Annoying clutch engagement

[JeffM]

*Warning* - I am not a master at driving stick. This is my first mtx car and I taught myself without anyone in the car. So if I happen to be slightly retarded on the tactics of clutch engagement - that is why.

So, this problem has been bugging me for a couple weeks now. I'll be driving along, maybe into part throttle (0 vac) or part-throttle boost (2-5psi), and I'll go to shift into the next gear. I push in the clutch (all the way), shift into the next gear, wait for the revs to match the road speed, let the clutch out to the normal 1" off the floor like it has always been, and start to give it a little throttle as I let the clutch out the rest of the way. However, I've noticed at about 1" from the clutch being completely released, it's almost like the clutch slams into engagement... It's almost like the clutch engages at two points in the pedal. At a stop light I can roll into 1st at the first 1" engagement and go on my way but, once I'm up to speed, The engagement changes to the second 1" from fully released - Almost like there's this giant area of slippage in between the two points. It's really confusing the shit out of me and making it a pain in my ass when driving through traffic.

Now to the extra info:

- As far as I know, the clutch still grabs like a mofo. Someone told me to put it in 4th, be as low as possible in the revs, and gun it to see if the clutch slips - it didn't. Don't know if that's an accurate test though?

- I know I have had some TOB chatter, which is quite possible seeing as how I don't know if the PO had ever changed any trans components. I was told to adjust the clutch pedal out (towards driver) via the clutch pivot bolt - did that and no more chatter.

- The car shifts into gears fully and strong. Every so often the shifter will be notchy in the engagement, but it never pops out and never grinds.

- Also, it doesn't do it all the time, and it's very random when it does it, which is what makes it such a pain in the butt.

- And to clarify, it may just possibly be me being a sucky driver, but I thought I'd throw it out there to see if anyone else has this problem.

Cliff Notes:

- Clutch engages in two places
- First engagement is 1" off the floor (at stop lights)
- Second engagement is 1" from full release (while driving) while still retaining that first engagement
- While driving, clutch will grab at first engagement and then grab again (?) at second engagement

Crappy MSPaint picture of what I'm noticing:


Anyone have any ideas? It's bugging the shit out of me and making me look retarded as the car bucks into that second engagement. I've been told it's a possible TOB and pivot fork problem, which is fine, I just don't want to be throwing money at nothing. But, it might just be me being retarded, so go to town on that one.

[g_force58]

not sure what is going on with your car, but it could be, if the car has a cable clutch, the cable is sticking and then releasing all at once. also it could be broken springs or fingers on the clutch. If it a hydraulic clutch it could be air in the system, bad master cylinder or slave cylinder. Hard to diagnose without actually experiencing what is happening. Someone else will probably chime in. Good Luck.

[JeffM]

Thanks for the input.

[OB]

Definitely not a common problem, at least not one I've ever heard of. So you're saying the clutch slips through apprx 2" of pedal travel? But only sometimes? I wonder if one of the springs on the disc is broken or missing, or something along those lines. I'm having a hard time understanding what you mean honestly.

[stairmaster3001]

hey man it means tht your tob fork/clutch fork is worn and ur clutch engagement will get lower and lower etc mine engages a inch off the floor also. one thing tht helps is adjust the clutch pivot with a 8mm socket make sure ur pedal is pulled out all teh way and tht will return some pedal. Also there is a brake cable tht runs behind the clutch andif u move tht its like an extra .5 inch of travel also helps but it is a temp mod. all in all ul have to pull the trans most likely when u do a clutch and get a tob fork from modernperformance for liek 150 bucks and put it on its what the tob sits on.
i read all ur stuff my cars the same its the fork fo sure

[JeffM]

Definitely not a common problem, at least not one I've ever heard of. So you're saying the clutch slips through apprx 2" of pedal travel? But only sometimes? I wonder if one of the springs on the disc is broken or missing, or something along those lines. I'm having a hard time understanding what you mean honestly.

That's pretty much what it's like. Engages in the first 1" when I'm leaving a light, then when I go to let the clutch out completely it's like it engages hard in the last 1" of travel. Sorry if it doesn't make sense, I'm not sure what to make of it either. It only happens sometimes though? Maybe I'm retarded.

hey man it means tht your tob fork/clutch fork is worn and ur clutch engagement will get lower and lower etc mine engages a inch off the floor also. one thing tht helps is adjust the clutch pivot with a 8mm socket make sure ur pedal is pulled out all teh way and tht will return some pedal.
i read all ur stuff my cars the same its the fork fo sure

My clutch isn't engaging on the floor though? If anything it has moved farther out from the firewall...I already did the pivot adjustment.

[Danteneon]

To give you good advice, I would need to drive your car. Come on down and I'll test it for ya.

Make sure to get down here before 6 though...I plan on getting very drunk tonight.

[JeffM]

To give you good advice, I would need to drive your car. Come on down and I'll test it for ya.

Make sure to get down here before 6 though...I plan on getting very drunk tonight.

I'll be right there, John.

[OB]

Make sure the screw for the pedal adjustment is tight. I could see it causing this exact thing if it slipped.

Other than that, sounds like an issue with the disc springs, since they handle the majority of the dampening during slippage. Let John drive it, that's what I would want to do to really get an idea of whats going on.

[occasional demons]

But don't let him drive it at the moment.

[jonnymopar]

Let John drive it, that's what I would want to do to really get an idea of whats going on.

Considering they live approximately 500 miles from eachother, I think that may have been a joke.

[heydockyle]

Clutch disk is just getting pretty worn so the engagement is getting higher and higher. And maybe it only messes up when its real hot?

Idk lol

[OB]

Let John drive it, that's what I would want to do to really get an idea of whats going on.

Considering they live approximately 500 miles from eachother, I think that may have been a joke.

I live in CA, I don't know how close Vermont is to Virginia! All you east coast guys are always driving to different states (because they're so small) for meets and whatnot, I wasn't sure if that was the case here haha

[INVUJerry]

My SRT does the same thing. It feels normal to me lol.

[Themaggots]

My SRT does it. My R/T does it too. I suppose it's normal. But I don't really notice it since when I'm driving since I don't really give it throttle when I press the clutch to shift. I wait until the clutch pedal is depressed. Kinda hard to explain since I do it without thinking.

[jonnymopar]

I live in CA, I don't know how close Vermont is to Virginia! All you east coast guys are always driving to different states (because they're so small) for meets and whatnot, I wasn't sure if that was the case here haha

Haha, yeah, I can say that my car has been to 13 states, plus our nation's capital, but it's never been more than 11 hours from home.

Jeff, how many miles are there on that car?