Clutch realeses really high

[jonbonazza]

So this is not my first manual, I have been driving them for years, but I noticed that in this car, after driving for about 6 months, the clutch now releases extremely high. Am I just terrible at driving this particular car or is this normal? Is it adjustable?

[whaap]

It is adjustable. I'm not familiar with the technique but you can do a search and find it. I forced myself to adjust instead of adjusting the clutch. I agree that this was the first manual that ever caused me a little heartburn. Today things are fine.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by whaap

It is adjustable. I'm not familiar with the technique but you can do a search and find it. I forced myself to adjust instead of adjusting the clutch. I agree that this was the first manual that ever caused me a little heartburn. Today things are fine.

@jonbonazza, yep, like ol whaap says ..... you can either adjust yourself .... or adjust the clutch ....

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8040

Just be careful to leave enough "play" at both ends.

humfrz

[jonbonazza]

Originally Posted by humfrz

@jonbonazza, yep, like ol whaap says ..... you can either adjust yourself .... or adjust the clutch ....

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8040

Just be careful to leave enough "play" at both ends.

humfrz

Thanks for the link!

I definitely plan to adjust myself, but I figure that it would be better to adjust myself with the throw at the right height than adjust myself to the wrong throw.

[mike the snake]

I would rebleed your clutch hydraulic line first before making any adjustments.

If any air got into the line, it'll take up a fair bit of pedal travel before actuating the clutch. Bleeding the line will ensure that all is well, then, if it still doesn't feel right to you I would go about adjusting.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by mike the snake

I would rebleed your clutch hydraulic line first before making any adjustments.

If any air got into the line, it'll take up a fair bit of pedal travel before actuating the clutch. Bleeding the line will ensure that all is well, then, if it still doesn't feel right to you I would go about adjusting.

Good point about bleeding the system .... always a good idea .... however, the OP says his engagement point seems to be too "high", not too low.....

humfrz

[jonbonazza]

To clarify, by "high" I mean towards the driver, NOT towards the floor. =)

[Suberman]

Originally Posted by jonbonazza

To clarify, by "high" I mean towards the driver, NOT towards the floor. =)

Has it changed since you bought the car?

The clutch pedal on this car is set too high from the factory, above the level of the brake pedal.

If your clutch pedal at rest is about 5 and 1/2 inches above the carpet when measured at right angles (I.e. In the direction of travel when pressed) and sits about 1/2 inch above the level of the brake pedal when it is at rest then that is normal.

It is also wrong for smooth driving. I don't know why Subaru chose to put the clutch pedal further off the floor than the brake pedal but it is disconcerting and leads to a lurching clutch engagement.

You can adjust the pedal stroke so that it starts level with the brake pedal or even a bit lower than. You must adjust the master cylinder push rod at the same time and by the same amount when you lower the clutch pedal. This just moves the actuation distance closer to the floor of the car and preserves the free play at the top of the pedal travel.

In fact, the limit to this adjustment is hitting the floor before the clutch is fully disengaged. Be careful you don't go too far.

[jonbonazza]

Originally Posted by Suberman

Has it changed since you bought the car?

The clutch pedal on this car is set too high from the factory, above the level of the brake pedal.

If your clutch pedal at rest is about 5 and 1/2 inches above the carpet when measured at right angles (I.e. In the direction of travel when pressed) and sits about 1/2 inch above the level of the brake pedal when it is at rest then that is normal.

It is also wrong for smooth driving. I don't know why Subaru chose to put the clutch pedal further off the floor than the brake pedal but it is disconcerting and leads to a lurching clutch engagement.

You can adjust the pedal stroke so that it starts level with the brake pedal or even a bit lower than. You must adjust the master cylinder push rod at the same time and by the same amount when you lower the clutch pedal. This just moves the actuation distance closer to the floor of the car and preserves the free play at the top of the pedal travel.

In fact, the limit to this adjustment is hitting the floor before the clutch is fully disengaged. Be careful you don't go too far.

It's much higher than when I got it from the factory. In fact, it's pretty darn close to the top of the throw (embarrassingly).

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by jonbonazza

It's much higher than when I got it from the factory. In fact, it's pretty darn close to the top of the throw (embarrassingly).

Well, I'll suggest (again) that you get on with adjusting the clutch. If it runs out of free play at the top ..... bad things can happen .... like - wearing out the clutch disk and/or burning up the throw-out bearing.....

humfrz

[Suberman]

Originally Posted by jonbonazza

It's much higher than when I got it from the factory. In fact, it's pretty darn close to the top of the throw (embarrassingly).

I'd get the dealer to check this out as a warranty issue. These self adjusting clutches should not exhibit this symptom. The pedal travel remains the same until the clutch plate wears out, and even then the pedal travel is the same even when the clutch is slipping due to wear.

Your release bearing may be failing, for example.

[Suberman]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Well, I'll suggest (again) that you get on with adjusting the clutch. If it runs out of free play at the top ..... bad things can happen .... like - wearing out the clutch disk and/or burning up the throw-out bearing.....

humfrz

If the car is still under warranty you should not do this yourself.

[kodyo]

It's normal. I suggest getting used to it. I prefer it as high as it is now vs. other cars where it releases closer to the ground. Guess it's personal preference.