DIY - Easy clutch grab adjustment (~10 mins)

[Rabble]

Just did this, I think I found the "sweet spot" where the spring wants to push the pedal back out but it can't because of where I set it, slightly below the brake pedal. My back is going to hurt so badly tomorrow.

[F1point4]

I just did this to my vehicle. Overall it's much easier to drive. Pardon the disjointedness of the text. just did a quick log to keep notes of what adjustments I made.

Log for those I consulted with about the adjustment and for me to keep track of how much I adjusted:

9840 miles

Noted dead play of pedal. Can press it in using my hand about an inch before the hydraulics apply resistance.

Very little lateral wiggle.

Marked the south axis of the rod coming out of the master cylinder.

To break loose the nut place 12mm wrench on the rod's lock nut and turn towards the gas pedal.

I lightly pressed on clutch with my hand and rotated the knob away from the gas pedal. This will make the rod thread more into the u-joint and lower the clutch pedal.

I did 3 full turns. For me this lowered my clutch pedal about dead even with the brake pedal.

Locked the rod's nut by turning the nut away from the gas pedal. Hand torqued

Checked dead play. Same as before. Weird. Pedal travel feels cut in half now according to foot meter

Thanks Chris for the verbal guidance on testing.

Started car fine. Slots into 3rd gear fine. Then tried first. Good. Grab point is now more of an on off switch versus the high grab point of 1/3 of the full travel. Barely let off and it grabs. Knob slides into reverse well. Didn't hear any grinding or crunching noises

Success! I think. Drives great. I had issues with notchy/gritty/crunchy(?) shifts before when short shifting, and this helps but doesn't fully butterize my shifting. May have to switch fluids again.

[FRSFirestorm]

Adjusted mine today. Not level with the brake a few mm above. I was skeptical of the outcome. It really makes a difference. Especially taking off from a stop.

[jabbajaw99]

Originally Posted by JonnyRocket

Koji,

I made a quick DIY video because so many people asked. It's my first video, so be kind!

Hope this helps everyone, this is a great mod!! Feel free to embed this in the OP if it's good enough.

WOW! Just found a difference in the LHD cars. My RHD clutch pedal connects to the saddle of the master cylinder bolt, there is no "camshaft".

[JonnyRocket]

Originally Posted by jabbajaw99

WOW! Just found a difference in the LHD cars. My RHD clutch pedal connects to the saddle of the master cylinder bolt, there is no "camshaft".

Yea, @proficience mentioned that a few posts up, I had no idea. I'll add that note to the video.

[Grayian]

Easier than I thought it'd be. Thanks for the guide! A little above the brake or just even is my preferred position.

[Zgrinch]

Shazam Batman!

This little mod is incredible. I cannot believe the difference this makes. I feel like a have a totally different car when it comes to shifting. Much easier, faster, and smoother shifts. The stock setup felt like I had my knee in the steering wheel because it was so high. I am just barely, and I mean just barely, lower than the brake petal, like maybe five sheets of paper lower and the feel is just fantastic. I did have to adjust the cruise / gear indicator thing, but that wasn't too bad.

If you haven't done this yet - go do it right now!

Thanks for posting this thread.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by Zgrinch

Shazam Batman!

This little mod is incredible. I cannot believe the difference this makes. I feel like a have a totally different car when it comes to shifting. Much easier, faster, and smoother shifts. The stock setup felt like I had my knee in the steering wheel because it was so high. I am just barely, and I mean just barely, lower than the brake petal, like maybe five sheets of paper lower and the feel is just fantastic. I did have to adjust the cruise / gear indicator thing, but that wasn't too bad.

If you haven't done this yet - go do it right now!

Thanks for posting this thread.

After 15K miles and getting used to the "old" pedal...you still recommend this? Goddamn, I might have to do this finally.

[Zgrinch]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

After 15K miles and getting used to the "old" pedal...you still recommend this? Goddamn, I might have to do this finally.

Yes. So when I bought my BRZ, it had been about 10 years since I last drove a stick. It was like riding a bike, but did take a little time to "adjust". I still felt like my shifts were not as smooth as they could be when I was in the lower gears, but wrote that off as user error.

I kept reading this thread and decided to give it a whirl. Huge difference my friend. Even after driving for 15k on the stock setup, it took all of about 5 minutes to realize this is what it should have been from the start. Never going back to the stock setup.

Do it!

[Crackseed]

Originally Posted by Zgrinch

Yes. So when I bought my BRZ, it had been about 10 years since I last drove a stick. It was like riding a bike, but did take a little time to "adjust". I still felt like my shifts were not as smooth as they could be when I was in the lower gears, but wrote that off as user error.

I kept reading this thread and decided to give it a whirl. Huge difference my friend. Even after driving for 15k on the stock setup, it took all of about 5 minutes to realize this is what it should have been from the start. Never going back to the stock setup.

Do it!

You are describing me too almost word for word - last manual car was this old crappy VW Rabbit I learned on 10 years ago. But it shifted quickly and had a short clutch like this mod does.

When I test drove the Scion I felt like...why does this clutch feel SO high up? And driving it around now, while I LOVE my car and am so happy, I keep having some issues here and there because I struggle with smooth shifting.

Thank you SO much for pointing this thread out and Koji for posting the DIY - I'm going to take my car over to my parents place [way more room to work - my car garage is too tiny and shared with my sister's xB] and work on this. Bit nervous but seems like this is pretty derp proof provided I follow everything closely ^_^

[Zgrinch]

Originally Posted by Crackseed

You are describing me too almost word for word - last manual car was this old crappy VW Rabbit I learned on 10 years ago. But it shifted quickly and had a short clutch like this mod does.

When I test drove the Scion I felt like...why does this clutch feel SO high up? And driving it around now, while I LOVE my car and am so happy, I keep having some issues here and there because I struggle with smooth shifting.

Thank you SO much for pointing this thread out and Koji for posting the DIY - I'm going to take my car over to my parents place [way more room to work - my car garage is too tiny and shared with my sister's xB] and work on this. Bit nervous but seems like this is pretty derp proof provided I follow everything closely ^_^

Let's us know what you think after the mod.

[JonnyRocket]

Originally Posted by Crackseed

Bit nervous but seems like this is pretty derp proof provided I follow everything closely ^_^

This should help you keep from messing anything up

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScZFQ0j5beY"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScZFQ0j5beY[/ame]

[BrianJC]

First I want to say thanks to Koji_Online & JonnyRocket and all the others on the forum to make this DIY so easy.

I did the clutch adjustment in just a couple of minutes using Jonny's video. Here are some tips I want to add that made my adjustment a piece of cake:

1. I used a mirror first to take a look at what I will be adjusting, save me from having to be in an uncomfortable position for too long and also let me know what I am dealing with before hand
2. Had my iPhone with Jonny's video right beside me while doing this, it's as if someone is beside me guiding me step by step
3. I lined the floor with some comfy towels, as a result, I was super comfortable while doing the adjustment, no back aches whatsoever, if you have some thin cushions that will work even better
4. I pulled the seat all the way back, turned myself upside down. Back and shoulders on the mat, butt on the seat and my legs wrapped around my headrest, along with the technique above, I was super comfortable

The hardest part is to figure out how to get into position under the dash. The actual adjustment is super easy. I made my clutch just above the brake pedal. SO much easy to make smooth shifts now. Thank you guys!

[brillo]

I did the adjustment yesterday and thanks to the videos and suggestions it was pretty easy. I set my clutch about 1/4 inch higher than the brake for starters (roughly halving the original distance of 1/2 inch), I may lower it more but I want to further test this adjustment. No issues twisting the rod with the clutch depressed. I had to use a crescent wrench due to not having a shortly 12inch open wrench.

Is it my imagination or does the 1st to 2nd shift seem smoother?