2002 GT - Best Clutch / cable setup

[Irish50]

I have a 2002 GT with a stock engine; the most that may happen to this car is exhaust and maybe a new throttle body and plenum.
I am now driving a lot more than I used to and my clutch is very hard. It is not so bad on the drive to work but after 10 hours it is a bear for the drive home in traffic. I think that someone put in a Heavy Duty clutch of some sort but do not know for sure since I bought it used.
I want to know what clutch would give me the lightest pedal effort and what cable and quadrant would go best with it.

Also, I might just replace the cable and quadrant and firewall adjuster to see if that helps, what would work best that would also work with a new clutch?

Thanks for the help, my left leg is getting to look bigger than my right.
Jason

 

[ChillPhatCat]

I have weakness in my legs due to a disability, and as such, for a different reason am in the same boat as you. What you're describing is probably just the stock clutch... if you've never driven another stang, I can see where this would seem like a crazy stiff clutch. I installed my MM clutch quadrant and firewall adjuster primarily to help my left leg out, it doesn't decrease pedal effort, but does decrease the throw of the pedal (which you may have noticed is also quite high compared to other cars), and thus improves the geometry... it puts your leg in a more powerful position and essentially increases your mechanical advantage. Those two mods were enough to make it possible for me to drive without having to coax my leg with my hand. Also, you don't need to replace the cable, the Ford one is about the best you can get and works with aftermarket quadrants and firewall adjusters with minor modification.

At some point down the road I will be looking at upgrading my clutch to a twin-disc setup (unfortunately fairly expensive), something that has a little more clamping force than a stocker, but set up to be lighter than the stock clutch. Multi disc clutches have the advantage of being able to apply more force than single disc clutches with less effort by the clutch fork, so in theory you should be able to get one made or find one that will offer equal or less pedal effort for the same or greater than stock clamping force.

Of course, I could be wrong and you might not have a stock clutch... I'd say the pedal effort is about 45 lbs for my stocker, if I were to make a guess. I apologize in advance if I've simplified my post too much for you, not knowing how much you understand on the subject.

 

[97predator]

03/04 Cobra clutch and MM cable/firewall adjuster/quadrant

 

[Kilgore Trout]

You can debate what is the best clutch forever, stock term clutches were very heavy but the OEM replacements are much lighter.

There is no debating the best cable, that would be the OEM cable. Adjustable cables FTMFL.

 

[fiveoho]

03/04 Cobra clutch and MM cable/firewall adjuster/quadrant

+1 for the maximum motorsport cable. very smooth engagement and excellent quality

 

[Rickyll7]

I'm pretty sure MM uses the stock cable.

 

[ChillPhatCat]

I'm pretty sure MM uses the stock cable.

Yeah, AFAIK it's the stock piece with the modifications made to it to go with the firewall adjuster... so not bad, IF you needed a new cable and already had the adjuster. But seriously the mod takes 5 mins, not worth installing a new cable just for that. I did the adjuster and quadrant in about 20 mins without even removing my front seat.

 

[ChillPhatCat]

You can debate what is the best clutch forever, stock term clutches were very heavy but the OEM replacements are much lighter.
.

He has a GT, not a cobra.

 

[Irish50]

I have had a 98 GT and 94 GT and neither was this hard. My 67 stang was an auto. The car came from a dusty area with a lot of dirt roads and i wonder if there could be dust/ dirt built up inside the cable. I only have about 69K miles on the car. Another issue is the clutch seams to be starting to engage strangely like it may be slipping a little at first, or could the cable be stretched?

 

[trinity_gt]

I have a 2002 GT with a stock engine; the most that may happen to this car is exhaust and maybe a new throttle body and plenum.
I am now driving a lot more than I used to and my clutch is very hard. It is not so bad on the drive to work but after 10 hours it is a bear for the drive home in traffic. I think that someone put in a Heavy Duty clutch of some sort but do not know for sure since I bought it used.
I want to know what clutch would give me the lightest pedal effort and what cable and quadrant would go best with it.

Also, I might just replace the cable and quadrant and firewall adjuster to see if that helps, what would work best that would also work with a new clutch?

Thanks for the help, my left leg is getting to look bigger than my right.
Jason

On a stock car it'd be surprising if a past replacement wasn't just another OE stock or equivalent part.

A very stiff pedal is almost certainly being caused by the clutch cable. I'd just replace that to start, with an OE part, and see if the pedal effort improves at all. Leave the pedal and quadrant and all that other nonsense alone unless they're actually broken.

 

[ChillPhatCat]

On a stock car it'd be surprising if a past replacement wasn't just another OE stock or equivalent part.

A very stiff pedal is almost certainly being caused by the clutch cable. I'd just replace that to start, with an OE part, and see if the pedal effort improves at all. Leave the pedal and quadrant and all that other nonsense alone unless they're actually broken.

True, if it feels harder than other GTs (in my experience, 79-04 GT's all have about the same pedal feel) it's probably just a worn cable. My point still stands on the geometry though, an aftermarket quadrant/adjuster will improve the mechanical advantage if he still wants more after that point.

 

[twogts4us]

Swap to a new OEM cable and see if it's better...before swapping the clutch...how many miles?

 

[Maxpowers]

Swap to a new OEM cable and see if it's better...before swapping the clutch...how many miles?

I only have about 69K miles on the car. Another issue is the clutch seams to be starting to engage strangely like it may be slipping a little at first, or could the cable be stretched?

Did you try to adjust the clutch pedal? (in regards to the strange engagement)

I would agree with checking the cable first. I'm not sure the cable would be damaged at the low mileage but anything is possible.

 

[Irish50]

I wish I had a place to look at it, if I get caught at my apartment they will probably have a cow, plus I would have to use my spare tire jack...
If I try to work on it at home, how hard is it to remove the cable to inspect it? I have done a lot of work on cars but nothing on clutches. Well, I had a 89 240sx that my father and I took apart the transmission and replaced a bunch of bearings on it and installed a clutch with less miles, but it had a hydraulic clutch.

 

[hotdog71]

I would say it takes about 15-20 minutes to remove the cable. But you could just disconnect it at both ends and see if there is any friction.

Just a thought

 

[Mike97gt]

Many times I have found the pivot ball the clutch fork rides on is worn and causes a stiff pedal. That happens to these cars as they age.

When you do the clutch replace the pivot ball and inspect the socket in the clutch fork for damage.