This just fell off...
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,537
Likes: 1,404
From: Bethesda MD
This just fell off...
The other day getting into the car I noticed this on the floor of the driver's footwell, left side.
It looks like it is part of the springs for the pedals, but the clutch and brake pedals are working fine; cruise control switches off, brake lights come on. Any idea where this goes and what so I need to do re-install it?
It looks like it is part of the springs for the pedals, but the clutch and brake pedals are working fine; cruise control switches off, brake lights come on. Any idea where this goes and what so I need to do re-install it?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 264
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
Your clutch pedal spring broke. I have removed a dozen of them at the race track. You should remove the other half of it or it could bind up and prevent the clutch from disengaging. All you need is a long flat screwdriver. Put a towel on the floor as it will be greasy. Pop the other side out of the bracket then pull it out of the pedal itself. It can be tricky to pull out of the pedal, keep at it you'll get it.
Replace it if you want. I haven't had one for years and we all know my clutch is doing fine.
Replace it if you want. I haven't had one for years and we all know my clutch is doing fine.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 264
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
The spring is there to assist in holding the clutch down to the floor for those sporting high heels. Without it the clutch is a little harder to hold down but it has a more linear feel.
When you soup up your car...typically after a cam, the clutch pedal will often stick to the floor after a shift on the drag strip. Removing the spring (and the Ranger method of fluid replacement) cures the sticking down pedal most of the time.
I'm not kidding when I say I have removed at least a half dozen at the track. I carry a screwdriver in my cubby. I can send you a spring if you want one...though it's cheap at the dealer, probably cost just as much to mail it.
When you soup up your car...typically after a cam, the clutch pedal will often stick to the floor after a shift on the drag strip. Removing the spring (and the Ranger method of fluid replacement) cures the sticking down pedal most of the time.
I'm not kidding when I say I have removed at least a half dozen at the track. I carry a screwdriver in my cubby. I can send you a spring if you want one...though it's cheap at the dealer, probably cost just as much to mail it.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 515
Likes: 1
From: Boca ARton FL
Joe popped my spring at the last track outing, knocked a tenth off the 60 ft from better feel of the engagement point. I took the back roads home vs the hiway and did notice an increased pedal feel, however since I am a big boy and hardly ever wear heels any more my left calf will deal with it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,063
Likes: 82
From: Tumwater, WA
Joe popped my spring at the last track outing, knocked a tenth off the 60 ft from better feel of the engagement point. I took the back roads home vs the hiway and did notice an increased pedal feel, however since I am a big boy and hardly ever wear heels any more my left calf will deal with it.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,694
Likes: 106
The spring also pulls the clutch pedal up, supposedly to prevent premature throwout bearing wear. But if left foot never rests on the clutch pedal (many do that unconsciously), I suppose it's not an issue. Finally, haven't done it on this car yet, but when I've had clutch hydraulic pressure relieved in other cars (bleeding job gone bad, etc), the spring pressure is only felt at the very bottom/top of pedal travel. On the engagement zone, pedal stayed where I left it, meaning spring had no effect at all in that zone, but many owners (especially the M3 V8 community) sweared they had better feel, which I knew physically wasn't the case.
Anyway, the spring on the Vette could act differently, so maybe somebody who has had the clutch with no hydraulic pressure and spring installed can comment on its effect on the friction zone. I'm leaving mine in place. Vette has pretty good feel and modulation compared to most cars I've driven, so I'm happy with it. Good day gang.
Anyway, the spring on the Vette could act differently, so maybe somebody who has had the clutch with no hydraulic pressure and spring installed can comment on its effect on the friction zone. I'm leaving mine in place. Vette has pretty good feel and modulation compared to most cars I've driven, so I'm happy with it. Good day gang.
Last edited by JCtx; Apr 15, 2012 at 08:23 PM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,537
Likes: 1,404
From: Bethesda MD
The first time I looked up at the pedal springs when I discovered the part, so much of it was in place and sitting pretty much like factory, I missed that it was broken. The rest of the spring:
You can see where it broke. I'm amazed I did not hear it snap.
You can see where it broke. I'm amazed I did not hear it snap.
Last edited by Ragtop 99; Apr 15, 2012 at 05:13 PM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,537
Likes: 1,404
From: Bethesda MD
Joe popped my spring at the last track outing, knocked a tenth off the 60 ft from better feel of the engagement point. I took the back roads home vs the hiway and did notice an increased pedal feel, however since I am a big boy and hardly ever wear heels any more my left calf will deal with it.
The real test will be when I get stuck in DC traffic and literally go a 1/2 mile in traffic, proceeding about 100' then stopping, and repeat. If it starts to feel heavy I'll get another spring.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 638
Likes: 10
From: Santa Barbara California
Your clutch pedal spring broke. I have removed a dozen of them at the race track. You should remove the other half of it or it could bind up and prevent the clutch from disengaging. All you need is a long flat screwdriver. Put a towel on the floor as it will be greasy. Pop the other side out of the bracket then pull it out of the pedal itself. It can be tricky to pull out of the pedal, keep at it you'll get it.
Replace it if you want. I haven't had one for years and we all know my clutch is doing fine.
Replace it if you want. I haven't had one for years and we all know my clutch is doing fine.
I put a new spring in place and thought something was wrong as the pedal felt so soft. That is just the way it is supposed to be. I just drove with it broken for so long without knowing...
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 11,143
Likes: 1,913
From: Missouri City, TX
My 01Z snapped a spring over the course of 49k miles of ownership. Never snapped the spring on my 06Z over 48k miles.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,598
Likes: 78
From: Miami FL
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16,'17,'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
For anyone who wants to RE-INSTALL a clutch spring, just check this thread:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...ing-in-c6.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...ing-in-c6.html
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
I've read many similar stories and wondered why I hadn't had the problem. After four years or more I looked at my spring and found it was broken but both pieces were still in place. No telling how long I drove it while it was broken. I replaced it and I really couldn't tell any difference. I think it's time to look at it again. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 6,473
Likes: 297
From: Orange Park FL
Joe popped my spring at the last track outing, knocked a tenth off the 60 ft from better feel of the engagement point. I took the back roads home vs the hiway and did notice an increased pedal feel, however since I am a big boy and hardly ever wear heels any more my left calf will deal with it.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: North Strand, NMB, SC; Retired x 2 (US Army: 70-90 AD) (US Army: 91-16 DAC); yea, I'm old.
Premium Supporting Vendor
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