Clutch Pedal Issues - *video inside*

[Superluminal]

I've been having a problem where my clutch pedal will not return all the way back up to the upper pedal stop when released. The freeplay hangs midway off the master cylinder pressure. I have to lift it up with my foot. I tried about everything in the book. I replaced the clutch pedal return spring and nylon bushings. New master and slave cylinder. Steel braided clutch line. Clutch loop/dampner deleted.

The car is an S13 /w SR swap. Stock 5 speed /w ACT 6 puck sprung clutch.

Youtube video below documents everything (because imagery is better than words):

S13 Clutch Pedal Problem.mp4 - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsSy-fq-Imk)

[racepar1]

You need to adjust your pedal, you have too much freeplay. Lengthen the clutch master rod with the adjustment until you've got about 1/2" of freeplay.

Also, make sure that the system is bled properly. Bleed the master first at the fitting. Then you bleed it by opening the bleeder (on the slave), push the pedal down, close the bleeder, and lift the pedal back up. Finally bleed it a couple times using the pump and hold method. This ensures that the master, the line, and the slave are COMPLETELY air-free.

[Superluminal]

You need to adjust your pedal, you have too much freeplay. Lengthen the clutch master rod with the adjustment until you've got about 1/2" of freeplay.

Wouldn't that change the engagement point of my clutch farther out?

[racepar1]

Wouldn't that change the engagement point of my clutch farther out?

Well if your clutch is releasing the second you apply any pressure to it then you may have an issue with the clutch itself as well. You don't adjust the engagement point of the clutch, you just adjust the freeplay. The engagement point is determined by clutch wear and pressure plate condition, NOT the freeplay adjustment.

[Superluminal]

Well if your clutch is releasing the second you apply any pressure to it then you may have an issue with the clutch itself as well. You don't adjust the engagement point of the clutch, you just adjust the freeplay. The engagement point is determined by clutch wear and pressure plate condition, NOT the freeplay adjustment.

That's interesting. In the past, I had a different clutch in the car, and I remember changing the pedal freeplay on the master cylinder shaft having adverse effects to the clutch engagement point. I have not tried adjusting the pedal with this ACT clutch. Where should the clutch be engaging on the pedal travel?

[Chrischeezer]

did this problem happen out of no where?
did it work perfectly before you started changing parts?


at first glance seems like normal PIA bleeding has to be done.. ( mityvac maybe?)


edit:
never mind...if you have adjusted it in the past at the pedal that's what your problem is.

[racepar1]

That's interesting. In the past, I had a different clutch in the car, and I remember changing the pedal freeplay on the master cylinder shaft having adverse effects to the clutch engagement point. I have not tried adjusting the pedal with this ACT clutch. Where should the clutch be engaging on the pedal travel?

The clutch should engage somewhere near the middle. As the clutch wears the engagement point will move towards the top of the pedal untill it finally just starts to slip and not engage at all. Your freeplay should not change much though. It should only need to be adjusted once or twice durning the life of the clutch.

[Superluminal]

did this problem happen out of no where?
did it work perfectly before you started changing parts?


at first glance seems like normal PIA bleeding has to be done.. ( mityvac maybe?)

The system is fully bled using the procedure described my racerpar1.

[Superluminal]

The clutch should engage somewhere near the middle. As the clutch wears the engagement point will move towards the top of the pedal untill it finally just starts to slip and not engage at all. Your freeplay should not change much though. It should only need to be adjusted once or twice durning the life of the clutch.

The clutch is fairly new, maybe 1500 miles on it. I'll adjust the pedal freeplay in the morning to see if that solves the issue. Thanks for the input.

[Superluminal]

I adjusted the clutch pedal so it has about 1/2" of play from the upper stopper. As I feared, the clutch engagement point has moved up with the adjustment. Not only that, the engagement point changes constantly when driving.

[rb25_s13*CHUKI]

There is a little hook that holds the return spring, check that hook it might be breaking

[Superluminal]

There is a little hook that holds the return spring, check that hook it might be breaking

The return spring hook looked fine when I replaced it. Any other suggestions? Would a funky master cylinder cause these problems?

[fliprayzin240sx]

If you're engagement point on the pedal is changing, you might still have air in the lines.

[racepar1]

The return spring hook looked fine when I replaced it. Any other suggestions? Would a funky master cylinder cause these problems?

I have had similar issues with a clutch master before. If you haven't already, replacing the master and slave is always a good idea.

[Street_S13]

i heard that the Steel braided clutch lines are no good they always hold air supposedly..

[racepar1]

i heard that the Steel braided clutch lines are no good they always hold air supposedly..

I can assure you that that is NOT TRUE...