Clutch Pedal Popped, now sounds weird.

[soctty7676]

Background first: UPR quadrant/cable kit over a year ago (installed by me). New clutch/pressure plate, tob, and pilot bearing about 5 months ago (installed by shop).

On my way to work this morning, I pushed my clutch in and all of a sudden heard this loud pop and could feel it through the clutch pedal (thought the cable busted). Now the pedal feels spongy and every time I push the clutch in I hear this weird noise like the cable is going tink tink tink (pitch gets higher the farther it gets pushed in). Also you can feel each one of these "tinks" through the pedal.

Unfortunately, I have to drive the car home 10 miles before I can look at it. Pending it makes it home, any advice on what I should look for when I take it apart? I am going to first take the quadrant out and the cable out of the firewall and look for any breakage or signs of damage (hope it sticks out like a sore thumb or I probably won't notice it).

Thanks!
Scott

 

[Uncle Meat]

Sounds like maybe the cable came off the quadrant or is misaligned and riding on the edge of it. Maybe that tink-tink-tink is the cable catching on the quadrant hooks?

U.M.

 

[soctty7676]

Sounds like maybe the cable came off the quadrant or is misaligned and riding on the edge of it. Maybe that tink-tink-tink is the cable catching on the quadrant hooks?

U.M.

Hey, I bet you're right! I have been meaning to adjust my clutch lately because it has been running a little on the loose side causing a rattle noise from the clutch quadrant.

I put the cable in the second hook. Since it was loose, I bet the cable came up and out of the groove/track and the pop was it popping off the outside of the quadrant, and now it is rubbing against the edge of the qaudrant instead of riding in the groove (causing the sponginess/noises).

Now, my question is, is is safe to drive 10 miles home like this? And yes, it is quite a bit of stop and go. I am in work clothes and would rather deal with it at home in the garage.

Thanks!

 

[Uncle Meat]

Hey, I bet you're right! I have been meaning to adjust my clutch lately because it has been running a little on the loose side causing a rattle noise from the clutch quadrant.

I put the cable in the second hook. Since it was loose, I bet the cable came up and out of the groove/track and the pop was it popping off the outside of the quadrant, and now it is rubbing against the edge of the qaudrant instead of riding in the groove (causing the sponginess/noises).

Now, my question is, is is safe to drive 10 miles home like this? And yes, it is quite a bit of stop and go. I am in work clothes and would rather deal with it at home in the garage.

Thanks!

As long as the clutch is still disengaging enough to allow a gear change without grinding.... and the cable doesn't come off COMPLETELY! Would really suck to be rolling up to a line of stopped traffic and depress the clutch only to have the car keep moving!


U.M.

 

[soctty7676]

Well, I couldn't stand it so I went out and started messing with it at lunch. I ended up unhooking the cable and pulled it through the firewall. This is the cable that came with the UPR kit.

The freakin thing was almost snapped!!!! Everything was routed correctly, and it was even inline with the firewall adjuster. It has 3 main cables in it all wrapped around each other. 2 out of these 3 were snapped. I ended up taking it very easy going home since there is less traffic at lunch time, then came back to work via motorcycle.

What the heck happened??? This cable is only around a year old. It doesn't appear that it rubbed on anything (from looking at the cable, but it's pretty much fried), just broke. The end of the sheath had a bunch of tore up stuff in it. Looked like chewed up insulation. What the heck could this be from?

What cable do I buy now? OEM? Also, I have the 3 hook quadrant. Which hook do you guys use? I was on the middle one. Should I be using a different one to releave stress on the cable?

Any advice would be appreciated before I give the dealer $90 for a new cable.

My car must love me. It breaks parts and still manages to get me home! My crank pully broke on me and somehow the belt wrapped itself around what was left on the crank and got me home.

Thanks!

 

[Mike97gt]

the tink tink tink is the sound of a partialy torn cable. i had to nurse a customers car back to the shop with one a while back.

well the ford cable is probaly the best. i have the steeda cable in my car and it seems to be fine. if the steeda cable could survive my bad pivot ball and clutch fork that made the clutch feel like i was tring to push a truck out of the way with one foot, then it can survive anything.

 

[soctty7676]

Thanks for the reply, I just ordered the cable from my local dealer $94.08, Ouch! But it's more than worth that to not have it snap on me in the middle of traffic!

 

[Uncle Meat]

Most people use the original a.k.a. stock clutch cable when they install an aftermarket quadrant and firewall adjuster. I know I did. The stock cable usually lasts for 100,000+ miles on most cars so why replace it?

U.M.

 

[soctty7676]

Well, I took everything apart and did notice there was quite a bit of aluminum rubbed off on the right-inside of the quadrant. Looks like I am going to have to put some spacers in there to keep everything aligned and keep the cable from rubbing.

 

[soctty7676]

Well, put the stock cable on. Man, what a pain trimming that thing to fit! Anyways, I am very very VERY glad I went with the stock cable. I just about pushed the freakin clutch pedal through the floorboard it made such a difference!

That UPR cable must have been a cheap piece of crap! I put that on about a year ago and I remember it feeling stiff when I put it on.

Advice to anyone interested.....Use the aftermarket quadrant, firewall adjuster, but stick with the stock cable.

 

[dollarbill]

Well, put the stock cable on. Man, what a pain trimming that thing to fit! Anyways, I am very very VERY glad I went with the stock cable. I just about pushed the freakin clutch pedal through the floorboard it made such a difference!

That UPR cable must have been a cheap piece of crap! I put that on about a year ago and I remember it feeling stiff when I put it on.

Advice to anyone interested.....Use the aftermarket quadrant, firewall adjuster, but stick with the stock cable.

I went through the exact same thing about a year ago. My cable broke as I turned into my drive! I called UPR and they sent me a new cable for like $16. I also had to use some hose clamps as spacers for the quadrant to properly align it. I think if I have anymore problems the stocker is going back on.