Clutch Pedal feel changed?

[bradltl]

All-

I could use some advice. My clutch pedal seems to have changed it's feel dramatically while I was at work yesterday. I am not sure why, or what is happening? It's always seemed to have a long "throw" or stroke and has generally engaged about 33-50% of the stroke. Yesterday when I was leaving work, the pressure to depress the pedal seemed to be less. The motion of the pedal also seemed to be a bit rough comparative to driving to work in the morning. Then this morning, driving to work, I was shifting between 3rd and 4th gear and for just a second the clutch pedal did not come up off the floor. I immediately pushed it down again and it came up on the second try. Any thoughts as to what this might be? The clutch doesn't really feel like it is slipping, but then again I have not been in a great position to test it. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Brad

:renntech:

[Loren]

Model and year of your car?

How many miles?

When was the brake fluid/clutch fluid last changed?

[bradltl]

Sorry, 2003 Boxster S, ~57,000 miles. Just replaced brake rotors, pads and fluid about 5,000 miles ago.

[Loren]

Slipping is usually a clutch disc/pressure plate issue.

Having the pedal stay to the floor sounds like a hydraulic problem (fluid, slave or master cylinder issue).

Best check the brake fluid level - if it is okay then you likely have a bad slave or master clutch cylinder.

I would start with that problem and then see if the slipping continues or not.

[bradltl]

Turns out it was both... Fluid was a bit low, and the clutch is completely gone. It seems a bit odd to me that it would (appear at least) to have been almost an instant failure versus a wear type issue where it gradually get worse.

Estimate from the local Indie was $1000-$2000 depending on if it will need a new flywheel or not. They said that they would not know for sure until they were able to tear it down and look inside. Probably Friday before I will find out the damage, there is a line in front of me. :(

[renzop]

That sudden change in feel is pretty normal for some clutches. Sounds like you are on the right track. The other thing that can make a pedal "stick" is a floor mat. Its happened to me in other cars plenty of times. No matter how I secure them they tend to move forward and curl over time.

[bradltl]

Ok, so the final verdict is in...

The seal on the pressure plate ruptured causing all kinds of havoc inside the clutch. Basically everything needed to be replaced. From what they could tell (or probably really guess) it was just a part failure. The ruptured seal is what caused the pedal to change so dramatically. They did say the clutch was wearing down anyway and didn't have much left. While working, they noticed that the slave cylinder was leaking as well. So the total damage is:

New clutch

New pressure plate

New flywheel

New bolts

New slave cylinder

Flush hydraulics

All yours for the no haggle price of ~$3000.

Edited November 18, 2008 by bradltl