clutch failure

[tweety]

Dumb question: how does one know when the clutch is failing?

I ask this only because the feel of this clutch is nothing like any other machine that I have owned. It feels hard to depress much like new clutches feel like in 'standard domestic' machines.

In the average machine I have noticed (using my previous Firebirds as reference), the clutch will feel 'loose' and go further in to engage.

In contrast, this clutch pedal feels stout and tires me out in traffic.

Is the pedal spring loaded in a way that it will always feel this way even if the clutch itself is on the way out?

I don't think that I have an issue now but would like to know what it may feel like should that day come.

[1999Porsche911]

Dumb question: how does one know when the clutch is failing?

I ask this only because the feel of this clutch is nothing like any other machine that I have owned. It feels hard to depress much like new clutches feel like in 'standard domestic' machines.

In the average machine I have noticed (using my previous Firebirds as reference), the clutch will feel 'loose' and go further in to engage.

In contrast, this clutch pedal feels stout and tires me out in traffic.

Is the pedal spring loaded in a way that it will always feel this way even if the clutch itself is on the way out?

I don't think that I have an issue now but would like to know what it may feel like should that day come.

I suspect you Firebirds were recent machine cuz you cannot get a hydraulic clutch as hard to push as the old muscle cars even if you were missing half the fingers on the pressure plate. A hydraulic clutch is self adjusting, replacing the gap caused by the disc wearing down with more hydraulic fluid, exactly like your braking system. The Porsche' clutch pedal setup sucks as it uses crappy disigned booster spring to help with pushing the pedal down. This sometimes causes uneven pedal release which is sometimes feared to be clutch problems.

One way to test the clutch is to find a road where you can do about 75 mph. Do a redline shift from 2nd - 3rd gear and watch the tach. The tach should drop at the shift point and then begin climbing steadily with no hesitation or drop back. You will also feel the clutch slip if it going to. This apply maximum torque to the clutch system and if it is going to slip, it will slip.

Common causes of hard pedal is insufficient clutch bleeding.

[rountreed]

I would just drive at 30 MPH in 3d gear and push the gas pedal to the floor. If the rpms rise quickly your clutch is starting to go. If it is starting to go replace it before you do damage to the flywheel, it is expensive and I waited too long and had to replace mine.

[RFM]

If your clutch is really hard to depress,the pressure plate (diapragm) comme to his end.This is not really a disc problem.Complete replacement is recommended.

[1999Porsche911]

A hard pedal, in no way indicates a bad pressure plate. As a matter of fact, the stronger your pressure plate is, the harder the pedal will be. If your pressure plate was getting weak, your pedal would become easier to depress.

[zegypt]

I drove my friend's 2002 911 and it had the stiffest clutch I've ever experienced. Mine, on the other hand, is very light (also a 2002 911). I suspect there must be a way to adjust the stiffness of the clutch pedal....