UKKid35

My clutch pedal is no longer doing anything other than dangling in the footwell. Unfortunately the car is still in Germany and I am back in London and I didn't have time to pull the car apart to investigate. Is there anything other than plastic version of this part failing that could cause this to happen. Sadly I didn't have the new part with me in Germany, otherwise I would have stayed and hopefully fixed it.

stuartph

Paul

Sorry to see the car broke, but i hope you had fun at the ring, i'm sure you will need to test drive the car on the ring when you fix it

Stuart

s2art

Are you sure it actually broke? This happened to me twice, and it was just that the ball had popped out of the socket.
Is there a permanent fix for this problem?

UKKid35

No, not at all sure as I didn't get a chance to check. I was very lucky that my co-driver and I were offered a lift home, and because we both had to be at work the next day, we jumped at that offer, but it meant we had to leave immediately.

Fortunately I also have a lift back again at Easter to pick up the car, when I'll have longer to resolve the problem before returning, but I will have to take any parts needed with me, hence the query.

If the ball has just popped out and could have been fixed in seconds I will feel like a complete plonker.

s2art

It first happened to me on the M25 at rush hour on a Friday evening, on the way to Chester. As I couldnt see what had happened, I decided to continue without a clutch. 200 miles later with only a couple of gear changes I arrived. Its no problem to put the car in second gear and start it, it just smoothly pulls away. Later just match the revs before putting it into a higher gear, no prob. Thats the advantage of a big torquey engine.

GlenL

If it's the clutch _pedal_ then I'll wager the black hose under the car ruptured.

marton

Very sorry to hear this. Similar thing happened to me when my clutch slave cylinder failed.

Like most cars I found it is quite easy to drive a 928 without using the clutch pedal so long as the clutch is still engaged and connecting the motor to the rear wheels.
Put it in first gear, turn the key & away you go.
It changes up quite easily without using the clutch pedal. Down changes are a bit harder to get right, you need to put it in neutral and raise the revs lightly then bang it in. Best to avoid down changes, can be a bit crunchy.
If you have to stop put it in neutral and when you have stopped turn the motor off.
Then when it is time to go just put it in first gear, turn the key & away you go.

I personally would not drive on the Ring like this.....

Good luck

Marton

s2art

I concur with Marton, but I think it best to start in second. Puts less strain on the starter motor.

Cheburator

I was his co-pilot and it was a real brown pants moment as the clutch went on the fastest bit of the circuit where even my VW Golf GTI 16v nudges 130mph and the GT can easily get to 140+ mph... We were lucky that we could coast to a safer place. I think it is the ball joint as the pedal offered no resistance when I moved it...

marton

Ok with me, or even 3rd gear if you want. Maybe only use 3rd & 5th gears?

Marton

marton

You mean the last straight

Or Fuchsrohre, or?

Hope he had the full leather upholstery...

Marton

John Speake

I have lots of those metal ball joints in stock !!

s2art

John, is the metal ball joint an improvement to the standard fitment?

John Speake

It's an improvement because it is metal, the standard part is plastic, and is a common cause of failure.

I hope that in Paul's case he is lucky and that is the problem with his clutch.

s2art

John, can you clarify a little more? The socket is also plastic no? Does the metal ball prevent the popping out problem?