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Clutch spring replacement?

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Old May 28, 2009 | 11:57 AM
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From: Stewartsville, Mo.
Clutch spring replacement?

I have an '01 F350 with the 6 speed manual and want to see if anyone else has had problems with the BIG HONKIN SPRING on the clutch pedal? I went through Dallas-Ft. Worth weekend before last at rush hour and the constant clutching left my leg hurting for three days. Sitting at a light I have to shift to neutral because I can't hold the clutch in for very long, it's that strong! I'm 6'3" and have no problem pushing the pedal to the floor so it's not a "body mechanics" issue. My GF cannot drive the truck because of that issue. I've inspected the pedal and the spring and nothing obvious appears to be wrong. Will the spring from a '99 F250 V10 work?
 
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Old May 28, 2009 | 12:47 PM
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It's supposed to be a break over spring. When you get the pedal all the way to the floor, the spring is supposed to help hold the pedal down. Are you still running the stock clutch assembly? Many here have switched to a different clutch and removed the spring since the clutch they chose had a much softer pedal.
 
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Old May 28, 2009 | 01:13 PM
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I can tell you from experience, removing the spring under the dash will make it slightly harder to push. The spring mount is an aluminum casting and BROKE on mine and the spring fell on the floor...
 
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Old May 28, 2009 | 01:48 PM
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If the pedal is that hard,I would think clutch/release bearing issues.

If you disconnect the m/c rod,the pedal will move"effortlesssly and quickly" to the floor and stay there.

They make them more to get total release from the release bearing,than to affect pedal pressure.
 
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Old May 28, 2009 | 03:15 PM
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chayes01
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From: Stewartsville, Mo.
Originally Posted by F350-6
It's supposed to be a break over spring. When you get the pedal all the way to the floor, the spring is supposed to help hold the pedal down. Are you still running the stock clutch assembly? Many here have switched to a different clutch and removed the spring since the clutch they chose had a much softer pedal.
As far as I know it's still the stock clutch. I had it in last fall for some rear axle work and the tech even noticed that the clutch was very stiff and it makes a noise when depressed. Much like a garage door spring under a lot of tension.
 
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Old May 28, 2009 | 03:22 PM
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From: Stewartsville, Mo.
Originally Posted by 12ozd
If the pedal is that hard,I would think clutch/release bearing issues.

If you disconnect the m/c rod,the pedal will move"effortlesssly and quickly" to the floor and stay there.

They make them more to get total release from the release bearing,than to affect pedal pressure.
The clutch isn't slipping and pulls my 10k fiver just fine. Would you suggest that I disconnect the rod to the cylinder and see if the pedal is still difficult? The engage point is just off the floor and the local Ford service says that's normal. As I stated in my last post there is a noise, like the spring is under a lot of tension, when I depress the clutch.
 
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Old May 28, 2009 | 07:10 PM
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Originally Posted by chayes01
The clutch isn't slipping and pulls my 10k fiver just fine. Would you suggest that I disconnect the rod to the cylinder and see if the pedal is still difficult? The engage point is just off the floor and the local Ford service says that's normal. As I stated in my last post there is a noise, like the spring is under a lot of tension, when I depress the clutch.

The point of my post was; the "the big honkin spring" has little to do with the effort required to depress the clutch,or its adjustment.

That spring will actually assist in the pedal depression.
(more for keeping it on the floor)

If you don't like the pedal adjustment,(I agree,on the floor can be difficult to drive) I would look at the slave cyl / mst. cyl.,or the clutch itself.

There is no adjustment for the clutch travel or "toe play"

There was also a TSB on these trucks for the firewall flexing at the m/c mount. This would also cause the problem you describe.

Do you see alot of movement in the firewall (flexing) when you depress the clutch?

Won't make it hard to depress, but will make it "pick up " on the floor.

Simple "plate" to install if this is the case.

Hope this helps,post back.
 
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Old May 31, 2009 | 08:16 AM
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chayes01
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From: Stewartsville, Mo.
Originally Posted by 12ozd
The point of my post was; the "the big honkin spring" has little to do with the effort required to depress the clutch,or its adjustment.

That spring will actually assist in the pedal depression.
(more for keeping it on the floor)

If you don't like the pedal adjustment,(I agree,on the floor can be difficult to drive) I would look at the slave cyl / mst. cyl.,or the clutch itself.

There is no adjustment for the clutch travel or "toe play"

There was also a TSB on these trucks for the firewall flexing at the m/c mount. This would also cause the problem you describe.

Do you see alot of movement in the firewall (flexing) when you depress the clutch?

Won't make it hard to depress, but will make it "pick up " on the floor.

Simple "plate" to install if this is the case.

Hope this helps,post back.
Thanks for the reply Jack, I'll have my GF work the clutch and I'll check for the firewall flex then get back to you.

Chris
 
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