far as starting out of gear, yes thats a good idea but I would still like to solve the problem.

speedracing944 · speedracing944's Garage

I am not sure if the 'S' has a rubber centered clutch disk or not but that has been known to cause trouble.

When my rubber center went, I couldn't shift out of gear.

Speedy

Eldorado · 10-22-2007, 07:42 AM

while we're on the topic, how hard is it to change out the rubber center?

2Tight · 09:45 AM

I'm not sure how many miles are on your car but I've seen so many clutch forks with serious wear on the two bearing contact surfaces. It can reduce the travel enough to be an issue if the disc is also worn thin. You can try pressure bleeding the whole system again if the travel through the inspection window is within spec. I assume that when your clutch was done the pedal free play was adjusted for the new disc? Too much play and it has trouble disengaging; too little or none and it will slip.

AaronM · 10-22-2007, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eldorado

while we're on the topic, how hard is it to change out the rubber center?

Same effort as replacing the clutch. I don't know of a way to just swap the center portions of the clutches.

speedy_cab · 10-23-2007, 08:16 AM

I just purchased a 968, and was informed this past weekend it has a hydralic clutch. I've never owned a car with one as far as I know before. I have replaced a clutch in my old Mustang GT, and it was a pretty tough job.

I thought my clutch was fine, although my Dad thought it was a bit weak when he test drove the car. I have noticed that when I park the car pointing uphill, and let it get cold (like in my driveway) that after I get in and start it, it doesn't want to pull out of 1st gear easily.

Other than that one issue it performs flawlessly.

SO, could this mean I need to bleed my clutch?

I also cannot engage the ABS, the brakes are not strong enough, even though they have plenty of pad left. I planned to have the brake fluid system flushed to ensure I have good fluid and no air in the lines. Could this be related?

2Tight · 10-23-2007, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedy_cab

I just purchased a 968, and was informed this past weekend it has a hydralic clutch. I've never owned a car with one as far as I know before. I have replaced a clutch in my old Mustang GT, and it was a pretty tough job.

I thought my clutch was fine, although my Dad thought it was a bit weak when he test drove the car. I have noticed that when I park the car pointing uphill, and let it get cold (like in my driveway) that after I get in and start it, it doesn't want to pull out of 1st gear easily.

Other than that one issue it performs flawlessly.

SO, could this mean I need to bleed my clutch?

I also cannot engage the ABS, the brakes are not strong enough, even though they have plenty of pad left. I planned to have the brake fluid system flushed to ensure I have good fluid and no air in the lines. Could this be related?

At least you have a 968 where you can do a full clutch job without dropping the transaxle and pulling off the bellhousing like all 944 models. You can try pressure bleeding both your clutch and brakes to see if it helps. Do you know how many miles are on the clutch? If it's slipping it's not the hydraulics but your clutch pedal freeplay might be too little which can cause it to slip as well as a leaking rear main seal. I have a steeper driveway also. I found that if I parked nose down and the brake reservoir was too low on fluid I got air into the short hydraulic line going to the clutch master. Then again your clutch disc could just be getting at the end of it's life.

speedy_cab · 10-24-2007, 01:45 PM

Well I wouldn't say it's slipping. Just that sometimes it's hard to pull out of first gear after having parked it. And my driveway is not steep at all, it's just a mild slope.

speedy_cab · 10-24-2007, 01:50 PM

How to bleed clutch? Is there a bleeder valve like on the calipers under the car on the clutch housing somewhere?

Can I purchase a speed bleeder (like I plan to for the calipers) for the clutch?

Any recommendations on the best brake fluid to use now in 2007?

nynor · 10-24-2007, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedy_cab

How to bleed clutch? Is there a bleeder valve like on the calipers under the car on the clutch housing somewhere?

Can I purchase a speed bleeder (like I plan to for the calipers) for the clutch?

Any recommendations on the best brake fluid to use now in 2007?

yes.

yes.

ATE racing blue. (pronounced AH-tay, i think)

zedsn · 10-24-2007, 06:14 PM

In reference to the 968 owner whos car doesn't like to come out of first when the car is parked on a grade. My 83 944 does the same thing and I believe that it has nothing to do with the clutch just maybe the shift rod gets bound a little somehow and needs a little more persuasion to get it out of first than normal.

Eldorado · 10-24-2007, 09:48 PM

also in response to the 969 parked on an incline.. my 83 does that sometimes... letting it roll a couple inches first lets it shift like butter again..

kherkalo · 10-25-2007, 01:27 PM

purchased an 88 924s several months ago. A few weeks ago, the clutch pedal stayed half way - I pulled it back with my toes. Noticed the brake light intermittent-filled the reservoir which was low. All seemed ok. Yesterday I found the clutch pedal against the carpet-if I pull it up, there's spring tension only. If I push on the pedal, the spring tension pulls it straight to the floor. Any ideas?

AaronM · 10-25-2007, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kherkalo

purchased an 88 924s several months ago. A few weeks ago, the clutch pedal stayed half way - I pulled it back with my toes. Noticed the brake light intermittent-filled the reservoir which was low. All seemed ok. Yesterday I found the clutch pedal against the carpet-if I pull it up, there's spring tension only. If I push on the pedal, the spring tension pulls it straight to the floor. Any ideas?

Air in the clutch lines, and probably a failing slave cylinder.

Bleed the clutch system and see if that fixes it. If not, you will need to replace the clutch slave cylinder. I recommend changing the master cylinder as well since they typically both fail around the same time.

HondaDustR · 10-25-2007, 05:37 PM

Or you could replace just the seals if the actual cylinders are still in good shape. I've done it to both master and slave for a fraction of the cost of new ones, and it has worked flawlessly for almost a year of daily driving.

marky522 · 10-25-2007, 07:36 PM

Wow, a lot of people having clutch hydraulic issues. I would reccomend getting factory parts directly from Porsche, they really arent that much more, but have a two year warranty and are not reman parts like a lot of the discount parts, I havent had a factory one fail earlier than one would expect.

Mark