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Clutch got soft out of nowhere

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Old 09-18-2006, 10:12 PM
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Question Clutch got soft out of nowhere

My clutch has always been quite stiff (Mcleod Single disc w/ adj. MC), which I didn't mind in cruising around but it was absolute hell in traffic with my stock gears. About a week or two ago I went out to start my car and my clutch felt softer. I thought to myself, damn there must be air in their. Well, I took it for a drive and it seems to engage more softly now however it doesn't seem to be slipping. It seems to be much easier to drive now and slip the clutch when taking off, but I just want to know what is going on. It has yet to see the track or anything harder than just rowing through the gears on the street and it has maybe 3-4k miles on it. What could have happened?
Old 09-19-2006, 04:08 PM
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it turned into bread

well if its not giving you any problems, then let it be. if it isnt broke, dont fix it.
Old 09-19-2006, 09:23 PM
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I'd like to think that, but a clutch doesn't just get soft out of nowhere. It feels like it has less bite, but at the same time doesn't feel like it's slipping (at least not that noticeably). I'm putting down around 500 to the wheels so it's a bit hard to tell if it's slipping that much if at all or if the tires are just spinning.
Old 09-19-2006, 10:59 PM
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Mine (also a '99) just did the same thing. I'm going to do a search because I've heard there was a change in the hydraulic system in '00 (IIRC) and that the '98 and '99 cars will eventually have problems unless they are modified to the new system. (???) (sorry if this sounds vague, its just off the top of my head).
Old 09-19-2006, 11:09 PM
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I have upgraded my MC to the adjustable Mcleod and have done the drill mod as well. Also replaced the slave cylinder about 1k miles ago. Nothing should be going wrong with those.
Old 09-20-2006, 09:21 PM
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Could be a pressure plate that's lost some of its spring. It's either a pressure plate issue or hydraulic issue.
Old 09-20-2006, 09:34 PM
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have you checked the reservoir fluid level or checked for any leaks.
Old 09-20-2006, 09:57 PM
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Clutch fluid level is fine. No leaks that I can see.
Old 09-21-2006, 06:40 PM
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where do you check the clutch fluid level ?
Old 09-21-2006, 06:55 PM
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Master cylinder reservoir. In the back of the bay on the driver's side near the strut tower.
Old 09-23-2006, 10:33 PM
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My fluid level is fine also. Sucks that we had a couple nice days this weekend but I didn't want to get stranded.
Old 09-23-2006, 10:53 PM
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I'm not worried about getting stranded at this point. I'm just wondering what the hell is going on. I don't want to damage anything further if something has gone awry.
Old 09-24-2006, 12:17 AM
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well mine keeps blow fluid out of the bellhousing , i was told the slave was bad so i replace it, this keeps happing tho, this is the third time now. i put a slave in from a newer model an it will hold pressure for a couple of days then all of a sudden it goes to the floor, i check my reservior an its empty. when i get it home i try bleeding it when i cools down, but it dont hold. ive got the stock master in, but it dont leak. an this accures everytime i have replace the slave.
Old 09-24-2006, 12:20 AM
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Originally Posted by ArcticZ28
I'm not worried about getting stranded at this point. I'm just wondering what the hell is going on. I don't want to damage anything further if something has gone awry.
one of the slaves i put in was hard at first, but later on that week it started getting weaker, then later went out, which is what sounds like urs is doing, but i had little puddles of fluid under my every now an then.
Old 09-24-2006, 12:25 AM
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i wouldnt think it would be your clutch, if your running around 500hp, like me then ur clutch would just go out, not grangully, like a stock ls1 would. when my car was stock my pedle would feel softer cause the clutch was going out. but thats just been my experance.
Old 09-24-2006, 12:35 AM
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adjust your master and see if you get some resistance back and see if it goes away after the adjust.



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