Stiff clutch

[wick]

Allright, I will ask here. After many thoughts, I cannot figure this out. I have an idea but dont want to think about it.

Prpblem is my clutch is extremely HARD and Chattery when cold. Mhuchabee on here got to feel it last night. It started when I got to Carlisle, after the long turnpike trip. I cant attribute to that trip because I had the long tubes on last year. So thats out. The cable and double hook quadrant has about 2500 miles on it tops. Thats from 3 years ago. Yeah, I dont drive the car much. The trans might as well be a "quick change". I have had it out more times than I can count and dont want to do it again. Bearing retainer is perfect and the throwout bearing is good. The ball for the fork is good too. It is a Tremec trans with what I believe as a stock replacement clutch. It was new when I bought the car. The cable is the Summit one with the aluminium quadrant and firewall adjuster. When the car gets hot it smoothes out a TINY bit. But cold, its a mammer jammer I tell ya. My left foot actually hurts after driving this thing in stop and go conditions. The only thing I can think of would be a possible pivot issue with the pedal. Or the cable rubbed through. It was stiff when I put the new cable on. Just as stiff as the old cable was.

[Martin0660]

Odd it changes when hot. How close does your cable come to those long tubes in any given location?

The other thing, you say the tranny was in and out a lot. The pilot bearing is lubed inside so it slides on the bearing retainer. If you wipe off the bearing reatainer every time you remove the tranny, maybe it's dry there.

Odd for sure.

Bob Myers

[wick]

Everytime the trans comes out, it gets a fresh coat of moly lube on the bearing retainer for the throwout bearing.

When you say pilot bearing, are you meaning to say throwout bearing? The pilot bearing should not have anything to do here except keep the input shaft square to the centerline of the crank.

[wick]

Oh, it has atleast two or more inches from any point along and cable and header. If I sit and "pump" the clutch many many times, it will ease a little bit.

[Martin0660]

Sorry, meant throw out bearing but typed pilot bearing. was thinking through each of the possibilites in my head.

I'm not so shure thast adding the lube "each time" to the bearing reatiner is a good thing. Especially if it is a high pressure / temperature lube, it could be stiff / drag until that loosens up ???/ dunno, but that's interesting.

Bob Myers

[wick]

HAHAHHA Thats allright Bob. Its a very interesting situation I will say. You need to sit in the car and push it in to truly appreciate it. Now would be a good time seeing as its been sitting overnight.

Oh, and the lube would not feel like this. Its like a handfull of 2B limestone got tossed in there. HAHAHAHHA

[Viper_ed]

Sounds like one of the spring fingers on the pressure plate is broken on bent.

[92306gt]

Allright, I will ask here. After many thoughts, I cannot figure this out. I have an idea but dont want to think about it.

Prpblem is my clutch is extremely HARD and Chattery when cold. Mhuchabee on here got to feel it last night. It started when I got to Carlisle, after the long turnpike trip. I cant attribute to that trip because I had the long tubes on last year. So thats out. The cable and double hook quadrant has about 2500 miles on it tops. Thats from 3 years ago. Yeah, I dont drive the car much. The trans might as well be a "quick change". I have had it out more times than I can count and dont want to do it again. Bearing retainer is perfect and the throwout bearing is good. The ball for the fork is good too. It is a Tremec trans with what I believe as a stock replacement clutch. It was new when I bought the car. The cable is the Summit one with the aluminium quadrant and firewall adjuster. When the car gets hot it smoothes out a TINY bit. But cold, its a mammer jammer I tell ya. My left foot actually hurts after driving this thing in stop and go conditions. The only thing I can think of would be a possible pivot issue with the pedal. Or the cable rubbed through. It was stiff when I put the new cable on. Just as stiff as the old cable was.

my guess would be is your getting old and just cant push the clutch in anymore. :D

[How Much?]

Ive ran into the same problem on a 86gt, i removed the firewall adjuster and fired it over the hill, never had any problems afterwards,,,,,but that took care of the hard pedal, not sure if this is whats going on in your car! I think since it moved the cable out further away from the stock location on the firewall, that made it stiffer, but not too sure......... seemed like it worked!!!!

[wick]

Ive ran into the same problem on a 86gt, i removed the firewall adjuster and fired it over the hill, never had any problems afterwards,,,,,but that took care of the hard pedal, not sure if this is whats going on in your car! I think since it moved the cable out further away from the stock location on the firewall, that made it stiffer, but not too sure......... seemed like it worked!!!!

Not an option now. Cant take any of that off since I no longer have the stock plastic stuff.

my guess would be is your getting old and just cant push the clutch in anymore. :D

HAHAHAHHA Thanks.

Sounds like one of the spring fingers on the pressure plate is broken on bent.

I thought about that but they were all good when I put the clutch back in guring the Tremec and rear main seal installation. Everything was even. I do have a stock pressure plaet sitting here though. I could pull the trans again and throw that in. Its just such a pain in the ass though. Ties up 2 hours of my day. HAHAHA

[wick]

Well, after taking the cable off to check the pressure plate with a prybar, I find that I cant move the cable!! Took it all the way out. It moves down to the end that goes through the bell housing. HAHAHA Damn!!!!! Summit must have not used a good quality cable to put their name on this time. Wish I would have known this last saturday when I was there.

[Viper_ed]

Well, after taking the cable off to check the pressure plate with a prybar, I find that I cant move the cable!! Took it all the way out. It moves down to the end that goes through the bell housing. HAHAHA Damn!!!!! Summit must have not used a good quality cable to put their name on this time. Wish I would have known this last saturday when I was there.

Get one of the Steeda adjustable ones. They seem to hold up the best. Also as Bill suggested, take the firewall adjuster (Not the Quadrant under the dash as you were thinking) if you're using one and throw it over a hill!

[wick]

Get one of the Steeda adjustable ones. They seem to hold up the best. Also as Bill suggested, take the firewall adjuster (Not the Quadrant under the dash as you were thinking) if you're using one and throw it over a hill!

Does the Steeda one have an adjustable end that goes into the fork? I may try that. Why does the Firewall adjuster cause so many problems?

[Viper_ed]

Does the Steeda one have an adjustable end that goes into the fork? I may try that. Why does the Firewall adjuster cause so many problems?

Yes, the end that connects to the fork is threaded with a nut. My take oin firewall adjusters if that they were a quick design for people that are not smart enough to figure out how to jack the car up and adjust the cable itself. I have yet to use a firewall adjuster that worked well. They caused more problems IMO.

[wick]

Yes, the end that connects to the fork is threaded with a nut. My take oin firewall adjusters if that they were a quick design for people that are not smart enough to figure out how to jack the car up and adjust the cable itself. I have yet to use a firewall adjuster that worked well. They caused more problems IMO.

Nice. Gonzo it is then. Until then, I will use the Advance cable I just picked up. It looks to be a stock replacement. Good enough to drive it a bit. I'll just keep this as a spare.

I think the threads are for the intelligent people who actually understand the correct operation of a clutch. The firewall adjuster makes it simple for the lazy f uckers like me. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH But obviously they have some issues.

[wick]

Your not gonna believe this but another cable bit the dust!!!!!!!!!!! Drove about 8 miles to silvernotches house. Was fine. Went to leave and go to caste and it was chattery again. Got to Caste and it was smooth. Got home fine. Just went down to see how it felt so I could drive tomorrow. Well, it was locked again!!!!!!!

[2001GTTT]

just get the same clutch that i have rob and you'll never have another problem again!

[wick]

just get the same clutch that i have rob and you'll never have another problem again!

My problem does not stem from the clutch. Its a cable issue. When I put the new cable in I could push it in with my hand. Then it jammed up inside the cable.

[Viper_ed]

My problem does not stem from the clutch. Its a cable issue. When I put the new cable in I could push it in with my hand. Then it jammed up inside the cable.

Is the cable too close to the headers? That is really the only thing that should cause it to sieze up that fast. Try spraying some silicone insode the sheathing of the new one before installing.

[85stang]

just installed a steeda cable and quadrand, i just picked it up tonight and i dont know how i drove it before. my clutch was always stiff. my thought is its not the cable but something causing the cable to tighten up. try to get it as far away from any heat as possible or check it for anywhere it might be binding.