Clutch Problem

[eXc]

Hey Everyone.

I have a 94 Vitara (EFI)

My clutch has needed adjusting every few weeks for the past 2 months. On the weekend, it ran out of adjustment, so I put in a spacer to get me home...I almost made it...then I snapped the lever that runs from the clutch to the cable.

Now, when I put that spacer in, the clutch went from being easy and smooth all the way through the movement, to being hader (it's not HARD..just harder) through to about 2 inch of the floor then the clutch totally disengaged, and the last 2 inch was SUPER easy.

So I bought a 2nd hand lever, put it on with the lever straight up and down, and had the same problem - needed a spacer, so rather than a spacer, I moved the lever back a tooth or 2, so instead of pointing up down, at say, 12-6 on a clock, it's at 1-7.

Now in doing this, the car drives, but it has that same wierd feeling, where it's harder than before, then goes super easy.

The clutch was allgedly replaced less than a year ago (have a reciept..i bought the car mid last year)

Does this sound like it could be something simple like the cable stretched? What should I replace/adjust next before looking at the actual clutch. I find it hard to beleive it's the clutch if it was replaced a year ago, i have only done maybe 15,000 kms on it (At most) and only been 4x4 like..15 times tops...

Any advice is appreciated

Cheers
Chris

[islandvitara]

your problem sounds the same as mine now!!!! mine dows the same thing and ive just done a clutch replacement on my vitara (97 efi SWB) and its harder as you said aswell i would like to know what your asking too

[mrw82]

i had this happen on my old sierra. it was the throw out bearing had siezed and was wearing away at the pressure plate (hence the need to adjust it weekly) the box will have to come out for sure.

but try disconnecting the cable from the gearbox and slide the cable inside the sleeve feel it it is smooth and easy, check the cable for fraying or wear, its unlikely to be stretching that much without signs of fraying, and it would snap pretty quick if it was.
also check where the cable goes through the firewall that the firewall isnt cracked, it unlikely in a vitara but i know in falcons that once a heavy duty clutch goes in the firewall cracks and pedal box fails. i think its the pressure plate but it pays to check before pullin the box.

[eXc]

Cheers.


I'll give that a go tonight.

I would assume they would have replced the bearings when they installed a "clutch kit" (that is the only detail on the work invoice from a year ago)

How much damage will I do if it is the throwout and I keep driving it?

[islandvitara]

really!!!!! geeez well if its the throwout bearing i will have to pull it out on friday (my day off)..

thanks for the info

cheers shae j

[eXc]

well I made up a better spacer today, and I now have it the way it was before. Time will tell how long it lasts. Perhaps it is the throwout bearing.

If I tighten it up anymore than it is now, it goes to that hard-->super soft movement I described above.

[islandvitara]

sorta fixed mine - theres no play what so ever but as i bega=in to push the clutch in at the bottom it sorta drops/ goes soft and again as i release it at the same point..

just dont have any play???

[eXc]

you didn't say how you fixed it...

[islandvitara]

i replaced the clutch cable....it helped but didnt fix it...like i said got no play but it seems to be working fine...maybe throwout bearing is ridiin the pressure plate teeth????

i still need help with mine will be sending it over to suzuisport for a touch up..

[scooby_74]

clutch peddal arm is breaking or the bolt it piviots on is failing, replaced heaps of em,

they dont look buggered until there removed well worth checking if it is the problem they eventualy fail completly