Noob with clutch question

[Eleanor's Girl]

Hey everyone,

Let me go ahead and say that not only am I new to this forum, I am also new to Ford. My last car was a 30th Anniversary Camaro that I absolutely loved to death and now I'm driving a 98 GT. It took me a while to choose a Mustang community to join and you guys seem very friendly and informative so I'm happy to be here.

I just got the clutch replaced 2 days ago. This is my first manual tranny so I'm not sure how the pedal should feel but it seems alot looser than before I took it into the shop. The pedal used to be tight but now I keep killing it in first cuz I'm not used to the new feel. Is this normal? Can the pedal be adjusted? I also keep hearing a rattling sound from the shifter and it feels loose too. I think it might be the shift cable. Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

 

[lazerred02]

You should have some free travel at the top of the clutch pedal when it is adjusted properly, which it sounds like it is.

Does the car have the stock shifter or a short throw on it? You could pull the shifter bezel up and look to see if everything is bolted down tight on the shifter.

 

[Mike97gt]

Hey everyone,

Let me go ahead and say that not only am I new to this forum, I am also new to Ford. My last car was a 30th Anniversary Camaro that I absolutely loved to death and now I'm driving a 98 GT. It took me a while to choose a Mustang community to join and you guys seem very friendly and informative so I'm happy to be here.

I just got the clutch replaced 2 days ago. This is my first manual tranny so I'm not sure how the pedal should feel but it seems alot looser than before I took it into the shop. The pedal used to be tight but now I keep killing it in first cuz I'm not used to the new feel. Is this normal? Can the pedal be adjusted? I also keep hearing a rattling sound from the shifter and it feels loose too. I think it might be the shift cable. Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

how close to the floor do you have to keep the clutch pedal to keep from stalling?

if it's just about right to the floorboard that is bad.. pull up on the clutch pedal that will cause it to auto adjust.

If it still needs to be pinned to the rug then you have a problem with your quadrant and I would replace it with a aftermarket one.

I get a lot of mustangs in the shop with the clutch adjustment way the hell out, I don't know how some of you drive with how loose some of these are.

 

[Eleanor's Girl]

how close to the floor do you have to keep the clutch pedal to keep from stalling?

if it's just about right to the floorboard that is bad.. pull up on the clutch pedal that will cause it to auto adjust.

If it still needs to be pinned to the rug then you have a problem with your quadrant and I would replace it with a aftermarket one.

I get a lot of mustangs in the shop with the clutch adjustment way the hell out, I don't know how some of you drive with how loose some of these are.

Lazzered02 I have a stock shifter not a short throw.

I have to keep the clutch in about half way to keep it from stalling. First gear seems to be the hardest one for me to get used to since I've gotten it back from the shop. I keep killing it.

Should I take it back to the shop and tell him to look at the quadrant and also my shifter? Or are those things he would have noticed when he ripped out my tranny to replace my clutch?

 

[tag4car]

First,
Welcome In :SNSign: !!!!!!!!!!

try this, with the car OFF, clutch in and move to first, let out clutch, using top of your left foot pull the pedal back towards you/seat and keep pulling. If equipped with it you should have heard a couple ratchet like clicks, if you did, then proceed as normal and see if that made a difference

 

[blackfang]

IIRC, they all have the adjuster on the clutch pedal unless it has been removed. Like it has been said. With the car off, in gear, just pull up on the clutch pedal slightly until you hear clicking.

Welcome BTW.

 

[Eleanor's Girl]

I'll try moving the clutch while the car is off. Thanks for the welcome guys.