I finally managed to get my new LUK Rep Set clutch set installed and the trans back in. No easy task on my 67!! When I had the assemblies back together and tried out the clutch, I was surprised and disappointed at the feel of the clutch pedal. I am hoping this forum might offer some advice before I continue to reassemble things such as shifter, exhaust, etc. The car has not be started or driven with the new clutch setup yet.
The clutch I replaced was a GM unit from the mid 80's - all GM parts. The clutch feel was good, with even force required to depress throughout the travel. Per discussion on this forum, I went with the LUK replacement set. I also replaced my correct 1 3/8" ball stud with a new 1 1/2" unit in an attempt to allow for more clutch adjustment. My adjustment had always been at the very end of the push rod from the clutch pedal. The new ball did indeed give more adjustment travel just as expected.
The new set feels very different. The force seems higher to depress, and is not even throughout pedal travel. Feels almost like an over centering mechanism, with less force in the middle of the travel area. My concern is that the force seems high in the area of the travel where I would expect engagement to occur, which would make modulating the engagement very difficult. My basic concern is should I expect the feel of the clutch to change once the car has been run and has a few miles on the new setup, or should I change back to the GM parts now(which weren't worn out, replace primarily because I figured I should while I had the trans out for other reasons). Does anyone have any comments on the clutch pedal feel and evenness of force for the LUK setup as compared to the GM parts? Also, is there any reason to think that the change in ball stud alone would cause the change in pedal feel I am describing??
The clutch I replaced was a GM unit from the mid 80's - all GM parts. The clutch feel was good, with even force required to depress throughout the travel. Per discussion on this forum, I went with the LUK replacement set. I also replaced my correct 1 3/8" ball stud with a new 1 1/2" unit in an attempt to allow for more clutch adjustment. My adjustment had always been at the very end of the push rod from the clutch pedal. The new ball did indeed give more adjustment travel just as expected.
The new set feels very different. The force seems higher to depress, and is not even throughout pedal travel. Feels almost like an over centering mechanism, with less force in the middle of the travel area. My concern is that the force seems high in the area of the travel where I would expect engagement to occur, which would make modulating the engagement very difficult. My basic concern is should I expect the feel of the clutch to change once the car has been run and has a few miles on the new setup, or should I change back to the GM parts now(which weren't worn out, replace primarily because I figured I should while I had the trans out for other reasons). Does anyone have any comments on the clutch pedal feel and evenness of force for the LUK setup as compared to the GM parts? Also, is there any reason to think that the change in ball stud alone would cause the change in pedal feel I am describing??
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