Clutch Question- no pun
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,024
Likes: 18
From: DFW Texas
Clutch Question- no pun
I'm sort of new to the C5. My first, in fact, a 99 coupe MN6 50K miles with no idea of prior history on the car. It is immaculate and running Nitto NT555 tires (not cheap from what I've discovered)
Curious on clutch travel and when you know it's time to replace?
Forgive my cheezy (but easy) graphic.
| -------------------| Say this is length of travel
^Floor ................. ^ all the way out
|--------------:-----| About where mine starts to grab (engage)
|------------------|-| Push in that much and it starts to slip a little.
Just last weekend had it out on 1.5 mi oval and 1 mile road course. Lots of clutch and brake. Never smelled anything, nor felt any slipping that I could feel, but curious where the travel engage/disgage SHOULD be?
Is travel a sign of clutch about to go? Are there any adjustments?
How complicated for a DIY'r with a good compliment of air, power and hand tools?
Many thanks
Curious on clutch travel and when you know it's time to replace?
Forgive my cheezy (but easy) graphic.
| -------------------| Say this is length of travel
^Floor ................. ^ all the way out
|--------------:-----| About where mine starts to grab (engage)
|------------------|-| Push in that much and it starts to slip a little.
Just last weekend had it out on 1.5 mi oval and 1 mile road course. Lots of clutch and brake. Never smelled anything, nor felt any slipping that I could feel, but curious where the travel engage/disgage SHOULD be?
Is travel a sign of clutch about to go? Are there any adjustments?
How complicated for a DIY'r with a good compliment of air, power and hand tools?
Many thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,456
Likes: 8
From: Cockeysville Maryland
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Daytona Jam 1 Veteran
I am not sure I can be much help making you feel better about your clutch based on your schematic.
I can tell you that IMHO you would smell clutch if you were slipping. There is not an adjustment on the stock clutch for pedal.
To replace a clutch one must remove the headers and exhaust, the rear, transmission and torque tube to get at the bell housing and clutch.
You would definitely want to have it up on a lift and this is one of the most expensive parts to have worked on with a C5.
Good luck to you with this. I have not done this myself but have watched it being done to my car about four times now!
I can tell you that IMHO you would smell clutch if you were slipping. There is not an adjustment on the stock clutch for pedal.
To replace a clutch one must remove the headers and exhaust, the rear, transmission and torque tube to get at the bell housing and clutch.
You would definitely want to have it up on a lift and this is one of the most expensive parts to have worked on with a C5.
Good luck to you with this. I have not done this myself but have watched it being done to my car about four times now!
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,776
Likes: 5
From: Midlothian Texas
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16
It seems that most stock clutch systems the engagment is higher on the travel.
I would say that yes travel is a sign of the clutch wearing.
No adjustment on the factory master cylinder.
I would go ahead and replace it, 50k miles is a lot for a performance clutch. IMO
I am on my second clutch and engine. These cars are really pretty easy to work on. Go for it.
I would say that yes travel is a sign of the clutch wearing.
No adjustment on the factory master cylinder.
I would go ahead and replace it, 50k miles is a lot for a performance clutch. IMO
I am on my second clutch and engine. These cars are really pretty easy to work on. Go for it.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Originally Posted by diyguy
I'm sort of new to the C5. My first, in fact, a 99 coupe MN6 50K miles with no idea of prior history on the car. It is immaculate and running Nitto NT555 tires (not cheap from what I've discovered)
Curious on clutch travel and when you know it's time to replace?
Forgive my cheezy (but easy) graphic.
| -------------------| Say this is length of travel
^Floor ................. ^ all the way out
|--------------:-----| About where mine starts to grab (engage)
|------------------|-| Push in that much and it starts to slip a little.
Just last weekend had it out on 1.5 mi oval and 1 mile road course. Lots of clutch and brake. Never smelled anything, nor felt any slipping that I could feel, but curious where the travel engage/disgage SHOULD be?
Is travel a sign of clutch about to go? Are there any adjustments?
How complicated for a DIY'r with a good compliment of air, power and hand tools?
Many thanks
Curious on clutch travel and when you know it's time to replace?
Forgive my cheezy (but easy) graphic.
| -------------------| Say this is length of travel
^Floor ................. ^ all the way out
|--------------:-----| About where mine starts to grab (engage)
|------------------|-| Push in that much and it starts to slip a little.
Just last weekend had it out on 1.5 mi oval and 1 mile road course. Lots of clutch and brake. Never smelled anything, nor felt any slipping that I could feel, but curious where the travel engage/disgage SHOULD be?
Is travel a sign of clutch about to go? Are there any adjustments?
How complicated for a DIY'r with a good compliment of air, power and hand tools?
Many thanks
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,024
Likes: 18
From: DFW Texas
Would a general consenus be to let it go until it does start to actually slip? 
As it is not a daily driver, and when it does go, everything gets replaced anyway, whether 'nearly gone' or 'yep- it's gone' mentality.
I've replaced a clutch here and there on the older 60's and 70's muscle cars (where you had enough room under the hood to have a beer an pizza party), and that wasn't that bad. But the vette looks like it could be a real beeatch to dive into. Looks very cramped and tight conditions to work in. 
Anybody actually done it themselves?
As it is not a daily driver, and when it does go, everything gets replaced anyway, whether 'nearly gone' or 'yep- it's gone' mentality.
I've replaced a clutch here and there on the older 60's and 70's muscle cars (where you had enough room under the hood to have a beer an pizza party),
and that wasn't that bad. But the vette looks like it could be a real beeatch to dive into. Looks very cramped and tight conditions to work in. Anybody actually done it themselves?
Resident moron
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,746
Likes: 20
From: Assachusetts
I've done it. It's relatively easy but is a T O N of work. It's not your standard engine/clutch/tranny/driveshaft/rear layout.
Labor typically costs $750-$1000 for the job.
I'd run it till it starts slipping. Then get a really nice clutch (like the Exedy) and call it a day.
Dope
Labor typically costs $750-$1000 for the job.
I'd run it till it starts slipping. Then get a really nice clutch (like the Exedy) and call it a day.
Dope
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 512
Likes: 0
The friction point on my 04 Z06 is very high in the pedal travel like you mentioned. My car has 850 miles on it and the clutch has never been abused.
I'd say enjoy your car and don't worry about the clutch until it starts doing something bad.
I'd say enjoy your car and don't worry about the clutch until it starts doing something bad.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,472
Likes: 38
From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '11
The test would be to put it in a high gear like 5th at around 30 MPH and stomp on it. If the RPMs rise independent of the vehicle speed then it's on it's way out. If it doesn't slip then I wouldn't go through the trouble as it is a LOT of trouble! I have done two in my garage on jacks/jackstands and it is a major PITA!
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Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 24,333
Likes: 1
From: VA
St. Jude Donor '03-'11
my car also has 50K miles on it, and the clutch travel is similar to yours. I don't have any slipping issues either. I think it's normal... I wouldn't change it out unless you can actually detect slipping
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
I had 39,xxx on my stock '01 Z06 clutch w/ 3 hpdes, lots of auto xing, and a handful of trips to the 1/4. The clutch still doesn't slip, but I've gotten a lUK stage II put in b/c GM is fixing my moaning differential and has to take all the stuff out of the car, thus doing to expensive part of a clutch install for me for free.
I'd wait until it starts to slip then worry.
I'd wait until it starts to slip then worry.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,394
Likes: 6
From: Melbourne FL
Originally Posted by 99C5Vert
my car also has 50K miles on it, and the clutch travel is similar to yours. I don't have any slipping issues either. I think it's normal... I wouldn't change it out unless you can actually detect slipping
The clutch engagement point is high on the pedal. That is normal. Wait until the clutch is obviously slipping before you bother to change it out. As it is a labor intensive ordeal.
