How stiff is yours??

[Flight666]

I am not 100% sure my clutch is as it should be.I have a brand new genuine cable, the white quadrant ratchet clutch pedal affair.I dont get any grating juddering problem changing gear (I did have to shave quite a bit off the pedal stop to make it operate happily) It`s maybe just me getting old but when for example you are pulling away from a junction or doing a low speed manoeuvre the force needed to hold the pedal down and ease it up slowly to just hit biting point just feels huge like I need the leg muscles of Arnold schwarzenegger it just feels like holding down the force of a huge spring if you get my drift so easing it up slowly is a pain .The clutch pedal itself feels very smooth to operate just the huge pressure to hold it down.Is this normal for the Gt turbo? The last time I had a 5 was 12yrs ago and just dont rememeber it being such a ball ache.The car is 100% standard although not sure what type of clutch is in the car.Any help very much appreciated thanks in advance..

[markg]

It's hard to know without actually seeing it but if it has a uprated clutch then it will be pretty hard in operation from my experience. I went from a standard clutch to Valeo green box and the difference was a lot, I got used to it over the years.

If it's really too much have a look at this - http://www.rtoc.org/boards/showthread.php?t=4732

[Flight666]

Thanks for the info, but yes to really enjoy the car it is a bit much I dont use the 5 very often so it`s hard to get used to it.What type of clutch is standard (brand wise) and where is the best place to get one from? I may just try that and will have a read up on the conversions thanks again..

[s3irios]

If your clutch is kinda old then it will be MUCH heavier as it should. I had to change mine cause of that. It was so heavy it broke 2 brand new clutch cables.:eek:

[Flight666]

Cheers S3irios I will check through the cars history but I`m sure I havent seen any invoice/reciept for a cluctch the cars on 112k miles,so who knows how old it is,.The car starts runs drives fantastic its just the tension on the clutch pedal thats ruining the fun :cry:

[markg]

Before fitting the Valeo I had only ever had OE Renault clutches. These are probably made by Valeo or the likes but not sure who. To be honest even the standard clutch is heavy compared to more modern cars. Have a chat with Mike ( Phase i 16V turbo ) if you need a new clutch.

[Flight666]

Had a word with Mike a couple of months ago as I had trouble getting reverse without it crunching and also the amount of tension and I thought my clutch was goosed he mentioned the idea of shaving a bit off the pedal stop which has cured the crunching.I appreciate none of you guys can really tell without seeing the car and yes I don`t expect it to be anything like a modern car.Is there any way I can extend the arm on the gearbox end (to give to more leverage) without splitting the box? I am an enginner so access to equipment/materials not a problem thanks Markg for thte info...

[markg]

Looks like it is possible. On the right hand side of that link I posted should be a picture of how Duncan Grier had done it without removing the box. Unfortunately I expect the picture went AWOL along with the old site. Duncan is still a member on here so maybe PM and see if he can give you some info. :agree:

[s3irios]

I personally wouldn't let the pedal more to these kind of forces. In the end the internal it's oonly plastic, and if the small plastic teeth wear out (as mine did) then you're after a pedal too.:sad2:

I'm almost sure the stiffness is from the clutch being old and/or exposed to random temperatures, water etc. Best way to deal with it once and for all, change the clutch. It's not expensive either and as i read you're a mechaninc then it's gonna be easy for you.:agree::agree:

[Flight666]

Thanks I will replace the clutch when I moth ball the car over the winter period.By trade I`m an engineer sheetmetal work,fabrication fitting is my game so I`m ok at making body repair panels exhausts all the metalwork stuff not so good on the oily bits,hence why I got the 5 all the bodywork/interior has been restored will show you guys a couple of pics now I want to learn about the mechanial side of things and as I dont use the car much it wont matter if it takes a while.What is the best method of clutch change on the 5 is it best engine out? Or can it be done by splitting box in situe or even dropping job lot with the subframe thanks again for your help
http://i1052.photobucket.com/albums/s441/Gizmo6666/Photo0233.jpg

[Flight666]

http://i1052.photobucket.com/albums/s441/Gizmo6666/Photo0231.jpg

[Flight666]

http://i1052.photobucket.com/albums/s441/Gizmo6666/Photo0235.jpg

[Flight666]

Sorry about the size of the pics etc but just got to sort out this damn clutch then I can enjoy her to the full :)

[GTphil]

Nice five! Your better off taking the engine out in my opinion for a clutch, you can actually take the block out on it's own and leave the box in situe, but the amount of time it takes removing everything so you can get it back in without touching the paintwork, you may aswell remove the lot.

For your first time give yourself a few days and do it properly, it can be done in a few hours if you get your grafting cap on.;)

[Flight666]

Cheers Phil I suppose it makes more sense to remove the lot then I can re-paint engine bay whilst I`m at it.I`m also looking at getting a second hand engine to learn how to re-build them are they easy enough for a first timer?Do you need much in the way of specialist equipment.I dont want to rip mine apart when its not necessary plus dont want to feck up a perfectly decent unit.

[GTphil]

I built my first one last year, I knew my way around them beforehand, but as for actually building one from scratch, it's not all that difficult, all you really need is a decent engineer, (for crank grinding etc) a tourq wrench, piston ring compressor, piston ring fittment/removal tool, a dial test indicator and mag stand, and or course a Haynes book of lies....... Plus all your usual tools.

all quite inexpensive gear really ;)

[GT Josh]

Haynes book of lies :laugh:

[GTphil]

Re-fitting is the reverse of removal.........except it's a complete ******* of a job and we couldn't really be arsed doing it or writing about it!!!!;)

[Flight666]

cheers guys got the old haynes manual, gutted as had the Renault workshop manuals and sold them a few months before I got the 5 after having them stashed 12 yrs thinking "I`ll never get another one" :( Phil you mention Re-fitting is the reverse of removal.........except it's a complete is that clutch job or engine rebuild??

[GTphil]

Lol anything that they couldn't be arsed to do/write up must have been a crap job!

It was just a joke, clutch and engine build are actually not to bad;)