Broken Clutch Cable

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TeamTech

New Member

Mar 21, 2004

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May 18, 2004

#1

• May 18, 2004

• #1

hey i was wondering what you guys know about clutch cables and clutches? i broke my clutch cable on saturday and attempted to fix it sunday, and came upon a problem.....the clutch cable i broke was an adjustable clutch and instead of buying a new one, we just took one off of my buddys gt that is waiting for a motor, but its not adjustable....i have an 87 and the one we took it off of was an 88....now for the problem....my clutch feels like its not being let out completly...almost as if the cable is too short, which is preventing the clutch from being fully engaged. my question is, do i need to go back to an adjustable cable? i had absoultly NO problems with my clutch before this.....please help!

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

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May 18, 2004

#2

• May 18, 2004

• #2

need more info. do you have the stock POS quadrant, or an aftermarket one? if the former, it has an allowance for adjustment, but seldom works.

however, you are saying the clutch is not engaging all the way....like if you put it in 5th gear and let the clutch out, it almost does not stall.... so not likely a stock quadrant adjustment issue...

were it me, i would get a new cable (if stock cable, get a FWA) and aftermarket quadrant) or an aftermarket cable (not as well liked, but allows adjustment w/o a FWA).

also, if you have an aftermarket quadrant, what hook is the cable hooked to?

good luck.

 

T

TeamTech

New Member

Mar 21, 2004

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May 18, 2004

#3

• May 18, 2004

• #3

umm quadrant? excuse my ignorance, but whats that? the thing i hooked my cable too is a metal peice coming out of the tranny, and i noticed that it was a bit loose.....by not letting the clutch out, i mean it feels asthough my foot is riding the clutch, and when i give it gas the rpms will go up but with very little power making it too the wheels.

 

NeQX

Founding Member

Sep 30, 2002

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Infront Of You, NY

May 18, 2004

#4

• May 18, 2004

• #4

hah, quadrant is the half moon thing above the clutch pedal if you stick your head under there cable runs from that through firewall into engine bay and underneath car to clutch fork, the quadrant (half moon) moves while you push pedal down causing cable to pull on clutch fork allowing your clutch to engage, you could have a stock plastic quadrant, or a steeda, and i believe ford motorsport makes one too.

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

31,179

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May 18, 2004

#5

• May 18, 2004

• #5

yep - and in any case, get it fixed. otherwise you are gonna fry that clutch soon. i would probably try a new cable first (or atleast buy one and compare it to the one you have in there)...and go from there.
good luck.

 

V

v8only

Active Member

Jul 3, 2003

2,378

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May 18, 2004

#6

• May 18, 2004

• #6

I wrote a really good article on clutch cables, non adjustable, adjustable, clutch quadrants, and how to adjust everything. I have a lot of experience in this area. PLEASE take the time to read this, should answer most, if not all of your questions. After reading it, if you still have questions, reply back to this thread.

http://50stangs.com/techarticles/clutchcableadjustment.html

right now you are using a non-adjustable cable with an aftermarket quadrant designed for an adjustable cable.

you want to keep the non adjustable oem cable you have now, mate it up with a firewall adjuster, and a double hook steeda or triple hook upr quadrant.

Read my article for more info.

 

B

black'vert

New Member

Apr 20, 2004

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May 18, 2004

#7

• May 18, 2004

• #7

Question for v8only :

would a flexing quadrant cause the trans to be tough to put into gear when the pedal is all the way to the floor? Even when the clutch cable is preloaded to the fork?

 

V

v8only

Active Member

Jul 3, 2003

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May 18, 2004

#8

• May 18, 2004

• #8

It can. if your quadrant is flexing, it's going to add slack to the cable which will make the adjustment too loose essentially. Although not as common, I have seen this happen frequently, especially if you have a very stiff clutch.

Try jacking up your wheels and support with jackstands. put in first, fire it up, put ebrake down, leave foot on clutch. If your wheels are spinning, you are adjusted too loose. Tighten more, or investigate for further issues such as flexing quadrant.

I'm betting you are still too loose.

 

91LX302

Founding Member

Jun 22, 2002

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Boston, MA

May 18, 2004

#9

• May 18, 2004

• #9

v8only, that's a great article on clutch adjustment

 

V

v8only

Active Member

Jul 3, 2003

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May 19, 2004

#10

• May 19, 2004

• #10

thanks man!!! if i've left anything out, let me know.

between my two mustangs, my bro's two mustangs, and my friends mustangs, i've done a clutch job/adjustement etc 5-6 times in the past 12 months alone, so I figured I would write it down since I wind up retyping everything over and over to help people.

the first few years of mustang ownership I hadn't heard of the net and I was plagued with adjustment issues, and nobody, including the dealer could tell me how to adjust the damn thing. It took one transmission and one clutch and 4 snapped clutch cables before I figured it out on my own.

Then I found the internet and the message boards day late and a doller short