Clutch pedal feels slightly stiff

Crabman

Hey guys

I've noticed over the past week or so when I let the clutch pedal up, I hear something like a cable rubbing against something.

This evening the clutch pedal seemed a little stiff when going down... the rubbing sound is still there when it comes up. I pressed the pedal a few times just now and there's definitely a difference since earlier today.

I'm hoping it's not the sign of a slipping clutch (car pulls away from stationary without juddering/loss of drive).

Also hoping it's a coincidence that the oil & filter were changed today. The car has done about 70k and is a 97 reg.

What do you think?

goldspanners

if the clutch is cable operated then it could be the cable? if not then its probably a clutch bearing.if its the bearing it could run for thousands of miles yet before it needs changing.check to make sure there is nothing rubing against the lever on the gearbox,whoever done the service may have disturbed something,also check under the dashboard incase anything is rubbing on the pedal.

Crabman

Cheers goldspanners - I'll take a look under the dashboard tomorrow, but how do I check whether something's obstructing the gearbox lever? I can't get underneath the car and wouldn't really know what I'm looking for

Found this:

Cable Operated Clutch:
Stretched, frayed or binding cable, broken or bent pedal bracket, or cracked firewall can be the cause. Problems with a cable mechanism will often herald internal clutch problems as well. When something happens inside the clutch that requires extra force to be exerted on the clutch pedal, things break! Cables can also wear simply from age and use.

http://www.clutchwizard.com/diagnosis.htm

goldspanners

check on top of the gearbox area,you will see the end of the cable if it has one. or get someone to operate the clutch pedal while you look in this area for soemthing moving.

manda1205

Does sound like the clutch cable, cable's dont cost much so wouldn't be a costly job. And if its the bearing you'll start hearing a kinda whirring noise, as you depress the pedal and then stops when you lift it. If you do notice it gets worse, ie, crunching gears or just harder to put in gear and you hear a clicking noise as you depress the clutch, could then be the clutch ratchet. Just had this go on mine, but its been a gradual loss of gears and hardness in the pedal over about a year.

Conor_3

It could, if you're unlucky, also be the clutch pressure plate. When I had a new clutch fitted to my Capri with an engine swap, the difference was unbelievable and I didn't think there was anythign wrong with the original.