Yesterday I was on the highway andfree car was acting perfectly normal until I got on the off ramp. I tried to push in the clutch to downshift and the pedal was really stiff and it was hard to pull the car out of 5th gear. Well I got it stopped and tried putting it in 1st to take off and it wouldn't go in gear. I had to shut the car off to get it in gear and when I started it, the starter pulled the car because the clutch wouldn't disengage. Even all the way to the floor it was still grabbing hard. I had been on the highway for about 100 miles and didn't have to use the clutch at all. Could my clutch disk be seized to the pressure plate? I checked all of the hydraulics and they all look good and seem to work good. Only thing I can think is that it's seized up. Ideas?

 

i tried to call you back but your fone is off...

anyways, any loud noises? its possible that the pressure plate is broken or you lost a spring on the disk. my best advice would be to pull the trans and check it out.

 

Pressure plate failed. It is pretty common. That is why it was so had to push. When you take it a part the pressure plate diaphragm will be twisted.

 

It makes a horrid noise when I start it with it in gear but sounds fine when in neutral.

 

I'm gonna go with the others and say it sounds like the pressure plate is broken. Didn't you replace the clutch recently with the trans, or was it just the trans? With you under the car and someone else working the pedal, can you see normal movement with your slave cylinder pushing the fork? Are you able to peek inside the bellhousing and see what's what, as far as what the throwout bearing and pressure plate are doing?

 

The slave cylinder moves the fork about 3/8 - 1/2 of an inch. That's how it's always been so I assume that's about right. The clutch is a year and a half old. But it's time to upgrade to something other than a factory style clutch anyways. I was thinking about a stage 3 clutch from Spec. Or an Exedy clutch. Either way I think it's the pressure plate as well. So it's getting replaced.

On another note, does anyone know where I can get a clutch fork??? Oreillys doesn't carry them. If anyone knows, please provide a link. I'd like a new one, not used. I don't think it's bad but I might as well replace it while I have the tranny out. Thanks guys!

 

rockauto.com has a fork for $11.55. Hurry, it's a close out and only one left! Part # N40071

 

Thanks Camaro69!!!

 

Ha! I ordered that clutch fork! Thanks again!!

 

You're welcome. You might want to hang on to the old one, you may now have a hard to find part. As far as rockauto is concerned, it's extinct!