Improved Clutch Action Dramatically
03-19-2012, 09:30 PM
#301
Drifting
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I went with the home depot spring to take the play out of the pedal. A year later I still love the mod. I'm over 50, have bad knees and I still don't find it hard to push in the clutch. The feel is totally linear now and it is much easier drive smoothly.
Either I'm lucky with my particular clutch or some of you need to hit the weight room.
Either I'm lucky with my particular clutch or some of you need to hit the weight room.
03-20-2012, 02:17 AM
#303
Drifting
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I have a question about a possible serious issue with this modification.
I did this procedure last week to my '02 C4. Yes, the clutch feels tighter, more sure. But.... I read somewhere (possibly in the factory service manual) that this spring has two functions. 1) To aid in depressing the clutch against the pressure plate springs and 2) to return the pedal to the fully up position. I noticed when removing the assembly, that the spring was in fact an overcenter arrangement, extending on both ends of the stroke. I have a small amount of free play in the pedal (maybe 1/4 inch?) and the pdeal is not held fully up without this booster spring inplace. While driving, if I put my foot against the side of the pedal, I can feel a vibration. If I pull the pedal up with my foot, the vibration disappears as the pedal comes up to the top of its stroke. My diagnosis of this situation is that possibly the pedal weight is keeping the pedal down at the end of its free play so that the throwout bearing is supporting the clutch pedal, not a return spring. If true,this would mean that the throwout bearing is alway spinning. Not sure if I like this arrangement. On the basis of having to pull the motor to prematurely replace a throwout bearing, I've decided to undo this modification, no matter how much it hurts to lay in the floor of the cockpit, upside down. I had no objections to the way the pedal fealt before the removal, just did it to see if it was better. I will oil the spring before reinstallation, although it did not cure the low pedal squeak as claimed earlier in this thread. Thoughts?
I did this procedure last week to my '02 C4. Yes, the clutch feels tighter, more sure. But.... I read somewhere (possibly in the factory service manual) that this spring has two functions. 1) To aid in depressing the clutch against the pressure plate springs and 2) to return the pedal to the fully up position. I noticed when removing the assembly, that the spring was in fact an overcenter arrangement, extending on both ends of the stroke. I have a small amount of free play in the pedal (maybe 1/4 inch?) and the pdeal is not held fully up without this booster spring inplace. While driving, if I put my foot against the side of the pedal, I can feel a vibration. If I pull the pedal up with my foot, the vibration disappears as the pedal comes up to the top of its stroke. My diagnosis of this situation is that possibly the pedal weight is keeping the pedal down at the end of its free play so that the throwout bearing is supporting the clutch pedal, not a return spring. If true,this would mean that the throwout bearing is alway spinning. Not sure if I like this arrangement. On the basis of having to pull the motor to prematurely replace a throwout bearing, I've decided to undo this modification, no matter how much it hurts to lay in the floor of the cockpit, upside down. I had no objections to the way the pedal fealt before the removal, just did it to see if it was better. I will oil the spring before reinstallation, although it did not cure the low pedal squeak as claimed earlier in this thread. Thoughts?
and thats me off my soap box. Mine is 1999 C2 996 Cab
03-21-2012, 01:11 AM
#304
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03-21-2012, 12:07 PM
#305
03-23-2012, 11:53 AM
#309
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05-21-2012, 09:49 PM
#310
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Spring back in.
I had problems with cruise control plus the clutch was really hard and figured I would put the spring back in. After doing maybe 100 miles it seems like the muscle memory takes over when changing gears and its way better than before. I will report in a weeks time if I stall the car, but I had couple stalls in traffic the last week anyways so not spring related, more like me being lazy in traffic in new city. But it looks promising. Take the spring off for few months learn the shifting distance and go back.
05-21-2012, 10:18 PM
#311
Drifting
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I had problems with cruise control plus the clutch was really hard and figured I would put the spring back in. After doing maybe 100 miles it seems like the muscle memory takes over when changing gears and its way better than before. I will report in a weeks time if I stall the car, but I had couple stalls in traffic the last week anyways so not spring related, more like me being lazy in traffic in new city. But it looks promising. Take the spring off for few months learn the shifting distance and go back.
I haven't stalled my car since I did the mod 10 months ago. As for being hard to push in the clutch, my 5' tall, 110 lb middle aged wife can drive it with no problems.
Some of you guys need to either man up or have your slave/accumulator checked.
05-21-2012, 11:55 PM
#312
Drifting
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Dummer and dumest... Try a little gas BEFORE releasing your clutch not visa versa. I always find it works much better that way. This thread sucks and so do the posters who take out the spring clutch assistor.
05-22-2012, 12:50 AM
#314
Drifting
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05-22-2012, 12:51 AM
#315
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^^doh^^