How To: Clutch Spring Removal in 15 Minutes
 

If some of you feel as though your car lacks any feedback in the clutch pedal, you aren't alone.

The twins have a clutch spring that greatly reduces the strength needed to push the clutch in. This is actually a really neat idea from Toyota/Subaru, and it is the first time I've seen it used and it does a great job. However, this also leaves the pedal without any feel, making it much more difficult to drive smoothly. This spring can be removed with relative ease, and in under 15 minutes with a little know how.

Tools Needed:

1. Needle Nose Pliers
2. A flashlight
3. Screwdriver

First, lets familiarize ourselves with what is under the dash.

http://velox-motorsports.com/wp-cont...3/IMG_0355.jpg

Circled in red is the assembly we will be removing. You’ll want to slide the seat all the way back and place the flashlight so that you can see what you’re working on. I also cleaned the spring at this time, it’s fairly caked on from the factory.

http://velox-motorsports.com/wp-cont...3/IMG_0356.jpg

Looking at the assembly from the passenger side of the car, we see a clip (specifically called an “E” clip, circled in red) that holds the pin in place. We will need to remove this.

http://velox-motorsports.com/wp-cont...3/IMG_0362.jpg

Twist the E-clip so that the opening faces down. Using the needle nose pliers, one tong on each side of the clip, gently push up or hit the handle with your hand. Be careful not to lose this clip.

http://velox-motorsports.com/wp-cont...3/IMG_0358.jpg

With the E-clip removed, we are now able to remove the pin The spring has considerable pressure, as I’m sure you’ll see, which makes removing this pin difficult. Depressing the clutch pedal (pedal on the ground), releases some of this pressure. Push the clutch pedal all the way in, and with the needle nose pliers, push the snout (E-Clip side) towards the driver's side. This should give enough room for you to use the needle nose on the other side of the stud. Using the pedal as leverage for the pliers, pull the pin the rest of the way out while the clutch is depressed. Next, using the flat head, push on one of the legs of the clutch clevis upward. This will take some force but it will come off!

http://velox-motorsports.com/wp-cont...59-300x225.jpg

All of the components off of the car.

http://velox-motorsports.com/wp-cont...3/IMG_0360.jpg

Re-assemble and push the E-clip on with the needle nose or the flat head. Both methods should work well.

This is fully reversible with some ingenuity with some zip times I'm told.

Thanks for the detailed instructions ..... although, I'll never do it ..... my old left leg needs all the help it can get .....:cry:


humfrz

Pretty neat. What would you compare the new feel of the peddle to once the spring is removed?

To be honest, not much stiffer, just more feedback. It drives like a typical hydraulic clutch now.

When I originally got into the car from my past daily, a twin disk Evo 9, I couldn't find the slip point at all. I chocked it up to an OEM pressure plate and didn't think about it again. Learned to drive from memory more or less. Then today, @Slysdexia and @ATL BRZ, posted something up on Facebook which would forever change my life with the BRZ :bow:.

Thanks to them, I went out and did the modification. I took some pictures along the way because I didn't see a good how to and wrote this.

For more thoughts and opinions on the before and after: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35621

Change out the slave for even better feel.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77390

This is free :party0030:.

But will look into it later on. With stock clutch, this firmness is perfect.

You don't have to reinstall the spring assembly without the spring. I just left the whole thing off.

Oh, I agree. I just wanted to put it back together so I don't lose the parts. It isn't doing anything negative or positive by being put back together or left off completely. Thanks again for showing me the light :thumbsup:.

Poor souls. You can lead a horse to water... ;)

Thank you for this OP! I did this last night (in about 15-20 minutes) and besides trying to find a way to fit in the pedal box to do the work, it was a breeze with your instructions!

great write up

Thanks for this post @eric6!

I removed the spring as well, before seeing your post... same process. I didn't reassemble it, though, I just used a zip tie to secure the bottom part of the assembly up out of the way so it wouldn't vibrate or rattle.

I also adjusted the clutch pedal height, as described here. It seems to be a great combination, but I just have a small concern regarding the clutch grab. I posted here about it, hopefully someone can shed a little light on what I'm experiencing. I might just be crazy.

:bonk:

Took me a bit longer than 15 mins. Cant wait to go out for a drive

How the hell did you push the pin through? I just took the clip off, and tried to push the pin through for 15 min, but couldn't move it a hair..

Especially because if you depress the clutch pedal, there's even less room to operate

I used a smaller sized flat head and leveraged it against whatever is right there to help get it going through.

Pain in the ass getting the Clevis off the clutch pedal.

Note to future readers... Push the clevis towards the front of the car. If you try to remove it towards the rear of the car there's no space and it keeps just snapping itself back into place.

Wow. Just test drove. Huge difference. I love the clutch feel now! Doesnt feel like I'm shifting on eggshells anymore!!!

This along with the clutch pedal adjustment should be the first DIY you do.

You guys are all welcome. Glad I could help :party0030:.

Thanks for the write up. I saw the mod in the original thread somewhere. The pedal feel is so much better. I cant believe 1 year I have been dailying this car without this mod. I hate myself for it.

You're not crazy.

This - http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...11#post2016411

Gonna give this a shot. I hate the goofy lightness of the stock clutch.

Hmong, have you stopped by my clutch slave DIY yet? It is what you seek.

Gonna give this a shot first. It's free lol.

Oh, cmon. 40 bucks? Just do it already. ;)

Free > $40... lol

I did this last week, holy COW what a difference!

Although removing it is nice, the spring is NOT the main issue.

Well the main issue is that our current setup has too much leverage over the clutch right? So this reduces some of that leverage, so why not? :P

Will try this when I finally get a spare weekend with my car.

Oh, I wholeheartedly endorse removing the assist spring. I did it right after swapping out my slave.

Technically, removing the spring does not change the leverage. The clutch will be a little stiffer and you will gain back the linearity of the clutch springs against your foot.

It's still vague as shit because it's such a loooooong arc.

HUGE TIP for anyone removing the spring once they remove the pin. With the clutch pedal not being pushed down, place a screwdriver or something stiff behind the clutch pedal so that it pushes on the spring when you push the clutch pedal down. Now all you have to do is push the clutch pedal down hard enough that the spring is pushed out (from behind the pedal towards the seat) by the screwdriver that is obstructing the way. Also, the spring didn't go flying when I tried this which I was afraid of. :lol:

Anyway, here's my results. This is the BEST thing I've done to my BRZ yet. And it was free! I've never driven my car with a bigger smile on my face. :thumbup: Shifting through the gears feels so good and natural now. Getting the car going from first gear and reverse is so trivial now. There's no more guessing where the clutch engagement point is. I can FEEL it now. I just want to drive my car everywhere now, it's amazing how much of a difference in driving enjoyment there is! My car actually feels faster after doing this, probably because I'm more focused on driving instead of the dumby clutch pedal. Who's idea was it to put a spring on the clutch pedal anyway?

One more thing I wanted to mention. I've only got to drive once since removing the spring, but while driving there was an odd rubbery smell in the car that I've never smelled before. I was afraid the clutch was slipping and burning, but that doesn't make sense. I think it was just coincidence, maybe there was something in the air outside that I was smelling. Was wondering if this happened to anyone else.

The original thread that details this mod is pretty old now and was not posted in the DIY section, if I recall. This is one of the best mods you can do to our cars. Stop hating your clutch and spend the 10 minutes doing this and I promise you, you will be a very happy driver :)

Also, if doing this, I would strongly recommend lowering the pedal at the same time: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8040

Thanks, I might give this a shot sometime soon, I just know that someday the clutch is going to have to be replaced and I wonder if I'll end up having to reverse this when that comes around...

Like @Koa suggested for us. Just keep the old one handy. ;)

You won't. 98% of manuals don't have this spring and it literally only affects the portion of the pedal sticking through the firewall.

Yeah, I was referring to @Ultramaroon 's suggestion to swap the slave cylinder. :D

Even tho I've gotten really used to the stock clutch i'm definitely trying this when I get a chance.

Great thread

I did the modification about a week or two ago. Didn't notice that much of a pressure increase but definitely feels more like a clutch than a on-off switch. The engagement point is felt more easily, and modulation too.

Oh, and now my Camry's clutch doesn't feel like a truck clutch (when I change cars)

Thanks for the instructions they were very helpful! One question though, does your clutch have a bit of "play" before you put a lot of pressure on the clutch pedal?

OK, so I spent like 20 minutes trying to wedge myself far enough under my dash to do this, but my shoulders are too wide. Pushed the seat all the way back, and can only get one arm in, without the needed leverage to get the c-clip off.

Any suggestions, short of removing the driver's seat? I suppose I could try (much) longer pliers. If I could get my left arm in, this whole thing would be a cinch.