Very Hard Shifting - 89 S2

[Trirod]

I was on my last session at Mid-Ohio yesterday when I suddenly started having trouble with the 3-4 shift. Then I couldn't get into any gear. I coasted into the pits in neutral (lucky this happened at the end of Thunder Valley I guess).

Anyway I did manage to limp home, but shifts were very difficult. Also, when releasing the clutch pedal and accelerating in first gear there was a bad vibration from the transaxle or somewhere back there. Everything seemed good once at steady highway speeds.

Checking the clutch inspection port, it was hard to measure the clutch wear with any accuracy, but it was definitely well under an inch so far below the 34mm that Clark's Garage states is when replacement is needed.

I tried twisting the driveshaft at the transaxle inspection port with the car in neutral, but couldn't move it more than a fraction of an inch in either direction. I also pulled the starter motor - there were a few very small pieces of rubber, but not much.

Shift linkages looked OK as far as I could tell.

Any way to tell if this is definitively a clutch issue? Not a job I want to undertake if it turns out to be a transaxle or other issue.

Thanks

Rod

[Gawernator]

Is the linkage all connected properly? A loose nut on the linkage could make it hard to get into gear... and hey fellow Saab owner (run)

[Trirod]

The linkages on top of the transaxle and at the shifter looked OK. I didn't see anything that was obviously loose.

Also, I wasn't sure if that would explain the vibration/juddering while moving off in 1st gear?

thanks

[944 Ecology]

Your clutch disc rubber center is coming apart, causing the vibration (unbalanced) and failure to release (rubber bits caught between the disc and flywheel). Time for a new clutch.

[alan6272]

+2 944 ecology

[Jfrahm]

It could also be a cracked clutch fork but yes, it might be the disc crumbling as well.

[Gawernator]

After re-reading the part where you said rubber was falling out... time for a spring clutch!