O.K. here is the story. I was helping a buddy change his clutch today and every thing looks good exept the clutch will not disenguage.
I have changed dozens of trannys in the past but this is my first on a mustang(I drive a camaro right now,not that I have anything against one or the other,I believe we should all stick together).
Anyway, we pulled the tranny as I have always done in the past. Changed the pilot bearing, throwout bearing, clutch disk, and pressure plate. We put everything back on just as we took it off. To my knowlage everything should be fine uder the car.
We go to start the car and it starts just fine. Then go to put it in gear and all we get is grinding. I thought O.K. I will just adjust the clutch pedel. I look around under the car and nothing and then under the dash and there is this quadrant linkage. This quadrant is new to me remember I haven't worked on many mustangs. I adjust it to the maximum I could because the pedel felt soft compared to before with the old clutch. Adjusting didn't help.
With the car on a lift my buddy stayed in the car to work the clutch. When off the ground I had him strat the car and hold in the clutch. as it was held in I used a big screwdriver to push the clutch fork all the way until it full travel. I only got about a 1/4in more. While running he put it in gear and it went, but only one time and wouldn't do it again.
If you put the car in gear, hold in the clutch and have someone push the car it just makes the engine turn over. If I pull off the clutch cable on the fork and I push the fork to the rear I get about a 1/2in between the frount of the throwout bearing and the back of the pressure plate,is that the usual for these cars or should it be closer.
Well I am stumped. Just thought I would leave it to the experts. I have been racking my brain all evening. Tomarrow I may just pull it all back apart and see if it is internal. Dunno.
sorry this post is so damn long

Also by the way it is a 1997 mustang GT 4.6 and a 5speed if that helps any, thanks again

Did you put the through out bearing in the correct way? If I remember there is a front and back I think ???? Who's clutch assembly was it?

[David L Gary]

check to see if the disk is in backwards or bent,and fits the splines loosely.These are all problems I have faced.

[Vortex]

Not sure about that cable, but have you tried lifting the clutch pedal with the top of your foot then pressing it down like normal? I heard this was a self-adjuster. Also check the contact points on the shift fork, and the tines on the pressure plate, either could be worn and causing an issue. I doubt it would be syncros due to the fact its just a clutch change.

[Fast1]

Originally posted by Vortex
Not sure about that cable, but have you tried lifting the clutch pedal with the top of your foot then pressing it down like normal? I heard this was a self-adjuster. Also check the contact points on the shift fork, and the tines on the pressure plate, either could be worn and causing an issue. I doubt it would be syncros due to the fact its just a clutch change.

This worksHad same prob when puttin clutch in buds car

[atbrown]

check to see if the clutch cable is sticking or gummed up.also make sure the celf adjuster /quadrant is working right.if in doubt buy a cable kit that deletes the self adjuster with an aluminum quadrant.easy install i love it.

[FDNYBullitt]

How much free play is there in the pedal, if its more than an inch or so try as stated above, with everything connected pull UP on the clutch pedal with the top of your foot and listen for a click then step down on it. The cable could be set in position for the old clutch and this will take out any slack, good luck.

[xXxGTxXx]

I just changed mine and i had to have a longer clutch cable for the clutch i bought becuase the stock cable is too short.