Hi All,

As the title says, I'm having an issue with my clutch pedal. I installed a new clutch (flywheel, clutch disk, pressure plate, pilot bearing, throw out bearing) and the longer I drive it, the more it's hesitating when I let up on the pedal. I've installed several clutch kits, so I'm familiar with process, but this is the first time I've ever had an issue.

At first, there was just a little *creak* in the pedal when I'd first let off after shifting, but now, it's actually sticking to the floor and hesitates for a moment or two before releasing and coming up. This makes it really difficult to drive. The creak/hesitation is when I first let off the pedal (fully depressed). The further up the pedal comes, the smoother it gets.

The other odd thing is, it's smooth as glass when the engine isn't running. I can shift through all the gears easily, and let up on the clutch pedal and it operates as it should. There's no catch or hesitation. So, this issue is only while driving.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what this might be? And how to fix it?

 

Juice or linkage clutch?

Linkage clutch might bind up when the motor is running, especially around shift time with the action/reaction of engine speed and load.

WAG alert....

 

Good call, should have mentioned that. I converted it to a hydraulic clutch about 5 years ago. It's behaved perfectly until this new clutch kit.

I forgot to check the fluid recently. I'll examine it.

 

Check master mount and linkage to it for true. Flexing or damaged firewall can cause the linkage or pushrod to bind at the master.

That would seem to be far fetched given this only happens when running, but I'm going to theorize that a spinning clutch is a little bit harder to push. Maybe.

 

I'm pretty certain it has something to do with the new clutch, since the hydraulic clutch conversion has worked flawlessly for going on 5 years now.

New clutch, and I can feel it binding.

I just find it odd that it's only while driving, otherwise I'd think it'd be something that's not lubricated as it should be (like the input shaft that the throw out bearing rides on).

I checked the fluid yesterday and it was at the full line, so I don't think there are issues there.

Not really sure what to do next.

 

I had a similar problem with a completely different situation. My 1969 Mustang with steel linkages had a really stiff clutch that caused severe wear to the pivot rod of the clutch pedal and its bushings, as well as the frame that the bushings were mounted to. My first fix was to replace the worn stock bushings, which were made of pot metal, with steel. That worked great until the pedal started to return slower and slower. I also heard some creaking, and I traced it to the steel bushings, which had started to corrode. It got to the point where the pedal would not return at all without my gunning the engine. I've since replaced them with one of those bearing kits that Mustang restoration places sell.