Is an hard pedal clutch, when the driver needs to make a noticeable effort when pressed. At the same time, there may be several reasons why the clutch is tight: fastening of the pedal itself, malfunctions of the clutch drive, malfunctions of the clutch mechanism, etc. Next, we will look at the signs that indicate that a hard clutch pedal is a symptom of a malfunction, as well as the causes of a tight clutch.

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Device and types of clutch: features of connecting the drive

Before moving on to malfunctions and a tight pedal, it is necessary to pay special attention to the clutch device. Standard clutch installed on a vehicle with manual transmission, includes:

• clutch disc;
• release bearing;
• clutch and clutch fork;
• clutch drive;
• clutch basket.

There are several types of clutch:

• single-disk, double-disk or multi-disk (according to the number of slave disks);
• dry or wet (type of working environment);
• with mechanical or .

On machines with manual transmission, the most common today is single-disk dry clutch with hydraulic or mechanical drive. Clutch pedal connection methods may also differ.

The mechanical way to connect the pedal to the release bearing is by means of a cable connected to the clutch fork, which mechanically presses the release bearing, which opens the clutch discs.

In the case of the hydraulic method, pressure control release bearing carried out by means of a liquid. In this case, when you press the clutch pedal, excess pressure is created in the hydraulic circuit, which, in turn, acts on the hydraulic part of the release bearing, which opens the clutch discs.

Correct operation of the clutch must be accompanied by a clear engagement and disengagement of gears when the clutch pedal is depressed. The transmission from the internal combustion engine to the gearbox should be smooth, without breaks in traction, extraneous noise. The operation of the pedal itself should be smooth, moderately light, without noticeable vibrations.

It is also necessary to focus on the fact that (if adjustments are provided for a specific model) it should have free play.

Signs of a failing clutch

Clutch problems can affect the overall technical condition vehicle and affect traffic safety as the most vehicle and other road users.

Fault symptoms:

If the clutch pedal is tight with a mechanical drive, then the reasons are as follows:

• malfunctions in the clutch pedal mounting mechanism;
• failure of the mechanical drive for engaging the clutch;
• deformation of the clutch fork;
• failure of the release bearing;
• failure of the fork mounting bushings;
• wear or deformation of the petals of the spring;
• jamming or jamming of the braided cable.

Hard hydraulic clutch pedal, causes:

• fluid leakage from the hydraulic circuit either;
• failure of the release bearing guide;
• failure of the hydraulic piston of the release bearing;
• malfunction of the clutch basket (deformation or wear of the spring);
• failure of the working cylinder (damage to the cuffs).

Troubleshooting the Clutch Actuator

As a rule, when one of the symptoms of a clutch actuator malfunction appears, it is necessary to accurately determine the malfunction. If it's the clutch mechanism, it's better to change the entire clutch kit, and not be limited to just the part that failed.

It is also necessary to take into account the cost repair work, since it is often necessary to remove not only the clutch itself, but also the gearbox.

Methods for troubleshooting some clutch problems:

If problems in operation and a tight clutch pedal remain after repair, there are a number of reasons why a tight clutch can be identified. Among them are:

• clutch cable wear;
• dirt, corrosion in the cable jacket;
• lack of lubrication on the shaft of the clutch fork.

If it's about hydraulic drive clutch, then the reasons may be a malfunction of the master or slave cylinders of the clutch.

We also add that it is important to change the clutch release fork when it is deformed or worn. complete set with a clutch. If this is not done, the fork may burst or bend during operation.

Summing up

Given the above information, it becomes clear that there are a lot of reasons why the clutch pedal is tight or the clutch is hard. In the process of troubleshooting, you should step by step check the pedal mechanism itself, and then proceed to the clutch elements, cables, rods, etc.

Finally, we note that often before the clutch pedal becomes tight, characteristic signs indicate the problems that have appeared (, traction disappears, jerks, vibrations, noises, etc. appear). For this reason, when the first signs of clutch failure appear, it is necessary to complete diagnostics all of its elements.

Ignoring this rule often leads to the fact that a tight or hard clutch pedal can come as a surprise to the driver right on the road. The clutch pedal also fails, the clutch may not “grab”, etc. To avoid such unforeseen breakdowns, the quality of the clutch must be checked at each scheduled maintenance.

Read also

How to adjust the clutch pedal, what is the adjustment for: clutch functions, clutch pedal adjustment (free play and total travel).

How the clutch is bled, for which it is necessary to perform the procedure. When to bleed the clutch: signs How to bleed the clutch yourself.

Vehicle clutch and design overview: clutch pressure plate, driven disc, release bearing. Types of clutch drives on manual transmission and manual transmission robot boxes.

Some drivers joke that they can recognize a person from the crowd who has an old clutch on the car - they obviously clubfoot on their left foot. But seriously, the problem of a tight clutch pedal and the load associated with it doubled, or even tripled, must be eliminated before problems with the knee joint of the leg appear.

Oddly enough, the problem of a hard clutch pedal exists on the most different models and car brands mechanical box gears. An initially normal or slightly heavy clutch pedal can become stiff in both cable and hydraulic clutch actuation. But for the most part, it is car models using a cable that suffer from this strange problem. In hydraulics, the percentage of such problems is lower. There are some design features of the basket, why the clutch pedal became tight without visible defects and breakdowns on the drive side.

In the overall picture, the main causes of a tight drive pedal are the following:

• abnormal operation of the diaphragm spring of the clutch basket;
• the presence of local seizures or local wedging of the release bearing, fork, friction disc on their bearing surfaces;
• a cable partially broken and untwisted into wires in a working braid.

The last point is easily controlled independently, without the help and services of auto repairmen.

On a note! It is often believed that if, after depressing the clutch pedal, it quickly and easily returns to its place, the cable is serviceable and cannot be replaced. It is quite possible to check the ease of movement of the cable without dismantling it. For a more accurate check, the cable head is disconnected from the drive foot and, while depressing the pedal, the applied force is compared with the parameters of the new cable.

Why is the clutch pedal tight?

In fact, the problem that caused the drive pedal to become stiff and tight has a complex basis and links all three factors:

The most common is the first reason. The cunning arrangement of the petals of the basket leads to the fact that over time the central part with the release bearing protrudes like a hump above the spring plane. To overcome this hump, you have to spend extra effort.

Often, the manufacturer artificially increases the stiffness of the petals to increase the resistance of the diaphragm spring. This is especially true of Chinese fakes for branded products, for example, Kraft or Sachs. With the installation of such a “piece of iron”, a tight clutch pedal will not become easier.

In addition to the spring, as it wears out, the release bearing also adds problems. After 150 thousand km, it will hang on the petals of the spring and give any conceivable distortions. The design of the release fork is such that it is on it that the main forces converge and concentrate. This leads to deformation of its axis of rotation and wedging in extreme positions, characteristic of a worn basket mechanism.

Very often a situation arises when the owner replaces the clutch basket with a new one, but leaves the fork in order to save money. A new basket creates a huge amount of resistance and, as a result, a worn out fork breaks at the most inopportune moment. The driver at the same time instead of a tight pedal gets a fallen clutch pedal.

How to deal with a tight clutch pedal

Most drivers do not want to put up with this state of affairs and are trying in every possible way to improve clutch performance.

Among the most common recipes for dealing with a tight pedal are the following:

1. Replacement of the basket and all elements of the clutch assembly with a known quality product. The best option there will not even be a new Valeo, but an assembly recommended by the manufacturer. Often, for many motorists, the situation became a revelation when, after replacing cool branded baskets with ordinary Russian options, the clutch pedal turned from tight to the extreme into an option with a comfortable level of effort;
2. Cheaper and more affordable is the clogging of all rubbing surfaces with grease. To gain access to blind lubrication points, there is a diagram indicating the drilling locations, where it is subsequently pumped with a syringe or oiler transmission oil;
3. Replacing the cable with a more durable model, regular pouring brake fluid or engine oil using a syringe under the shell. If the spindle or similar oil still works well, pouring brake fluid or WD-40 is pointless and useless. They only contribute to the destruction of the outer sheath of the cable.

Important! All of the above methods to one degree or another can effectively deal with a tight clutch pedal. The first recipe will be the best and most effective.

except cable drives, hydraulic systems suffer from similar problems. But, unlike the cable, due to the high force on the clutch release fork, the cuffs of the cylinders are destroyed first of all, and a brake fluid leak appears.

The video shows what a tight clutch pedal is and how to fix the problem:

If you own a vehicle with automatic transmission gears, then this article may seem uninteresting to you, because now we will talk about an indispensable part for vehicles with a manual transmission. Of course, we mean the clutch pedal, which just plays the role of the main link between the desire of the driver and the “obedience” of the car. To engage or disengage the clutch, it is necessary to apply a certain force to the pedal, however, if excessive loads are required from the driver, then this is a clear sign of the presence of any problems in the system.

1. Causes of a hard clutch pedal

Why, after all, do we sometimes have to deal with such a phenomenon as a “hard clutch pedal”? In fact, there are several of the most common reasons. Firstly, the pedal lever itself often jams or the cable is rubbed, and secondly, too much wear of the clutch fork bearing can also serve as a source of such problems, due to which it also begins to move tightly. In some cases, tight is due to a blockage in hydraulic system or wear of the release bearing.

Naturally, in order to restore normal operation of the clutch pedal, a number of necessary actions will have to be taken, but first we will try to understand the various signs of the manifestation of certain malfunctions. For example, if the stiffness of the clutch pedal is the result of wear on the fork bearing, then when you press the pedal, you will hear a certain characteristic rumbling, indicating that the release bearing has already worked out its allotted time, and it is time to replace it with a new part.

The mechanisms produced today are designed to overcome sufficiently large distances (more than 1300 km), however, the driver will not interfere with regular diagnostics and timely elimination of emerging problems (including the replacement of broken parts). In those cases when the system is treated negligently and inattentively, the clutch pedal will serve you on the strength of 50,000 kilometers, and in large trucks problems can be caused by poor lapping of new elements.

should not be excluded from possible causes"hard clutch" and the problem of incomplete inclusion of the mechanism. In such situations, when shifting gears, the driver of the vehicle will hear a characteristic rattle. This is due to the inability of the driven disk to normally break away from the pressure disk. To fix this problem, it is best to immediately contact the professionals.

Incomplete shutdown of the device also has its reasons. These include:

- incorrect cable adjustment;

Jamming of the driven disk;

Incorrect assembly of the system node;

Disk warping;

Strong wear of the switching mechanism.

The problem of a "hard" clutch pedal occurs in different machines, and hydraulically powered vehicles are far from an exception. If you own just such a car, then you should know that a tight clutch pedal can be due to several reasons: a bent fork, coked splines of the input shaft, along which the driven disk slides, contamination of the sleeve along which it moves, and damage to the inside of the flexible hydraulic hose. These are the most common explanations for a stiff pedal problem, but they are far from the only ones.

For example, a piece of rubber can peel off on old hoses, which will eventually play the role of a kind of valve, so if you look for a reason without dismantling the gearbox, you can replace the flexible hose and bleed the clutch yourself, and if this does not help, then contact the service specialists.

2. What should I do if the clutch pedal is hard?

If the clutch pedal on your vehicle suddenly becomes tight, and the gears shift with a certain effort (and it also happens that the speed does not turn on at all), first of all, you need to establish the exact cause of this phenomenon. It is likely that you will need complete replacement and adjusting the clutch cable. This process has its own characteristics, and before installing a new element, it is necessary to lubricate it well special liquid. For this, WD-40 is often used.

In addition, often the clutch pedal is simply impossible to squeeze out. Often this is preceded by its excessively light pressing or complete "failure". Such breakdowns are often associated with improper adjustment of the cable or with its breakage. In such cases, it would be useful to check the condition of the release bearing, which can be damaged, which is why it is difficult to press the pedal. You should also check for damage and the diaphragm spring located on the pressure plate.

If you are used to repairing your vehicle yourself and are well acquainted with the features of its design, then such a check can be performed on your own, but in most cases, car owners prefer to seek help from service station specialists.

3. How to fix it?

The easiest way to "soften" the clutch pedal is to lubricate the release bearing guide and clutch fork support. Of course, this method will only solve the problem if more serious malfunctions and defective parts are excluded. To perform this task, it is not at all necessary to dismantle the gearbox. Just remove the cable from the fork, then the protective rubber band, and then fix the fork so that it does not slip out of the thrust bearing mustache. After completing these tasks, take a flashlight and see if there is enough lubrication in the mechanism.

If it is missing, then gently clean the dirt with a wire and lubricate the part. Move the fork in different directions, so the lubricant is better distributed over the entire surface. Also, do not forget about the support located behind the fork, it must also be well lubricated. Of course, due to limited engine compartment performing all of the above actions is quite inconvenient, but if desired, nothing is impossible. Therefore, be patient and boldly proceed with the task.

We definitely have to apply some sort of force when depressing the clutch pedal, but there are situations when it is pressed too hard. In such a situation, we are dealing with the problem of a tight clutch pedal.

There may be several reasons for this failure. The most common of these are sticking of the lever or cable, wear of the fork bearing. So, in order to restore the correct functioning of the pedal, you, first of all, have to deal with the so-called breakdown symptom (or with what led to the breakdown).

So, if the stiffness of the clutch pedal has come as a result of wear on the fork bearing, then while pressing the pedal, you will hear some rumbling, which indicates that the release bearing has already worked out and needs to be replaced with a new one.

The mechanisms developed in our time are designed to cover long distances (more than 1300 thousand km), if at the same time the driver regularly diagnoses it and necessary replacement worn parts.

But if the system is treated carelessly, then it will serve you no more than 50 thousand km. In large trucks, problems can also arise with new, not yet lapped elements.

Problems may also be related to the fact that the clutch pedal is not pressed. Such a situation can be observed, for example, when at first it is pressed too lightly, and then falls through and is no longer pressed. This kind of breakdown can be associated with moments of incorrect adjustment of the cable, or with a break in the cable.

You also need to check if everything is in order with the release bearing, it can be damaged and because of this there are problems with pressing the pedal. It is also worth checking for damage to the diaphragm spring, which is located on the pressure plate. If you are well versed in your car, then you can do this kind of check yourself, but for best result Still, it is worth contacting the workers of the service station.

It is also possible the problem of incomplete shutdown of the mechanism. In such a situation, the driver of the car should feel a certain rattle during gear shifting. This is due to the fact that the disc is not able to normally break away from the pressure plate. To fix this breakdown, it is also better to turn to professionals.

The situation when an incomplete shutdown of the device occurs is possible due to a number of reasons, such as:

• cable adjustment is incorrect;
• jamming of the driven disk occurs;
• the system node is assembled improperly;
• disk warping occurs;
• deterioration of the shutdown mechanism.

A tight clutch pedal is considered enough frequent breakdown systems as a whole. In such a situation, it is pressed very hard. To differentiate the focus of the breakdown, you should contact the masters, especially if the breakdown occurred after the installation of a new set.

The clutch pedal on a car with a manual transmission is used to engage and disengage the clutch when starting and stopping the car and shifting gears while driving. When the effort increases when pressing the pedal, this situation, in addition to significant discomfort for the driver, reduces traffic safety and can lead to an emergency.

This is because the increase in effort when the pedal becomes tight is always caused by some kind of malfunction, the consequences of which are unpredictable until the cause is identified.

Car pedals: from left to right - clutch, brake, gas

Types of clutch drive:

Rope;

Hydraulic.

Most often, a malfunction with an increase in effort on the pedal occurs when equipped with a cable drive.

Signs of a bad pedal:

Extraneous sounds (creaking, squeaking) when pressing and releasing the pedal;

The pedal moves jerkily;

Frequent adjustments idle move pedals (usually when a crack appears in the shutdown fork);

Jerks of the car when the clutch is turned on (when the pedal is released);

Causes of a tight clutch pedal:

Jamming pedal lever;

Deterioration of the clutch fork drive cable;

Fork sticking;

Dirt or crack on the release bearing guide;

Stiff movement of the piston in the master or slave cylinders of the clutch (dirt or corrosion inside the cylinder body);

Crack in the bearing fork;

A skew or crack in the cable retainer bracket (located in the passenger compartment of the car);

Wear or deformation of the petal spring of the clutch basket;

Jamming of the clutch disc on the splined part of the gearbox input shaft;

Flaking of the rubber inside the flexible hose, as well as sticking of the rubber inside the hose.

The reason for a tight pedal can also be a tight leaf spring of the clutch basket, when manufacturers deliberately increase its rigidity to extend its life. Similar products "replica" under famous brands supplied by Chinese manufacturers. Therefore, when purchasing clutch assembly elements, it is better to give preference to trusted manufacturers, even if it will be more expensive.

What to do?

Often not experienced drivers they immediately begin to sin on the clutch assembly itself, acquiring the entire set in order to replace the assembly, without understanding the very cause of the malfunction. In addition to the fact that a set in the form of a basket, disk and release bearing costs serious money, you will also need to pay for a replacement in the service.

In this case, it may turn out that after replacing all the elements of the assembly, the problem has not gone away and the pedal is still tight. The culprit in such a situation is often a worn clutch cable (individual “hairs” of the cable fluffed up), or dirt or corrosion in the cable jacket, as well as a lack of lubrication on the clutch release fork shaft.

All it takes is a few drops of oil or an injection of WD-40 into the cable jacket or fork shaft, and the whole drive starts to work just like new.

Lubricate the clutch cable with engine oil

in hydraulic drive There may be a malfunction of the master or slave cylinders.

If the clutch release fork is worn out, if it is deformed, it is also necessary to replace it in conjunction with the clutch assembly, since if it is not replaced, in addition to the fact that the pedal remains tight, the fork itself may burst. This is due to the fact that the new basket has a lot of compression resistance and a worn fork can burst at the most inopportune moment, which will make it impossible to shift gears in the gearbox.

Therefore, when signs of a tight clutch pedal appear, diagnose all clutch elements to accurately find and fix the problem. It is better not to postpone such an operation for later, since one day you can stand on the highway far from settlements.