Fresh clutch, 600 miles later and disengage/engage problems

[DLo]

I bought a King Cobra clutch, new flywheel, pilot bearing, throw out bearing, and followed the writeup in this forum for my 94 GT. Everything seemed to be fine, and I followed the break in period for 500 miles. I'm at 600 something now, and all of a sudden the clutch is having problems. The pedal seems to go 3/4 of the way to the floor, and then engages. Really mushy feeling, almost like a brake pedal. I also found that with the clutch all the way to the floor, the car moves forward if on a level surface and I don't have my foot on the brake. What's going on? Kind of freaking out since this is my daily driver... any suggestions on what I should check? Would tranny fluid level have anything to do with it? Or could the tranny be dead? It does have problems with getting it into gear, I can get it into gear if the car's off, but when I start the engine, I can't get it into first. I limped home in first gear from the fast food joint, had to start the car with it in gear, and just drove home that way avoiding all the stops I could.

Would appreciate help and suggestions! TIA.

 

[R.J.]

When my clutch started to engage 3/4 the way to the floor it was my clutch cable stretching. I got worse until the pedal hit the floor and the clutch would not engage. Over a two day period of time.

 

[94-302-vert]

I agree, adjust that clutch cable....

 

[JOEGTS]

My 86GT did the same thing I replaced the factory clutch quadrant and cable assembly with an adjustable unit. I have the same clutch in my 95 with an adjustable unit from Steeda, works well.

 

[86bluecobra]

yes i was going to say odds are your clutch cable has stretched. nows a good time to replace it.

 

[DLo]

Actually, that was one of the things I totally forgot in the install. I didn't get a new clutch cable or fork.. can I just replace the clutch cable itself?

 

[HISSIN50]

If you have the stock cable/quadrant/pawl, you can pull up on the clutch pedal to try and adjust the cable.

You can buy just a new cable alone, but as others said, it is very wise to spend the extra few bucks to get a quadrant and FWA (you can get both for under 50 bucks, or spend up to 100 bucks for good stuff).

Good luck.

 

[wytstang]

Get the good stuff do it right the first time.....I just purchased UPR's Quick Click FWA and there triple hook quadrant for $88.71 to my door (Fl tax included). A huge thanks to Hissin50 (JT da man) for his advise (and the link you sent me a few months ago really helped).

 

[DLo]

Bought the ford motorsports adjustable cable and quadrant for 89 bucks at the dealership. The guy also told me there's a ball stud in the bell housing that might need changing? I bought it anyway since it was only 15 bucks. Probably do the cable first and see how that works out.

 

[91LX_5L]

Yeah check the adjustment on the cable man, make sure the quadrent is all good too (im sure its fine). Good luck

 

[HISSIN50]

Bought the ford motorsports adjustable cable and quadrant for 89 bucks at the dealership. The guy also told me there's a ball stud in the bell housing that might need changing? I bought it anyway since it was only 15 bucks. Probably do the cable first and see how that works out.

The ball stud should be for the fork pivot.

I agree to the do cable/quad first. Did pulling up on the pedal help? If not, since that sounds to be unacceptable freeplay, the quadrant/pawl teeth probably sheered.

I am curious - what does the quadrant look like? You might have gotten something similar to what I used to run - if so, I liked it quite a bit.

Good luck.

Danny - right back atcha brah. Every time I buy something, I wonder how much I'm getting ripped because I know you have a link to get the thing for half of what I'm paying. And you have certainly helped out in that regard before.

 

[DLo]

The quadrant is the metal Ford Motorsports piece... as far as I see, there's no teeth on it like the stock plastic one. I don't know how else to describe it though? Anyhow, I had my friend help me replace it, adjusted it to the right place, and all is well again!! Thanks so much guys.

 

[HISSIN50]

The quadrant is the metal Ford Motorsports piece... as far as I see, there's no teeth on it like the stock plastic one. I don't know how else to describe it though? Anyhow, I had my friend help me replace it, adjusted it to the right place, and all is well again!! Thanks so much guys.

Yep, that is how it should be. Only the stock quadrant (with a pawl) needs to mesh. Otherwise it is a crescent-shaped chunk of metal. Sounds like a winner, and we are glad to hear that fixed ya up!