Hi; I have an 89 350 TPI w/ T56. Lately, my gas pedal has been "sticky" for lack of a better word when I first push down on it. Starting off is okay, but it is especially noticable if i am in say 2nd or 3rd and let off the gas and then try to gently push down again. Very hard to do (of course then the car jumps unless i push the clutch in and reengage to smooth the transition). I should mention that when the motor is off, the pedel is very easy to push, no resistance at all which makes it feel like excess vaccuum? holding the throttle blades back (in the TB) until they open a bit, and then it is smooth.

Any ideas? (TB is clean inside, cable seems fine as I initially thought that this was the problem but it is very smooth when motor is off)

Thanks for your help

-Kyle

 

Check the bushings on your throttle body, mine does the same thing, bushings are worn out causing the shaft to bind.

 

Okay thanks, I think you may be right. I sprayed some WD-40 inside the throttle body along the shaft last night and it worked wonders! Of course, this may just be a temporary fix. Are these bushings something that you can buy and replace?

 

I repaired my sticking throttle body blades by removing the tb and cleaning the bores with some good carburator cleaner and then hold the tb blades open and lightly sand the bores with some 800 grit sand paper. worked wonders on mine. its been two years since I have done it and it still works like new.

 

If your throttle shaft bushings get excessively worn, there's no way to just replace them as there's no actual bushing, just a proper size hole drilled into the aluminum of the TB for the shaft. If they get too worn and elongated, it can cause the throttle to stick and it also can cause a vacuum leak. There is a guy on ebay who rebuilds them and he fixes the throttle shaft bores by drilling the holes larger and then using actual roller bearings for the throttle shaft to rotate on. I had this done to my 89 TB as well as having him bore it out from 48mm to 52mm. It's like brand new now, and it only ran me about $140 for everything, which is a killer deal considering a new BBK or Holley 52mm TB runs around $300. I've also heard the Holley units don't exactly bolt right up. People say you have to do some fabbing to get the TPS to work properly. I like having the factory piece where everything still fits up perfect and larger 52mm bores! There's a few guys online who offer these services, so if you want a more permanent fix to your sticking throttle than WD-40, this is the way to go if you ask me.

 

Take the TB apart and clean it thouroughly.

If it still occurs or you can positively ID the bushings are worn and causing it, look for a local carbuerator repair shop.

they rebush carb baseplates all the time, especially QJ's. They can rebush yout TB as well. Prolly run you like 30-50$

later
Jeremy