Clutch pedal spring; Final verdict?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Clutch pedal spring; Final verdict?
A while back there was a bunch of debating about removing the clutch pedal return spring. Some people thought the spring sucked, and some thought that it was fine and shouldn't or didn't need to be removed.
I'm of the camp that the spring sucks, and makes it feel like a Honda...meaning the clutch pedal doesn't have much (useful) feel. I want to get rid of mine, and I'm not posting to debate that or hear others' differing oppinions on that.
My question is that some folks had mentioned that the spring was critical for returning the master cylinder piston all the way, there by uncovering the replenishing port. Was this determined to be true? Has anyone had their spring out for a while (over a year) w/any issues? W/o any issues?
I'm of the camp that the spring sucks, and makes it feel like a Honda...meaning the clutch pedal doesn't have much (useful) feel. I want to get rid of mine, and I'm not posting to debate that or hear others' differing oppinions on that.
My question is that some folks had mentioned that the spring was critical for returning the master cylinder piston all the way, there by uncovering the replenishing port. Was this determined to be true? Has anyone had their spring out for a while (over a year) w/any issues? W/o any issues?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,343
Likes: 1
From: CA
I removed my clutch assist spring, and I think it improves feel too. My car still has a grabby clutch, and I still think it takes far too much concentration to drive smoothly, but at least now I can feel the clutch's enagagement point. With the spring in I can't feel anything. Now, if I concentrate, angle my foot just right, and keep the AC off I can do perfect, seamless shifts. Bottom line - better without the spring, but my car is still a PITA to drive smoothly.
No issues either. The clutch mechanism works just as it did with the spring.
No issues either. The clutch mechanism works just as it did with the spring.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 1
From: NOVA VA
Mine just broke (17k miles - awesome quality GM 
)
Mine doesnt shift any different at all BUT I have noticed that the clutch doesnt return to top center as it should (feels like about 1/2 area of looseness where the clutch return spring would make sure that it returned to full top)
I intend on having the dealer replace it when I get around to doing the roof recall thing.
)Mine doesnt shift any different at all BUT I have noticed that the clutch doesnt return to top center as it should (feels like about 1/2 area of looseness where the clutch return spring would make sure that it returned to full top)
I intend on having the dealer replace it when I get around to doing the roof recall thing.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,533
Likes: 0
From: az
tom, this is an assist spring...that means it help push down the clutch pedal. you will have many people tell you other wise including some service tech but per 06 service manual these folks are off base. so it has nothing to do with "returning the master cylinder piston all the way".....if this spring was a return sping i can see this point. any ways, i had mine out for 1 year 7 months now. no issue what so ever, well, other then better clutch feel, if that is an issue then it is.
Last edited by cbrf4i1; May 30, 2007 at 09:05 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,208
Likes: 1
tom, this is an assist spring...that means it help push down the clutch pedal. you will have many people tell you other wise including some service tech but per 06 service manual these folks are off base. so it has nothing to do with "returning the master cylinder piston all the way".....if this spring was a return sping i can see this point. any ways, i had mine out for 1 year 7 months now. no issue what so ever, well, other then better clutch feel, if that is an issue then it is.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,534
Likes: 118
From: Columbia, SC
What exactly do you mean by 'better clutch feel'? I find it hard to be consistently smooth, i.e., no jerk when off the line or 1-2--not getting on it, just normal driving. If I ride the clutch a bit off the line, it's fine, but otherwise it is hit or miss for smoothness. It starts out smooth, but when I let the clutch all the way out, a shake or jerk. Did you find the removal solved this problem?
I removed my spring and replaced it with a C5 spring (which is smaller). Clutch now has a linear feel throughout return and much smoother engagement. Feels like a clutch should.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,533
Likes: 0
From: az
What exactly do you mean by 'better clutch feel'? I find it hard to be consistently smooth, i.e., no jerk when off the line or 1-2--not getting on it, just normal driving. If I ride the clutch a bit off the line, it's fine, but otherwise it is hit or miss for smoothness. It starts out smooth, but when I let the clutch all the way out, a shake or jerk. Did you find the removal solved this problem?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Thanks for the replies everyone. And especially, this one:
My spring is comming out.
tom, this is an assist spring...that means it help push down the clutch pedal. you will have many people tell you other wise including some service tech but per 06 service manual these folks are off base. so it has nothing to do with "returning the master cylinder piston all the way".....if this spring was a return sping i can see this point. any ways, i had mine out for 1 year 7 months now. no issue what so ever, well, other then better clutch feel, if that is an issue then it is.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 8,615
Likes: 60
From: Haymarket Virginia
Mine just broke (17k miles - awesome quality GM )
Mine doesnt shift any different at all BUT I have noticed that the clutch doesnt return to top center as it should (feels like about 1/2 area of looseness where the clutch return spring would make sure that it returned to full top)
I intend on having the dealer replace it when I get around to doing the roof recall thing.
)Mine doesnt shift any different at all BUT I have noticed that the clutch doesnt return to top center as it should (feels like about 1/2 area of looseness where the clutch return spring would make sure that it returned to full top)
I intend on having the dealer replace it when I get around to doing the roof recall thing.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,279
Likes: 82
From: North Strand, NMB, SC; Retired x 2 (US Army: 70-90 AD) (US Army: 91-16 DAC); yea, I'm old.
Mine broke in March and the other half finally fell out in May; both pieces are now safely wrapped separately in napkins from MickeyD's wait for me to display them in a shadow box after the garage is finished.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,551
Likes: 4
From: Livingston Texas
The spring also holds the pedal up at the very top of it's travel.
Try this, disconnect the rod to the master cylinder from the pedal with the spring installed. You will notice that the pedal will stay up. Push down on the pedal with the rod removed and the spring will pull the pedal to the floor once you push down a few inches. This shows that the assist spring does in fact keep the pedal all of the way up along with lowering the force required to push it down.
Those of you with the springs removed try the above test and report if your pedal just falls to the floor once the master cylinder rod is removed.
It only takes a couple of minutes to disconnect the rod so this is a simple test.
Try this, disconnect the rod to the master cylinder from the pedal with the spring installed. You will notice that the pedal will stay up. Push down on the pedal with the rod removed and the spring will pull the pedal to the floor once you push down a few inches. This shows that the assist spring does in fact keep the pedal all of the way up along with lowering the force required to push it down.
Those of you with the springs removed try the above test and report if your pedal just falls to the floor once the master cylinder rod is removed.
It only takes a couple of minutes to disconnect the rod so this is a simple test.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,064
Likes: 4
My tuner at Orange County Corvettes installed a C5 return spring.
Didnt even ask me, they just did it.
It is probably one of the best mods I have had done to the car. It is a smaller spring and makes the clutch feel like it should.
They are about 7 bucks and takes a second to install.
Didnt even ask me, they just did it.
It is probably one of the best mods I have had done to the car. It is a smaller spring and makes the clutch feel like it should.
They are about 7 bucks and takes a second to install.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,534
Likes: 118
From: Columbia, SC
My tuner at Orange County Corvettes installed a C5 return spring.
Didnt even ask me, they just did it.
It is probably one of the best mods I have had done to the car. It is a smaller spring and makes the clutch feel like it should.
They are about 7 bucks and takes a second to install.
Didnt even ask me, they just did it.
It is probably one of the best mods I have had done to the car. It is a smaller spring and makes the clutch feel like it should.
They are about 7 bucks and takes a second to install.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 1
From: NJ..."the way I saw it, everyone takes a beating sometimes."
My tuner at Orange County Corvettes installed a C5 return spring.
Didnt even ask me, they just did it.
It is probably one of the best mods I have had done to the car. It is a smaller spring and makes the clutch feel like it should.
They are about 7 bucks and takes a second to install.
Didnt even ask me, they just did it.
It is probably one of the best mods I have had done to the car. It is a smaller spring and makes the clutch feel like it should.
They are about 7 bucks and takes a second to install.
Well where can I get one?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,208
Likes: 1
smoother engagement point, liner feel and you have a better feel what the clutch is doing. just about what minkster pointed out. before with the assist spring in there, it was a hit or miss. you may also find with the spring out the clutch pedal will required slightly more effort.
Great info! Think I may do the same!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,202
Likes: 5
I have a C5 Z06...the quality never stops. My clutch return spring broke at less than 15K miles. I replaced it because without the spring, I was worried that it would be like riding the clutch pedal. The spring makes the pedal return all the way up. In between when the spring broke and when the replacement was installed, I didn't feel any difference.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,534
Likes: 118
From: Columbia, SC
I have a C5 Z06...the quality never stops. My clutch return spring broke at less than 15K miles. I replaced it because without the spring, I was worried that it would be like riding the clutch pedal. The spring makes the pedal return all the way up. In between when the spring broke and when the replacement was installed, I didn't feel any difference.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,533
Likes: 0
From: az
does someone have a picture of c5 & c6 spring side by side they can post? thanks
Last edited by cbrf4i1; May 31, 2007 at 06:47 PM.