Guys, my clutch pedal resistance has increased dramatically in the last few days. I have a hydraulic clutch setup, and the pressure has increased to the point that I've now blown a seal on the slave cylinder that pushes on the clutch fork. What is the most likely cause of the increased resistance? I've not changed a clutch before, but it looks like that may change soon.


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Marty

69 Camaro, 350, TrickFlow heads, T5, 3.73
http://users.ev1.net/~martyp/69Camaro/index.html

Clutch rusted together?

When was the last time you drove the car? Usually, after sitting for a length of time, the metallic clutch disc rusts to the flywheel and pressure plate, especially in high humidity areas.

Everett 68/350/PG/11.90/115mph

It's a daily driver so that is not the problem. Could it be a problem with the throw out bearing or that the clutch itself is going bad?

The only other suggestion I can think of is the clutch disc has worn enough to allow the slave cylinder to be at its end of travel and cannot compensate for wear anymore, thereby, requiring replacement.

How old is this clutch set-up now?

Everett

Everett,

It's not a matter of travel. It will depress the clutch fork all the way, but I damn near have to stand on it with both feet! It is so hard that I've blown the seals on the slave cylinder.

Marty

I'm not sure how old the clutch setup is as it was on the car when I bought it a year ago.

Marty,

Sounds like the clutch pedal has turned into a brake pedal, after reading your first post.

Resistance when depressing pedal, something would be binding, T/O bearing on bearing retainer alittle tight?

From your other posts, this is about all it could be, you mention clutch will move all the way - does this mean it works as normal, just very hard to push? Does it engage/disengage as it did before the "binding"?

Could be a bent fork, broken pressure plate, or worn bearing retainer where the T/O bearing rides on causing misalignment. Or, slave cylinder binding up due to heat, as in piston/cylinder clearance.

Everett

Clutch works as normal, it's just hard to push. Engages and disengages just as before the "binding". However, as I mentioned, with me "standing" on the clutch pedal, it generates enough pressure in the hydraulic actuation system to blow the seal on the front of the slave cylinder. I'm begining to think that it's got to be in the fork itself. The fork seemed to have a bit of play in it when I tried to move it by hand. Is there anyway to check the things you've mentioned without dropping the trans? It's not the slave binding due to heat as it's that way even with the engine off.