Got a question for ya...

Got my T-5 in today and Im having clutch pedal problems. After the car runs for a while, the pedal gets soft and mushy. Let it cool down and the pedal feels normal. Im sure thats happening due to the fluid getting too hot and boiling, or theres water in the fluid and it needs to be changed. Here is the question...

Is it possible to install the slave cylinder heatshield backwards or upside down? I could only get it to fit one way, with the shield facing basically towards the left front tire. The other way was interfering with the fluid line. Any advise or answer will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance dude!

 

This a mechanical linkage (82-83) or hydraulic (84+)?

If its mechanical, look for a crack on the pedal pushrod lever (right under the brake booster). Mine was cracked and sounded like your problem. I welded i up and its fine now.

 

Nope it's hydraulic. Thanks anyway.

 

The heat shield goes on the side away from the block, between the cyl and the Y-pipe. I don't think it's possible to put it on any other way.

Several people have posted lately about their clutches doing that; I've never had one like that. I'd have to think it's something about the clutch itself.

If the hydraulics were screwwing up, and the pedal felt mushy, it wouldn't release the clutch. If the clutch release points stay about the same, it can't be the hydraulics.

 

OK. Let me FULLY explain...

I havent driven the car yet. ALL testing was done while the car was in the air.

I can shift the car FINE when its cold. After the car idles for a little while, the pedal starts to feel SPONGY as if there was air in the system. You can BARELY shift the car into gear. Once you get the car into gear with the clutch pedal depressed to the floor, the wheel starts to turn. DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT REVERSE! Reverse at that point is a lost cause.

Once the car cools down, the sponginess in the pedal is GONE COMPLETELY and everything returns to normal. During normal feel, I can push down on the pedal about an inch before I feel the pedal "tighten up" against the brake fluid. When its hot, I have about 3-4 inches of travel with serious sponginess in the pedal. It feels like there is AIR in the system. We all know that brake fluid absorbs moisture in the air. I just bought this car in February so I REALLY dont know how well it was maintained. Anyone with brake knowledge knows that if there is water in the brake system and if it starts to boil, it will make the pedal feel spongy as if there is air in the system and it needs to be bled.

Im gonna try and flush the system and see if that helps...

Thanks!

 

Well that's different then...

It's worth a try. You have nothing to lose except a few minutes of time and a couple of ounces of fluid. I'm not going to try to predict results though; it can't hurt, but whether it will cure it, I have no idea.

 

I ran 3/4 of a 32 ounce bottle of brake fluid though that thing and it worked! Thanks for your help!

:lala: