Completed clutch freeplay mod

[ab_mach1]

This past week, I completed a home made clutch freeplay mod. I found the idea from a member on another Mustang forum. I would post a link to his write-up, but I don't want to break any forum rules.

Here's what I did...

Items needed
1/2" CPVC coupling (Nibco 4701) - $0.48
5/8"x10-1/2" compression spring (Handi-Pack 88283) - $3.20


Remove your cable dust cover and detach your cable from your clutch fork. Push the clutch fork up to the pressure plate. Measure the distance from the cable mount to the clutch fork. This will tell you how long your spring needs to be. You cut off what you don't need. Mine needed to be ~4.7" long. This was enough to push against the clutch fork to keep the throw out bearing off of the pressure plate.

Take the 1/2" CPVC coupling and cut it in half. You might be able to skip this step if you use a larger diameter spring.


Here is why you need the CPVC coupling. It will keep the spring from slipping and riding on the cable.


Together, the coupling and spring will look like this



04 Mach1 | JLT CAI | Bama 91R Tune | 3.73's
Flowmaster muffle delete | Bullitt wheels

[ab_mach1]

Now you can put this together on your cable mount and cable. Once you have the coupling and spring in place, stick your cable through your clutch fork so that the spring is pushing against the fork. In my case, I have Ford Racing adjustable cable. If you have a firewall adjuster, your setup will look a little different. Here is what it looks like assembled.


Here's a video I made with my phone. In this video, the TOB was squeaking and I made an adjustment and buttoned everything up before I realized I had forgotten to make a new video. Der!

Clutch freeplay mod

I'm going to make a new video by this coming weekend, after the crappy weather passes through.

This mod did two things for me; it keeps the throw out bearing from riding on the clutch pressure plate, and it allow me to adjust my cable so the clutch starts to disengage when the pedal is about 1" off of the floor.

Let me know if you have any questions. Also, I'll post the link the the creators write-up if it's okay with the site owner(s).

[ab_mach1]

Bump

[ab_mach1]

Nobody is interested in this? You can adjust your clutch so your disengaging closer to the floor. And, without having a floppy pedal on top.

[mach1z]

pretty cool. Thanks for the write up . I also read baout it on some other forum but forget all about it. I need some time and I might attempt this.

[65Coupe03Mach]

Very cool mod. I've had a loose pedal for as long as I can remember... This should fix it right up! Thanks for the pictures.

[mach1of03]

Thanks i`m interested in this. Thanks for the write up

[Mustanger2]

It really works well! Solved all my SN95 TOB squeals... easy & cheap to do. I wrote a how to on SN95 forums with pics too.

[ab_mach1]

Shortly after posting the mod in 2012, I had found a spring that was big enough in diameter to elliminate the CPVC piece. It large enough to slip over that plastic cable bushing thingy. I found it at Menards.


^It was large enough to go around the cable bushing thingy. Being a little larger in diameter seemed to make the spring stay centered on the other end too.

I've had it on for just about a year now, around 8,000 miles. No probs with the spring or how it functions. I made an adjustment on my cable in September and the spring looked fine.

[NastyNate]

any details on the new spring? part number?

[ab_mach1]

Originally Posted by NastyNate

any details on the new spring? part number?

I have the package in my tool box. I'll post up later this evening after work.

[USMCWeatherMan]

I'll be interested in that info as well. Just noticed slight noise from my TOB, I believe its riding the pressure plate just ever so slightly. Tried adjusting the firewall adjuster, it helped a little, but I think its just that the clutch fork is not pushing all the way back, so I think this will help me out.

[ab_mach1]

Here we go...

^I cut mine down to the length I needed. It's much easier to measure first and make it bigger than you need. Then you fine tune the length while your laying on your back under the car. Lol If I remember correctly, I had to use needle nose pliers to manipulate the end closer to the engine to fit over that white plastic cable bushing thingy. It wasn't much finagling at all.

Here's the spring next to my wiper arm so you can get an idea of its size.

[USMCWeatherMan]

Cool thanks! Gonna swing by the hardware store. Plan to do this either this weekend or next week when I do an oil change.

[NastyNate]

Thanx bro!

[311-420]

Nice write up.

#1. How much stiffer did the pedal become?
#2. Why did you want your clutch's engagement/disengagement point at the floor?
#3. Can the cable still be made to engage/disengage at the halfway point?

[ab_mach1]

Originally Posted by 311-420

Nice write up.

#1. How much stiffer did the pedal become?
#2. Why did you want your clutch's engagement/disengagement point at the floor?
#3. Can the cable still be made to engage/disengage at the halfway point?

I didn't notice a change in the stiffness that I could tell. One thing I wondered about was the clutch fork weight. Do you guys still have yours? It feels like it's somewhere near a pound in weight. Do you think this was mass for an easier pedal or vibration?

With my stock clutch, I preferred the clutch to start engaging about an inch off the floor. With my Exedy stage 1, it seemed to start engaging in the middle and I didn't like it so much. Since though, I have gotten the TOB a little closer so it's around the middle. I hate my current clutch as it seems to be on or off, nothing gradual. That sucks for daily driving. Plus, it's schizo and not consistent. Definitely will be getting a different brand next time.

Yup, you should have no probs adjusting it to what you like.

[311-420]

I don't know if I still have the weight or not. My promotion clutch vibrates at certain rpm's pisses me off. I think the weight is for vibration damping.

My OEM tob that went in last year is already chirping again. The noises and vibrations these cars make irritate me to no end. I want a cts-v sometimes.

[USMCWeatherMan]

Tell me about it! I just installed my Exedy clutch about 7 months ago, I spent almost a day messing around with clutch engagement. I got it to a point where I liked it, roughly half way up. Now I'm hearing the TOB riding the PP, so I adjust the cable out, the TOB doesnt sound like its riding the PP anymore but now the clutch engages right off the floor and at the top of the pedal its just sloshy feeling.

I'm gonna do this mod, put her up on a lift and hopefully get it sorted.

[USMCWeatherMan]

0-3 on local hardware stores having one of these. They have small ones, like 3" long, but nothing close to the one you show in the picture.

I have yet to check Lowes, but not holding my breath.

[ab_mach1]

Originally Posted by USMCWeatherMan

0-3 on local hardware stores having one of these. They have small ones, like 3" long, but nothing close to the one you show in the picture.

I have yet to check Lowes, but not holding my breath.

Yup, it took me a few stores to find them. Menards had several different sizes to choose from, unlike Lowes. I hope you find one that will work.

[USMCWeatherMan]

Not a single hardware store in my area had any springs that would be long enough.

I just bit the bullet and purchased this:

https://dagostinoracing.com/ford-per...-mod-750231695

I could find a spring long enough but I would have had to purchase a pack containing like 5 or 6 for about the same price as the above. Figured what the heck, its not even $20 and from what I was able to research Dagostino is a fairly reputable retailer in the SVT world.

[ab_mach1]

Originally Posted by USMCWeatherMan

Not a single hardware store in my area had any springs that would be long enough.

I just bit the bullet and purchased this:

https://dagostinoracing.com/ford-per...-mod-750231695

I could find a spring long enough but I would have had to purchase a pack containing like 5 or 6 for about the same price as the above. Figured what the heck, its not even $20 and from what I was able to research Dagostino is a fairly reputable retailer in the SVT world.

^That's cool actually! There was another company that used to sell them years ago that either went out or just stopped making them. Let us know how that goes. I'm interested in how it looks and works.

[jeffrey1]

Do they still sell these

[ab_mach1]

Originally Posted by jeffrey1

Do they still sell these

It doesn't look like anyone makes one anymore. The Lethal Performance one shows the part doesn't exist anymore.

http://www.lethalperformance.com/sho...h-freeplay-mod