Clutch spring adjustment/replacement?
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Clutch spring adjustment/replacement?
I like the lighter feel of the 997 clutch that a friend has to my '02 C4s (new clutch kit installed last year so not a wearing clutch issue). Im using my car as a daily driver now and there is a lot of stop and go driving in the NY metro area that is taking its toll on my comfort and on the ball of my foot in particular.
Is the 996 clutch spring adjustable as some claim they were in the older/other models (see markb968 post of 9/3/01))?
Did they change the clutch spring on the 997 and is that the reason for the lighter feel? If so, can a 997 clutch spring be installed on a 996 to duplicate its feel? Is there an after market spring that would work?
Steve
Is the 996 clutch spring adjustable as some claim they were in the older/other models (see markb968 post of 9/3/01))?
Did they change the clutch spring on the 997 and is that the reason for the lighter feel? If so, can a 997 clutch spring be installed on a 996 to duplicate its feel? Is there an after market spring that would work?
Steve
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From: OP/Olathe KS
I like the lighter feel of the 997 clutch that a friend has to my '02 C4s (new clutch kit installed last year so not a wearing clutch issue). Im using my car as a daily driver now and there is a lot of stop and go driving in the NY metro area that is taking its toll on my comfort and on the ball of my foot in particular.
Is the 996 clutch spring adjustable as some claim they were in the older/other models (see markb968 post of 9/3/01))?
Did they change the clutch spring on the 997 and is that the reason for the lighter feel? If so, can a 997 clutch spring be installed on a 996 to duplicate its feel? Is there an after market spring that would work?
Steve
Is the 996 clutch spring adjustable as some claim they were in the older/other models (see markb968 post of 9/3/01))?
Did they change the clutch spring on the 997 and is that the reason for the lighter feel? If so, can a 997 clutch spring be installed on a 996 to duplicate its feel? Is there an after market spring that would work?
Steve
Did you buy your 996 new? If not, there is a chance the previous owner removed the spring altogether. A lot of owners do this (including myself) as it gives you a much better feel. It does stiffen up the pedal quite a bit, which it might be your case.
Peak underneath the dash with a flashlight and you will see if it is there or not. If removed, you will simply have to add one back. If it is there, ....
you are just a sissy! Go to the gym! ...(just kiddin'!).
Burning Brakes
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From: Zurich, Switzerland
However, you can change the spring. I first took out the OEM spring as for my taste the pedal felt too soft. Without a sping, the pedal doesn't release comletely, so you'll have issues with cruise control and a slightly "loose" pedal when released so I went to Sears, took the spring cylinder with me and checked out different spring rates, ending up with a very soft spring for less than $1. For me that's the best solution as my pedal feel is now stiff as I want it but also 100% releasing. If you get an even stiffer spring, then you'll achieve the opposite, easier going clutch pedal.
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To actually answer one of Steve's questions: no the 996 clutch spring is not adjustable.
However, you can change the spring. I first took out the OEM spring as for my taste the pedal felt too soft. Without a sping, the pedal doesn't release comletely, so you'll have issues with cruise control and a slightly "loose" pedal when released so I went to Sears, took the spring cylinder with me and checked out different spring rates, ending up with a very soft spring for less than $1. For me that's the best solution as my pedal feel is now stiff as I want it but also 100% releasing. If you get an even stiffer spring, then you'll achieve the opposite, easier going clutch pedal.
However, you can change the spring. I first took out the OEM spring as for my taste the pedal felt too soft. Without a sping, the pedal doesn't release comletely, so you'll have issues with cruise control and a slightly "loose" pedal when released so I went to Sears, took the spring cylinder with me and checked out different spring rates, ending up with a very soft spring for less than $1. For me that's the best solution as my pedal feel is now stiff as I want it but also 100% releasing. If you get an even stiffer spring, then you'll achieve the opposite, easier going clutch pedal.
I was thinking the same thing, but since I had not done the original spring mod, I didn't have a source for where to pruchase the spring, which would not have been much help.
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I checked under the dash and the spring case is there. It is covered with grease and now remember that when I bought the CPO’d car from the dealer he fixed a pedal squeak I complained about. I guess the spring was the cause and reason for the lube covering.
Wouldn’t a higher rate spring also cause the pedal to want to come back more? I think a lot of my discomfort is when I have the clutch depressed in stop and go traffic waiting to finally get back into 1st when it looks like traffic is soon to move again. The 997 seems to be both easier to depress (less resistance) and less wanting to return up.
Also, the curve of the clutch pedal is focused on the ball of my foot. Thinner the shoe the worse the sensation (a thick sneaker is better for me than a thin soled “driving shoe”). Would a flatter pedal more evenly disburse the pressure? Do any of the aluminum ones out there have a flat design?
Wouldn’t a higher rate spring also cause the pedal to want to come back more? I think a lot of my discomfort is when I have the clutch depressed in stop and go traffic waiting to finally get back into 1st when it looks like traffic is soon to move again. The 997 seems to be both easier to depress (less resistance) and less wanting to return up.
Also, the curve of the clutch pedal is focused on the ball of my foot. Thinner the shoe the worse the sensation (a thick sneaker is better for me than a thin soled “driving shoe”). Would a flatter pedal more evenly disburse the pressure? Do any of the aluminum ones out there have a flat design?
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Zurich, Switzerland
I checked under the dash and the spring case is there. It is covered with grease and now remember that when I bought the CPOd car from the dealer he fixed a pedal squeak I complained about. I guess the spring was the cause and reason for the lube covering.
Wouldnt a higher rate spring also cause the pedal to want to come back more? I think a lot of my discomfort is when I have the clutch depressed in stop and go traffic waiting to finally get back into 1st when it looks like traffic is soon to move again. The 997 seems to be both easier to depress (less resistance) and less wanting to return up.
Also, the curve of the clutch pedal is focused on the ball of my foot. Thinner the shoe the worse the sensation (a thick sneaker is better for me than a thin soled driving shoe). Would a flatter pedal more evenly disburse the pressure? Do any of the aluminum ones out there have a flat design?
Wouldnt a higher rate spring also cause the pedal to want to come back more? I think a lot of my discomfort is when I have the clutch depressed in stop and go traffic waiting to finally get back into 1st when it looks like traffic is soon to move again. The 997 seems to be both easier to depress (less resistance) and less wanting to return up.
Also, the curve of the clutch pedal is focused on the ball of my foot. Thinner the shoe the worse the sensation (a thick sneaker is better for me than a thin soled driving shoe). Would a flatter pedal more evenly disburse the pressure? Do any of the aluminum ones out there have a flat design?
2) If I recall it correct, the spring work in a way that the pedal does NOT want to come back more with a higher rate spring. I know what you mean and waiting at a traffic light was never an issue for me with the stock spring but with the lighter rate spring it's no fun to keep the pedal compressed for longer than 10 seconds.
3) I've the alu pedals from the Group buy and although they have a larger and maybe flatter surface, I'm sure there's only a marginal difference of pressure disbursement. The main difference makes the spring. Higher rate spring, easier going pedal and easier to keep it compressed; that's how I experienced it. It's a trade-off as a higher spring rate causes less pedal feel and loss of shift time and smoothness. As my 996 is a weekend and track toy, I went the "race" clutch pedal feel route. If it would be a daily commuter - I'd have bought a tip.
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Wouldnt a higher rate spring also cause the pedal to want to come back more? I think a lot of my discomfort is when I have the clutch depressed in stop and go traffic waiting to finally get back into 1st when it looks like traffic is soon to move again. The 997 seems to be both easier to depress (less resistance) and less wanting to return up.
If you have the stock spring in your 996 and you still feel the effort to depress the pedal is too high, you have wear-related problems in the clutch proper as the 996 has a very effortless clutch from the factory.
Note that clutch wear will also move the engagement point out so that you might be engaging the clutch in just about the place that the spring action pivots, causing the pedal to come out faster than you want. You can change the feel of this by putting in a softer spring (or removing the spring entirely) but I think you'll find that a new clutch is going to be the only thing that really fixes the feel of the engagement.
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I’ll try the less invasive procedure first since the clutch kit (but no fly wheel change) was aready done last year by the dealer as part of the pre-CPO process (A PPI turned up a RMS leak and they did the clutch kit install free). Maybe the last owner did the lighter spring route.
I know HWK said he went to Sears, but what size and “weight” do I ask for (I'll let my mechanic contort himself for the change).
I know HWK said he went to Sears, but what size and “weight” do I ask for (I'll let my mechanic contort himself for the change).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Zurich, Switzerland
Ill try the less invasive procedure first since the clutch kit (but no fly wheel change) was aready done last year by the dealer as part of the pre-CPO process (A PPI turned up a RMS leak and they did the clutch kit install free). Maybe the last owner did the lighter spring route.
I know HWK said he went to Sears, but what size and weight do I ask for (I'll let my mechanic contort himself for the change).
I know HWK said he went to Sears, but what size and weight do I ask for (I'll let my mechanic contort himself for the change).
Sears (at least the well sorted one in my neighborhood) has a whole shelf of springs. I went there with the spring cylinder and just tried various springs if they fit. It's easy if you look for a low rate spring as you can compress it with your hand and see if it fits in the cylinder. But already the stock spring is so stiff that you can't compress it with your hands. However, if you take the stock spring and the cylinder to the shop, you'll be able to find a different rate spring (higher or lower) just by comparison.
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