Diag. help pleeeeese...

[CRZYHRSGT]

Dear Fellow Stangnetters,
Over the past couple weeks my clutch pedal has been getting stiffer and it seems like only after it's been used a few times (like it-town driving) it starts creeking around what seems to be the firewall / pedal cluster. Is this the tell-tale sign of a cable going bad, or should I plan on spending a Saturday on my back taking my tranny out somewhere in the near future?

-Creeky in Ohio

 

[nwapache]

Thats strange...you could reasonably expect your pedal to feel mushy, I can't imagine what would make it feel 'stiffer'....

 

[CRZYHRSGT]

I know...there are times when I can get the pedal about 3/4 of the way and then I really have to labor to get it the rest of the way down.

 

[propaganda382]

I bought my 98GT 1 1/2 yrs ago and my clutch has always been rock hard, had an exhuast put on this weekend and the guys i had do it ****ed with the clutch adjustment, now its stiffer, and its got alot more play right where it engages, they told me it was bad and i needed a new one real soon. Before they messed with it i could do dumps at 3500 and it would never slip......now i cant

 

[the98stang]

my clutch makes a squeeky sound near the firewall when pushed in too

does something need to be lubed?

 

[QDRHRSE]

There are two things that it could be. Cable getting ready to brake or clutch about to fail. They don't always get soft. Depends on the type of clutch too. Just my opinion....

 

[miller766]

I have had the same problem with my clutch since I bought it but mind only does it every once and a while.

 

[CRZYHRSGT]

There are two things that it could be. Cable getting ready to brake or clutch about to fail. They don't always get soft. Depends on the type of clutch too. Just my opinion....

Its a 3650 with the stock clutch and cable, almost 60k on the ticker. I'm going to the garage now to see if anything is bound up or if there's anything to lube. Beers are open and the Ohio State game kickoff is in an hour, so this might take a while...

 

[macdstr8up]

osu 4tw

 

[CRZYHRSGT]

Okay, most importantly I've still got a little over a 12-pack in the fridge. Second, still tied game at 0. Third, the noise...

I went out, twisted like a pretzel and lubed as best as I could all the springs as well as the cable going into the firewall. I took it out and drove it and it felt a little better, but when I got close to home it started getting stiffer and as I backed up the driveway I could hear the noise. I opened the door and it actually sounds like it's coming from under the car (noise travelling thru the cable / firewall?). Possibly the T.O. bearing? I'm going to crawl under it tomorrow to further investigate...

 

[CRZYHRSGT]

Well, I've given up and am now searching for a clutch kit and possibly a flyheel (lighter, of course). If it is the T.O. bearing going bad does anyone know how long after they start showing themselves do they actually go out?

 

[Mike97gt]

A lot of times what happens is the pivot ball wears into the clutch fork and causes the pedal to be extremely stiff. since you need to remove the trans to replace the pivot ball and clutch fork you may want to try a new cable first then go to the hard stuff.

In my old car I had to replace everything, T/O bearing, clutch,clutch fork, pivot ball and cable

 

[Torinalth]

i had the same thing and fixed it with an adjustable clutch cable.. the cable sucked for longevity and its being replaced this weekend with a stock cable and firewall adjuster. but for some reason i needed to tigeten it to make it easier... go figure, but it worked. give it a shot, cheap attempt.

Torinalth

 

[CRZYHRSGT]

i had the same thing and fixed it with an adjustable clutch cable.. the cable sucked for longevity and its being replaced this weekend with a stock cable and firewall adjuster. but for some reason i needed to tigeten it to make it easier... go figure, but it worked. give it a shot, cheap attempt.

Torinalth

So a stock cable and a firewall adjuster like this one? What about a quadrant like this? I'm all for trying that route...heck of a lot easier than dropping the tranny out to do a clutch .

 

[DerekStangGT]

Its a 3650 with the stock clutch and cable, almost 60k on the ticker.

i have 51K miles on my car. im on my second clutch (SPEC stg II) and im about to have to install another one in under 5K miles

 

[CRZYHRSGT]

i have 51K miles on my car. im on my second clutch (SPEC stg II) and im about to have to install another one in under 5K miles

Man, I must drive like a Nancy View attachment 437484

 

[HoustonGT]

i have 51K miles on my car. im on my second clutch (SPEC stg II) and im about to have to install another one in under 5K miles

Wow, do you do 10k clutch drops at every light?
BTW, You haven't been postin as much as you used to. Good to see you back man

 

[Torinalth]

yes, those two items will be fine... however hold off till this weekend... the new OEM clutch cable is different.. they changed the cable for our cars and i couldnt tell just by looking if it will work with a FW adjuster or not. leme check it out so you dont burn some unneeded cash.

Torinalth

 

[Disturbed One]

I've noticed mine has gotten stiffer for some reason here too. We adjusted it at one point and it felt nice, took it to the track and a few days later it was starting to feel stiffer... But I've noticed it only really does it when it's been cooler outside and hasn't been drove. The colder it is outside the stiffer it feels. Maybe the weather has something to deal with it partially.

 

[CRZYHRSGT]

yes, those two items will be fine... however hold off till this weekend... the new OEM clutch cable is different.. they changed the cable for our cars and i couldnt tell just by looking if it will work with a FW adjuster or not. leme check it out so you dont burn some unneeded cash.

Torinalth

Sweet...good lookin' out. I was looking at the whole Steeda package and it looks like it's cheaper than getting the adjuster/quadrant/stock cable, but if you think the stocker will last longer then money well spent. Looks like that place that I linked to has everything as well as my headlights with the clear markers (now I have a reason to place an order with them and get the lights ).