Stiffer/Shorter Clutch pedal

[BigChiefSmokem]

Well, to keep a long story short, i drove my cousins 2003 cobra and the clutch on that car is absolutely amazing. A little stiff, but perfect as far as when and where the friction point is, and how far the clutch pedal travels. Feels like the clutch is either in or out and grabs at a distinct point. Well, unfortunately my GT doesnt quite feel the same. My clutch feels mushy and soft and the pedal distance seems really far to push in. Also, it feels like the friction point on my clutch feels nonexistant, almost as if i'm riding the clutch until i get the foot off the pedal. My question is... What can i do to make my clutch more like my cousins 03 cobra? I was thinking of getting Steeda's double hook clutch quadrant, clutch cable and firewall adjuster. Should i go with the double hook clutch quadrant or the quick release clutch quadrant? WIll these alleviate my problems?

Also, want to add the car has 35K miles on it now, possible the stock clutch quadrant is bending?

Also, want to add, most of my performance parts on my daily driver are almost done... NOw i need 4.10 gears, cold air intake and springs/shocks!

 

[twogts4us]

Get all of the above (adj cable, quad (the single or dbl doesn't really matter - trust me, I have both and have swapped em back and forth with little or no difference) and the firewall adjuster) - and the big key, the solution to ALL the issues we had on my wife's 01...maximum motorsports simple but highly effective clutch pedal adjuster. I actually had to back it away from the firewall at first because it just felt too close. Now I want one for my 02 GT! Spend the $20 (and about $8 shipping) and you'll love it. I ordered it online on Sunday 2 weeks ago and it arrived on Friday, 5 days later...last Saturday we spent about 45 minutes installing it and it was all smiles. It does require an adjustable cable...at least. I'd recommend the whole setup for full adjustablility and control. Let me know if you have any questions about this one - I feel like an expert when it comes to this. We've messed around with it so much! I think we are finally done now! Yea!!! http://www.maximummotorsports.com/CL-7.asp

 

[BigChiefSmokem]

Get all of the above (adj cable, quad (the single or dbl doesn't really matter - trust me, I have both and have swapped em back and forth with little or no difference) and the firewall adjuster) - and the big key, the solution to ALL the issues we had on my wife's 01...maximum motorsports simple but highly effective clutch pedal adjuster. I actually had to back it away from the firewall at first because it just felt too close. Now I want one for my 02 GT! Spend the $20 (and about $8 shipping) and you'll love it. I ordered it online on Sunday 2 weeks ago and it arrived on Friday, 5 days later...last Saturday we spent about 45 minutes installing it and it was all smiles. It does require an adjustable cable...at least. I'd recommend the whole setup for full adjustablility and control. Let me know if you have any questions about this one - I feel like an expert when it comes to this. We've messed around with it so much! I think we are finally done now! Yea!!! http://www.maximummotorsports.com/CL-7.asp

I actually just got done reading a post where you sorted all this out. So, how does the clutch feel now? Nice and stiff, little travel distance and a definite "grabbing point?" Also, should i buy a new clutch cable, or just stick with the stock one?

 

[twogts4us]

I actually just got done reading a post where you sorted all this out. So, how does the clutch feel now? Nice and stiff, little travel distance and a definite "grabbing point?" Also, should i buy a new clutch cable, or just stick with the stock one?

The friction point is much easier to find, the travel distance is MUCH shorter ( quite a bit less than in my stock 02) and it can actually go shorter, but as I said, I thought it was too short when I had it adjusted all the way in.
The stiffness however comes from the clutch kit itself. It's not alot stiffer than stock with the King Cobra, but probably close to the Cobra Mustang you drove. We had a Spec 2 in their previously...now that was heavy.
As you saw in my other threads about this, our problem began when the KC clutch was installed. Adding the adjustable cable, firewall adjuster and quadrant did nothing for the problem - the pedal was just way too high and the release point was right at the top of the travel. The release point is still near the top, but with minimal clutch pedal travel, it is very easy to drive now and bang thru the gears with speed.
With the clutch pedal adjuster they say you need an aftermarket quadrant and either an adjustable cable or a firewall adjuster - I'd recommend both (meaning all three products, the quad, adj cable and firewall adjuster). This will give you all the adjustablility you could ever want and the ability to make fine adjustments at the firewall. I'd really recommend the whole kit. The steeda kit is $100., a little cheaper than Maximum Motorsports. Either one, I'd imagine, is quality stuff.

 

[SonicBlue2v03GT]

I actually just got done reading a post where you sorted all this out. So, how does the clutch feel now? Nice and stiff, little travel distance and a definite "grabbing point?" Also, should i buy a new clutch cable, or just stick with the stock one?

Just a quick tidbit of info. A while back I was talking to my buddy who read a writeup from MM about them doing a test of different cables and they found the stock cable to be superior to the other aftermarket clutch cables. I talked to someone from MM on the phone a couple of weeks ago asking about suspension stuff, and had brought that up and he confirmed that. I am personally happy with my Steeda setup, but if I had to do it over again...

http://www.maximummotorsports.com/cq.asp

P.S. im talking about the cable only and not the Firewall adjuster, etc.

 

[BigChiefSmokem]

Just a quick tidbit of info. A while back I was talking to my buddy who read a writeup from MM about them doing a test of different cables and they found the stock cable to be superior to the other aftermarket clutch cables. I talked to someone from MM on the phone a couple of weeks ago asking about suspension stuff, and had brought that up and he confirmed that. I am personally happy with my Steeda setup, but if I had to do it over again...

http://www.maximummotorsports.com/cq.asp

P.S. im talking about the cable only and not the Firewall adjuster, etc.

I've hard the same thing.. OKay, so if i have this straight, get the clutch quadrant, the firewall aduster and the MM Pedal adjuster and stick witht he stock cable... Right?

 

[twogts4us]

I've hard the same thing.. OKay, so if i have this straight, get the clutch quadrant, the firewall aduster and the MM Pedal adjuster and stick witht he stock cable... Right?

Yep! That will work. Personally I've heard the same about aftermarket cables, but like SonicBlue, I've had no problems with the aftermarket kit either.
So, your parts list is: MMCP-52 (quad and firewall adjuster w/o cable) $67.41
and: MMCL-7 (clutch pedal adjuster) $19.95

Of course, Steeda is great stuff as well...firewall adj & dual pu quad $74.90

Enjoy! And please feel free to PM me if you have any questions or install issues. Do yourself a favor and remove the driver's seat like they recommend - it's only 2 nuts and 2 bolts plus 1 electrical plug and it makes it much easier to get under the dash to swap the quad and install the pedal adjuster.

 

[AirWolf87]

I dont get it...why cant you use the pedal adjuster without an aftermarket quadrant and adjusting device?

 

[SonicBlue2v03GT]

Yep! That will work. Personally I've heard the same about aftermarket cables, but like SonicBlue, I've had no problems with the aftermarket kit either.
So, your parts list is: MMCP-52 (quad and firewall adjuster w/o cable) $67.41
and: MMCL-7 (clutch pedal adjuster) $19.95

Of course, Steeda is great stuff as well...firewall adj & dual pu quad $74.90

Enjoy! And please feel free to PM me if you have any questions or install issues. Do yourself a favor and remove the driver's seat like they recommend - it's only 2 nuts and 2 bolts plus 1 electrical plug and it makes it much easier to get under the dash to swap the quad and install the pedal adjuster.

Two-gt's, that is very cool of you to give the breakdown like that

I remember reading a thread or post by you recently about the MMCL-7. I am very tempted. A quicker shift and shorter release point eh? Sounds good, cant beat that price either. If only alot of the other mods were around the same price

 

[twogts4us]

I dont get it...why cant you use the pedal adjuster without an aftermarket quadrant and adjusting device?

You may be able to, but MM states you have to have a firewall adjuster or adjustable cable and an aftermarket quad. We already had all three, so it wasn't an issue for us. But realistically, I don't see why you couldn't do it without any of the above. It just changes the pedal height (which makes a huge difference).

 

[AirWolf87]

You may be able to, but MM states you have to have a firewall adjuster or adjustable cable and an aftermarket quad. We already had all three, so it wasn't an issue for us. But realistically, I don't see why you couldn't do it without any of the above. It just changes the pedal height (which makes a huge difference).

do you think without the adjuster the pedal extention might put more strain on the cable if not adjust to have a little more slack?

 

[KaPPaBaLL]

I've hard the same thing.. OKay, so if i have this straight, get the clutch quadrant, the firewall aduster and the MM Pedal adjuster and stick witht he stock cable... Right?

exactly right. Just for you info, you probably aren't finding the "grabbing point" of your clutch maybe because it's worn out. Time for new one.

 

[KaPPaBaLL]

btw. just ordered my clutch pedal adjuster.

 

[BigChiefSmokem]

exactly right. Just for you info, you probably aren't finding the "grabbing point" of your clutch maybe because it's worn out. Time for new one.

Time for a new clutch!?!?! With only 35K miles? the clutch is still grabbing fine... isnt slipping as far as i can tell.

 

[AirWolf87]

Time for a new clutch!?!?! With only 35K miles? the clutch is still grabbing fine... isnt slipping as far as i can tell.

put it in 4th or 5th gear and slam on the throttle at low rpms...see if it slips. if it does....time for a new one. It depends on how you drive. Clutches last up to aout 70k mile on most cars...but most cars dont have 260hp+ running through them and getting the beating of a mustang. Plus the stock one is crap

 

[BigChiefSmokem]

put it in 4th or 5th gear and slam on the throttle at low rpms...see if it slips. if it does....time for a new one. It depends on how you drive. Clutches last up to aout 70k mile on most cars...but most cars dont have 260hp+ running through them and getting the beating of a mustang. Plus the stock one is crap

Nah, i do that to test it every once in a while... Tried it today, no sllippage!

 

[KaPPaBaLL]

maybe your left foot lost all it's sensitivity

 

[AirWolf87]

maybe your left foot lost all it's sensitivity

lol after 35k miles of that stiff ass clutch it wouldnt surprise me. My origional clutch had that same grip problem, i put a king cobra in it and now it grips right at the floor and verry easy to tell the grip point.

 

[twogts4us]

do you think without the adjuster the pedal extention might put more strain on the cable if not adjust to have a little more slack?

Possibly... Any combo of parts can yield different results. (You say your KC grabs near the floor, well ours grabbed at the top!) That is why we went with all three aftermarket items. I was more confused at first with the different adjustablilty options, but now we know it pretty well. Even my wife was under the car...! (Heck, it's her car! - why should I do all the dirty work?)

 

[BigChiefSmokem]

maybe your left foot lost all it's sensitivity

Dude, that made me laugh out loud. Thanks for that, needed it after a long day at work!!!