Plz Help Me! Clutch problems .

cyrus · 10-02-2004

PROBLEM:
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I was driving around today and something happend with my clutch pedal. For some reason it drops all the way down to the floor. I can lift it up with my hand but if u press on it it walls right down.. I asked some people today and they said its a spring thats broken or it slipped and it's not puching the pedal back up. I can start the car just fine but it just doesnt want to use the clutch pedal even if the pedal is all the way down it still wont let me change gears.
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Car Specs:
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1969 Mustang - Fastback Mach 1 with manual trans.

67coupe · 10-02-2004

It probably is a spring that is bad. Under the driverside of the car there is a bellcrank in front of the firewall. There is a rod that goes between it and the lever on the bellhousing. The rod end at the bellcrank is held in with a cotter pin or spring clip and the other end just sits in a pocket on the bellhousing lever. A spring between the lever and the bellcrank keeps the rod in the pocket. No spring and the rod ends up hanging loose under the car.

cyrus · 10-02-2004

Can you get my any pics of diagrams that can help me.

EDIT: Well i looked at a repair and tune-up guide and i saw the diagram.. But im not sure how to fix it. If it's the assist spring than i think i will need to raise the car and do it from below somehow.. Any idea how i can do this? Or can i do it from under the hood?

cyrus · 10-02-2004

also is that spring called a

1. clutch pedal return spring
2. release rod return spring
3. release lever return spring

im guess your talking about #1 right? So all i need to do a buy a new spring or put the spring back into place?

Veronica · 10-03-2004

Hello.Your problem is definitely not a return spring.If,when the pedal is all the way down,the clutch is not disengaging,then either your clutch equalizer rod has fallen off or your clutch fork retainer clip has turned loose and your clutch fork is able to rattle around freely enough to,again,allow your equalizer rod to fall off.The pressure of the clutch itself is more than enough to push the pedal back up.If it isn't doing that then something in the linkage,probably the equalizer rod,has disembarked.Hope that helps.

Acooljt · 10-03-2004

LOL, a woman after my heart.

cyrus · 10-04-2004

Yes ur right some friends of mine came over and looked at the car and what we saw was whenever you moved the pedal the equalizer bar would move out of it's socket so it would move out and doesnt rotate how it's supposed to. I have a Mustangs Unlimited catalog and on page 86 it has all the replacement parts i will need to replace the whole system if i wanted to. Im going to take out the equalizer bar today and see what i can use and what i cant. If anyone has any tips for me while i do all this please let me know. thanks

ps. Veronica check ur pm.

cyrus · 10-04-2004

Aight i fixed the equalizer back into place and i think everything that i can see is back into place. Including the lower rods. but it's still not working i thougt just putting the equalizer bar back into it's joints would fix the problem but it's still the same.. What else should i look for?

rodbender · 10-05-2004

If all your linkage is hooked up to the clutch fork then the problem is internal in the bellhousing. There is a clip at the pivot to hold the clutch fork to the back of the inside of the bellhousing. Either the clip has come off or it has broken at the pivot. Have you or a friend look at the action of the z-bar(equalizer bar) and linkages( BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL) as you put it through it's range of motion to make sure it's working correctly.If so, then it's as I stated. Good luck.

cyrus · 10-05-2004

The only thing we have looked at so far was the pedal to clutch linkage nothing internal yet. i dont even know how to get to the clutch fork.

Veronica · 10-05-2004

Hi again.Here's Clutch 101.

There is a rod that goes from the pedal,through the firewall,to the Z-bar.The Z-bar is the piece that is mounted to the engine block and the frame rail with the clutch pedal rod hooked to the top and the equalizer rod hooked to the bottom.The equalizer rod goes from the Z-bar to the clutch fork,which is sticking out of the bell housing of the transmission.When you press the clutch pedal this linkage pushes the clutch fork which has the throw out bearing hanging on the end that is in the bell housing.That is what dis-engages the clutch.It sounds as if you are talking about the Z-bar being out of it's socket.There should be a metal rod,6 to 8 inches long,depending on the the year model of your car,with a pointy end and a flat spot with a hole in it on the other end,going from the bottom of the Z-bar to the dent on the end of the clutch fork.When 'something happened' did that something involve a loud thunk or any strange loud ticking noises?If yes to the loud thunk,then you have probably busted your D/S motor mount,causing the the engine to jerk violently,which knocked the Z-bar out of it's socket and allowed the equalizer rod to fall out onto the side of the road somewhere.If yes to the loud ticking but no to the thunk,the probably either your throw out bearing has jumped off of the end of the fork or you have busted a finger on the clutch itself,both of which call for removing the transmission to have a look-see and fix whatever happened.Hope that helps.

cyrus · 10-05-2004

Ok we looked at it again today and it looks like the clutch fork is doing it's job now that i fixed the z-bar or equalizer bar. It seems to be the clutch bearing so we will either have to take out the transmission and try to fix it ourselves orhave a pro do it... thanks for your help..but to add a few things that i have left out before which are the clutch is engaged even if the clutch pedal is down and i can start the engine. I havent had time enough to findout if i do need to press the clutch down to start the car but it will start now with the clutch engaged.. Tell me if that sounds like something u know thats wrong. thx

Fordgazm · 10-06-2004

Sounds like you put the throwout bearing through the pressure plate . ie ; you need a new clutch .

cyrus · 10-06-2004

Well it's a new clutch.

rodbender · 10-06-2004

Did you replace the throw-out bearing when you put in the new clutch? If not that may be the culprit. As Veronica stated, it'll make some noise on it's way out. Or your retainer on the clutch fork is off or broken. Good luck