Fire Wall Clutch Adjuster

93gtmustang

10 Year Member
Oct 21, 2006
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Anyone ever install one of theses?
I bought one from Ford Racing, but it was never installed.
I have a new T-5z, and a new King Cobra Clutch set up on my 93 Mustang.
The clutch catches close to the floor.
I want to have more play in the clutch pedal.
When I drag race, the car bogs because the clutch is catching so quickly.
Should I bother with the fire wall adjuster or just climb under the car and adjust?
Also, how do I adjust the clutch? I've never done this before. I don't have the self adjusting ratchet on the pedal. There is an adjustment nut where the cable goes into the clutch fork.
Thanks for all the help!
 
first junk that cable and get and oem non adjustable, plus the one you have is streched really bad and you will no doubt have problems trying to adjust after you install the fwa. if you search just about all the guys on here recommend it. this one of the first things i did. some modification needs to be done to the cable so it will fit into the fwa mainly removing the big rubber grommet and trimming the plastic ring, maximum motorsports sells a oem cable already setup to work with thier fwa it may work the ford one.

installing the adjuster is easy, mine whent right into the hole in the fire wall. also right now your are adjusted to loose and thats why you are grabbing right at the floor to tight you grap up high. you want to try and get it about 1/2 way or maybe acoulpe of inches up of the floor. you will have to play with it once you get the new stuff in. screw your fwa in so you can get everything hooked up then work your way out until you get to grap at the right spot. someone will jump in if I'm not totally right but I think I'm close.
 
What cable do you have now? If it's the Ford adjustable cable, it should have enough adjustment to move the point of engagement around. I really liked my Ford adjustable cable.

If you have an OEM quadrant/pawl, you just pull up on the clutch pedal to adjust it.

Green's FWA thoughts sounded good to me. I just adjust mine so there's a hint of preload on the cable; others go for zero lash.

Good luck.
 
i REALLY like my pro 5.0 quadrant and firewall adj. that quadrant was the easiest thing to install and the firewall adjuster is a quality piece. along with my fms adjustable cable, i give it 2 thumbs up! :nice::nice:

QuadrantADJUSTER792004.jpg
 
Definitely get an aftermarket quadrant if you don't already have one. Use an OEM NON-adjustable cable, and a firewall adjuster. I like mine adjusted as high up as possible, which makes it a lot easier to shift fast. Just don't adjust it so tight that it doesn't let the clutch engage completely. Although I'm not a fan of them, I have a UPR quadrant and fwa in mine just because my buddy had them laying around. The quadrant was kind of a bitch to install, but otherwise it was really simple, and everything works great.
 
I have a Ford Racing #M-7553-B302 clutch cable, adjustable with quadrant.
http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts/part_details.asp?PartKeyField=1886
And M-7554-A firewall adjuster.
http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts/part_details.asp?PartKeyField=6729
Right now I have about 2, 2-1/2 not quite 3 inches off the floor before it catches. I want to try it about half way for drag racing purposes. I don't think the cable is stretched. It's pratically new.
I really don't want to buy a new cable setup right now seeing I just got this one.
So if I want to adjust what I have now, what do I do?
Hissin50, what do you mean by a hint of preload.
Thanks for the hepl
 
I cant imagine any issue when using an adjustable cable and FWA - as I recall there are kits just like that. One gets the gross adjustment close with the cable and uses the FWA to fine tune.

Regarding the preload, you adjust the cable so you just remove all the slack (there's no slack and you have not put tension on the cable - zero lash). Then I put just a tiny bit of preload on the cable (turning the adjuster just a tiny bit). This keeps the quadrant from chattering (I believe if you look at the install instructions for your FWA, it will even say this. The instructions are available online too).

Good luck.
 
Thanks Hissin50. Now I understand the preload.
Putting the fire wall adjuster topic aside.
I'm holding off on the fire wall adjuster and going to do the adjusting of the clutch from under the car.
How do I set the clutch to catch at a higher point.
For example, clutch engagement at about half way or even more towards the top.
I trying to the get the best pedal position for lauching and 60' times at the drag strip.
Thanks for all your help and patience.
Sorry, I never have adjusted a clutch before.
 
I'm holding off on the fire wall adjuster and going to do the adjusting of the clutch from under the car.
How do I set the clutch to catch at a higher point.
For example, clutch engagement at about half way or even more towards the top.
I trying to the get the best pedal position for lauching and 60' times at the drag strip.
Thanks for all your help and patience.
Sorry, I never have adjusted a clutch before.

You really dont want to use the clutch adjustment to set the pedal height. Some folks (MM for one, as I recall) sell a kit that modifies the pedal height.

As you can see otherwise, the issue is that to have the clutch engage closer to the floor, you have put slack into the cable. This can lead to TOB noise (with zero lash, the TOB is just kissing the clutch's diaphram fingers, which is where it should be. With slack in the cable, the TOB no longer kisses the diaphram fingers necessarily and it can make noise and lead to the TOB's demise). It can also lead to quadrant noise.

If you want the clutch to engage closer to the top, you have to preload the cable. This can wear the TOB out prematurely and if adjusted too high, keeps the clutch from engaging completely (it slips).

If it were me, I would consider a kit to modify the pedal adjustment itself (like the MM or whomever kits) or just try to modify your driving style to accomodate using the clutch at it's correct adjustment.

MHO.

Good luck.
 
You really dont want to use the clutch adjustment to set the pedal height. Some folks (MM for one, as I recall) sell a kit that modifies the pedal height.

As you can see otherwise, the issue is that to have the clutch engage closer to the floor, you have put slack into the cable. This can lead to TOB noise (with zero lash, the TOB is just kissing the clutch's diaphram fingers, which is where it should be. With slack in the cable, the TOB no longer kisses the diaphram fingers necessarily and it can make noise and lead to the TOB's demise). It can also lead to quadrant noise.

If you want the clutch to engage closer to the top, you have to preload the cable. This can wear the TOB out prematurely and if adjusted too high, keeps the clutch from engaging completely (it slips).

If it were me, I would consider a kit to modify the pedal adjustment itself (like the MM or whomever kits) or just try to modify your driving style to accomodate using the clutch at it's correct adjustment.

MHO.

Good luck.


that is one of the best explanations i have read in awhile. Hissin50 is right on the money.remember you are using your cable for proper clutch engagement not pedal height adjusment if that is why you want the fwa or even a adjustable cable you are going to be replacing clutches. I would use the fwa just read the inst. on how to modify the cable, this will be way better than geting on you back to do it. it sounds like you def. are the type of driver that would like to use a pedal adjustment kit, maximum motorsorts CL-7. best of luck.