When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
No sure there is a correct answer. Original clutch I just replaced in my 03 would grab about 1/3 of the way up or so. Just replaced it with an LS7 clutch and that grabs at maybe 1/4 the way or less. It was a shocking difference to me. Just took a bit of getting used to now it feels fine. An interesting part of the LS pressure plate is that it has progressive springs that adjust over time to account for disc wear. Here’s what my stocker looked like at 56k, and the LS7 clutch assembly below.
The spring mechanism is called SAC or self-adjusting clutch. It's job is to adjust for clutch wear so as to maintain a consistent engagement height, which translates to a consistent pedal engagement.
IMO that pedal engagement is low and I suspect 2 possible reasons: 1) clutch is quite worn and SAC's max range for adjustment has been achieved; 2) SAC mechanism has locked up/seized and hasn't been moving to accommodate clutch wear. I think in either case the proper resolution is clutch replacement (unfortunately).
Mine behaved like this right before the master cylinder went out. If you start replacing things thats where I’d start
Good call! Clutch hydraulics are a big unknown with these cars, more than most other cars it seems.
I wonder if "pumping" the clutch pedal makes any difference to clutch engagement / feel? If so, this could help diagnose a master cylinder on its way out.
Another free diagnostic step (assuming you do your own labor) would be watching the pressure plate & slave cylinder actuation. This requires dropping the midpipe (assuming stock exhaust manifolds) and then removing the clutch inspection cover. Then you can have somebody press the clutch pedal while you observe clutch function.
Also I should add that I have disconnected the clutch return spring in my car and when I started having problems the pedal wouldnt come up past where it was engaging. If you pulled up on it there was no resistance and it would just flop back down. Bleeding it did no good either.
You may try disconnecting your clutch return spring and if the pedal is behaving like mine was then I am almost certain the master cylinder is the problem. Be careful though, I broke one of the plastic tabs when I took my spring off
As I understand it the engagement should get higher as the clutch wears, so low engagement most likely means something has failed as opposed to normal wear
You guys should look up the ‘Ranger method’ to see about the clutch master cylinder issue. It just shows how to clean up dirty old fluid to help with pedal feel and release issues.
It wont hurt to try, but the ranger method wont help him if his problem is the same as mine was. He would be able to see if the clutch fluid was very dirty though
Just went through this myself, and the first order of business is to check the condition of the fluid. If it looks discolored, you have that same contamination throughout the clutch master and slave cylinders. This contamination will downgrade the seals of the master and it will fail eventually, or tomorrow morning.
I don’t mean to alarm you, but these symptoms often go from where you are to clutch laying on the floor without warning.
The ranger system is only mildly useful when maintaining fluid, but it won’t replace a system full of crap.
Very likely you’re looking at a failing clutch master. First check the condition of the fluid.
C5 proper clutch release height
