Clutch engagement help!

tofuboy · Postby **tofuboy** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 1:12 am

Hi guys,

I installed an exedy sport clutch march this year after the stock had died and started slipping. This was installed by a professional.
Recently, for the past few months (since around June), the clutch started to lose the "bitey'ness" it had when it was first installed. However, I've noticed last week that the engagement is now really high. there about 2cm of free-play (ie: part where the clutch pedal feels sloppy) and then the clutch disengages after another centimeter.

Is my clutch starting to give up already??? The clutch fluid reservoir is full and the clutch does not slip. Car is only used for daily driving, never thrashed. Proper downshifts and take-offs.

Is this normal?? or should i be worried?

p.s. driving to the shoalhaven this weekend. would this be fine?

Charlie Brown · Postby **Charlie Brown** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 8:35 am

Clutch wouldn't have gone in that period.

What model MX5 do you have?

First up you can adjust the take up point of the clutch pedal by loosening the nut around the master cylinder shaft and adjusting the shaft in or out depending on where you want the take up point to be. Dive under the dash and have a look.

You may find the nut is loose at the moment and that's your problem.

If that fails next up check the system for leaks at the slave cylinder and the master cylinder. You may need to replace one of them.

Next, if they're OK, bleed the clutch.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 12:13 pm

tofuboy wrote:The clutch fluid reservoir is full...

Doesn't take much air in clutch hydraulic line to cause a change, so you may not actually notice a difference in clutch fluid level. Check in & around the rubber boot forward of the slave cylinder for fluid.

Steampunk · Postby **Steampunk** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 3:55 pm

stick your head under the dash and inspect the pedal assembly. I can't remember exactly which pedal, brake or clutch, but the bracket that connects to the firewall sometimes fails/cracks, in the exact same way each time.
Do a google and you should find several photos

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 4:31 pm

1red5 wrote:stick your head under the dash and inspect the pedal assembly. I can't remember exactly which pedal, brake or clutch, but the bracket that connects to the firewall sometimes fails/cracks, in the exact same way each time.

Accelerator pedal - see Bensale etc posts.

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 5:20 pm

take it back to the installer and get them to check it. You are bound to have a guarantee on their work. If it needs an adjustment eg free play they will almost surely do it for nothing.

tofuboy · Postby **tofuboy** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 7:28 pm

hey guys,

i just adjusted the take up point by playing around with the master cylinder shaft. its a bit better now. currently the clutch sits with about 1-2cm freeplay, followed by another 2cm of pressure with the clutch still engaged, then the clutch disengages from that point onward to the firewall.

The lock nuts however were not loose. The bite of the clutch remains soft.

Going to check the slave cylinder now.