Is our clutch adjustable?
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From: oviedo
Is our clutch adjustable?
I've got 42,000 on this clutch and was wondering if it could be adjusted to shift better. I don't think it's a matter of wear because 90% of the miles on it are highway miles. No clutch drops either. Anyone?
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With 42,000 miles on the car, you might consider doing a clutch fluid flush and change. It will feel much better afterwards. Also, about the only adjustment that you can do it to the pedal itself. You can change the starting height of it to a small extent.
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There are 2 adjustments that can be made at the pedal. The pedal stroke can be adjusted by moving the bump stop, and the pushrod can be adjusted to remove free play and raise or lower the engagement point. You would want to flush the fuid before adjusting the pedal.
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From: WA
Although I have not felt any change from flushing the fluid, apparently others have. I can say that a very small change in the pedal (pushrod) CAN help clutch feel and engagement. Technically the hydraulic mechanism is self-adjusting but IMO tweeking the pedal is a worthwhile adjustment in some cases.
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When I bought my '02, it had at least 2 inches of free play in the pedal before it started to engage the master cylinder to disengage the clutch. I had to push the clutch pedal all the way to the floor before initiating a gear change. I drove a friend's '02, and it had much less free play, and disengaged the clutch closer to the middle of the pedal stroke. I don't know what the "correct" amount of free play is, but it doesn't seem to be very well controlled from the factory. I played with the adjustment for a few days until the engagement point was where I felt most comfortable. As a result, my 2nd gear grinding was greatly reduced by fully disengaging the clutch sooner, and for a longer duration during a shift.
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This if from another thread. If you crawl up under the dash with a flashlight and inspect the pedal, the adjustments are pretty obvious.
The pedal has two adjuster screws. Both adjustments are made by loosening a locknut at the pedal, then turning the adjuster. One adjustment is to turn the clutch switch that is at the top front of the pedal. The other is to turn the push rod that goes into the clutch master cylinder. These two can be used in combination to remove the excess play and / or change the normal pedal height and stroke.
If you have excess play, and you want to lower the pedal, then just adjust the clutch switch to lower the pedal. If you want to keep the pedal where it is, but reduce the play, then turn the pushrod until it starts to engage the master cylinder. MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE SOME PLAY, OR THE MASTER CYLINDER WILL NOT ALLOW THE CLUTCH TO FULLY ENGAGE.
I adjusted mine so that the clutch starts to disengage the clutch as soon as I start pressing the pedal. This helps to reduce the amount of grinding I get from 1st to 2nd. It also allows me to shift my other gears quickly without pushing the clutch pedal all the way to the floor.
If you have excess play, and you want to lower the pedal, then just adjust the clutch switch to lower the pedal. If you want to keep the pedal where it is, but reduce the play, then turn the pushrod until it starts to engage the master cylinder. MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE SOME PLAY, OR THE MASTER CYLINDER WILL NOT ALLOW THE CLUTCH TO FULLY ENGAGE.
I adjusted mine so that the clutch starts to disengage the clutch as soon as I start pressing the pedal. This helps to reduce the amount of grinding I get from 1st to 2nd. It also allows me to shift my other gears quickly without pushing the clutch pedal all the way to the floor.
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