i have a 1986 convertible with 80,000 miles and i am the original owner.
about 2 years ago i had to take the transmisson down to replace an overdrive switch and in the process i told the mech. to install a new clutch.
big mistake.----to make the story short ,4 clutches were put in in 5 weeks.
the last clutch,an oe part has been in for 5,000 miles or so. and last week as i pushed the pedal in something snapped and the pedal became very hard to operate. and the clutch engagement very low.
my mech. told me it is probably a plastic piece in the clutch assembly under the dashboard that may have snapped.
i took the cover off and found that the clutch assembly had play in it and move it around and all ok .but eventually,in 3 minutes the clutch is hard again.
took the car to a dealer and he wants to do the assembly for $800. plus he says that the main culprit is that the pressure plate was "probably" binding and thus caused the assembly to break. he wants $ 1,200 addl. to fix this plate.
the clutch engagement feels solid and good . but it is kind of hard to push in and the engament is low.
any ideas from any of you.
do i replace the assembly ?
or, maybe only a small part in the assembly ?
or,do i go all the way and might as well do a new clutch,assembly ????

not at the dealer's of course but at a competent vette mechanic i have just found here in conn.--star spangled ...

i welcome your thoughts.......

 

well, 6 hours after posting this i think i found the answer.
i got a strong light and dove under the dashboard and looked at the clutch pedal and found that the shaft that connects the pedal to the plunger is missing the end piece that holds it in place and thus the problems.........
the dealer was obviously trying to screw me......................i just saved over $3,000 of "steal my money "....chevy dealer in connecticut.

 

The clutch master cylinder has a rod with a clevis on the end that connects to a plastic bushing on the clutch pedal. The bushing wears out and causes the rod to move off at an angle when clutch is depressed and makes the pedal effort higher and the clutch barely disengages. You can buy a new bushing for about $6, the GM part number is 14094900.

 

Hmm... time for me to crawl under the dash. Glad to hear you figured it out.


BTW, what overdrive switch was replaced? Something under the car, or in the console? I've got mine all pulled apart, and could use help with contact info for parts if I end up needing them.


[Modified by CentralCoaster, 1:44 AM 6/30/2003]

 

thank you.
today about 30 minutes ago i went back to the dealer .
i explained in nice terms that i caught them with their pants down and that the mech. or them are either grossly incompetent or fraudelent.
they have ordered all the plastic pieces incl. the spring that sit on this shaft and cost is about $10.
i expect them to install it for free since i paid $120 for the "consultation " or should i refer to it as an attemtp to steal.

regarding the overdrive question-------i am not a mechanic but what i know is that there are 2 or 3 pieces to this-----one in the shifter.one in the consle or thereabouts and one inside the tranny.
i was wasting monies doing one at a time and finally i told them to pull the tranny out and do all of them at once.

this is my mechanic in fla. not the dealer in conn. where i am now.

 

I also have an 86 convertible, same problem. Just yesterday I was in stop and go traffic, pushed the clutch in, and it felt like something was under the pedal. pulled over to check and found nothing. Now theres about 3 inches of free travel before the clutch gets tight and starts to disengage, only needs a short push from there, but is awful tight. It will still depress to the floor (with effort), but seems to only need a short push to allow the shift to work. just dosen't feel right. I will check under dash, and hope this is the same problem, fingers crossed that it isn't something else.

Exactly!
the little black bushing fell out when I pulled the connecting rod back. it is all cracked and flaired, can't seem to find that part # online. will check with GM on Monday. That is not an easy find, and hard to get at.
I Thank You, for saving me a few peso's brother

I found the bushing @ GMPartsDirect.com for $3.10 , shipping is $7.95, so the total is $11.05 delivered. Cheap fix, for what may have been an expensive repair had I not seen your post!
[Modified by BLACKFLY86, 1:10 PM 7/6/2003]


[Modified by BLACKFLY86, 5:34 PM 7/6/2003]