Clutch randomly got "squishy"?

Synchros shot? Weird noises while shifting? Not sure what needs to be replaced?
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ColJessip
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Clutch randomly got "squishy"?

Post by ColJessip »

My clutch has been acting weird for the past two days. Usually there is a centimeter of play in the pedal before the clutch starts disengaging. For the past few days, there has been probably and inch and a half of play before you hit any resistance. This was an abrupt change, one day it was fine, the next it has all this play.

The clutch is still working as it should, but the extra inch of play makes it an on-off switch, making smooth driving impossible. I've read of similar issues that were due to heat from LT headers, I don't have headers, and the ambient temperatures have been the same or hotter for the past 2 months, I can rule heat out.

What could have caused this huge change.
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AHTOXA
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Re: Clutch randomly got "squishy"?

Post by AHTOXA »

Battled a very similar issue with my goat. Could not figure out. Dyed the system for leaks, etc. Dealer wasn't able to solve. Mine happened during fast shifts at times as well.
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ColJessip
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Re: Clutch randomly got "squishy"?

Post by ColJessip »

Did you ever find a way to temporarily alleviate the issue?
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theholycow
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Re: Clutch randomly got "squishy"?

Post by theholycow »

You might try simply bleeding the hydraulic system (and, of course, checking for leaks). Tony's wasn't declared an unsolved mystery until long after that stuff was done.
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ColJessip
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Re: Clutch randomly got "squishy"?

Post by ColJessip »

Now it won't even disengage the clutch.

If it was air in the system, wouldn't the clutch pedal not return to normal? Mine springs back up to normal. Now it won't even disengage the clutch.
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Re: Clutch randomly got "squishy"?

Post by theholycow »

IIRC some clutch master cylinders have their own return spring, so don't assume the only way the pedal can come up is from the pressure plate springs (meaning, air in the system doesn't mean the pedal would fail to return).

Sounds like a major loss of fluid or a failed master or slave.
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bk7794
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Re: Clutch randomly got "squishy"?

Post by bk7794 »

theholycow wrote:IIRC some clutch master cylinders have their own return spring, so don't assume the only way the pedal can come up is from the pressure plate springs (meaning, air in the system doesn't mean the pedal would fail to return).

Sounds like a major loss of fluid or a failed master or slave.
Yeah my buddy had an issue in his GT6. Just try rebleeding it.
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AHTOXA
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Re: Clutch randomly got "squishy"?

Post by AHTOXA »

ColJessip wrote:Did you ever find a way to temporarily alleviate the issue?
Unfortunately I did not, however I never had a case where i couldn't disengage the clutch. In my case, I also seemed to be losing clutch fluid when the issue would surface, which is why the system was dyed, however none, zero, zilch leaks were found. I spent two weeks at the dealer between various visits. This was one of the reasons I sold the car - too many issues that neither nor the dealer could successfully solve. I don't think it was an issue with the mechanics either, I've gotten to know the 2 master techs there quite well and they were really knowledgeable guys that got stumped.
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Re: Clutch randomly got "squishy"?

Post by Rope-Pusher »

AHTOXA wrote:"....and they were really knowledgeable guys that got stumped."
It happens to the best of 'em
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Re: Clutch randomly got "squishy"?

Post by ColJessip »

The system was dry, time to track down the leak.

I guess it's metro bus time.
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Re: Clutch randomly got "squishy"?

Post by Rope-Pusher »

Back in the daze of clutch release cables, we only had to worry about stuff leaking INTO them, not out of them.

When you look for that leak, why not check the last place you would look first?

Some clutch master cylinder leaks hide themselves under the carpeting.
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Re: Clutch randomly got "squishy"?

Post by AHTOXA »

I had a clutch master let go on my Acura. Found out because it coated my clutch pedal and made it super slippery.
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Re: Clutch randomly got "squishy"?

Post by ColJessip »

It's the slave. I guess this is a good excuse to throw a stage 2+ in there and swap out the flywheel for a lighter one.
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Re: Clutch randomly got "squishy"?

Post by Rope-Pusher »

ColJessip wrote:It's the slave. I guess this is a good excuse to throw a stage 2+ in there and swap out the flywheel for a lighter one.
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Re: Clutch randomly got "squishy"?

Post by ColJessip »

LS7 Pressure plate and aftermarket flywheel are in there. OEM slave though. It self bleeds so it's gonna take a while before I have constant clutch pressure.
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