Clutch pedal feels 'sticky' with engine running

[metalmonkey47]

I was just cruising around in my truck and all of the sudden the clutch pedal changed feel completely. Used to have a nice smooth movement from top to bottom of the pedal. Now I've noticed all the sudden the clutch pedal seems to 'stick' when I press it to the floor. Whenever the engine is off it's perfectly normal and feels as smooth as a freshly waxed car. Not sure what it could be. Seems like it would have to be something binding mechanically somewhere, but I'm stumped. Trans/engine are bolted tight together, slave and master cylinder are brand new. Only thing in the system I know is worn out is the clutch hose. 

 

Clutch is a brand new Exedy Stage 1. 

[Str8_69]

Booster leak maybe? Dunno man, that's a puzzler.

 

Check the lug nuts.

[Stupid_fast]

as in it pops a little bit as you release it, and it feels more like an on/off switch?

 

CHECK ADJUSTMENT at slave and master.   Slave should have 2-3mm play, pedal should have about 1/8" play at the petal pad. 

 

 

Check fluid color.  Is it black?  Bleed the lines.  Does it come back after a few miles?  

 

 

@Str8_69, LOL a booster on a CLUTCH line?

[Str8_69]

I was keed.

[Str8_69]

Makes no sense between running and not running, no mechanical flux like engine mount broken causing bind or something of the like..

[metalmonkey47]

as in it pops a little bit as you release it, and it feels more like an on/off switch?

 

CHECK ADJUSTMENT at slave and master.   Slave should have 2-3mm play, pedal should have about 1/8" play at the petal pad. 

 

 

Check fluid color.  Is it black?  Bleed the lines.  Does it come back after a few miles?  

 

 

@Str8_69, LOL a booster on a CLUTCH line?

 

YES that's exactly how it feels! I'll check the adjustment. Master and slave are branddddddddd new. Both adjusted and bled withing the last 2-3 months. Fluid is clear and sexyyyyy. 

 

It doesn't come back at all. It gets worse.

 

 

 

 

I thought maybe the trans/engine bolts were loose and maybe it was binding, but it's all there and tight. Wonder if the clutch slave is loose on the tranmission. I'm checking that first thing in the morning.

[Stupid_fast]

Mine does this, but the fluid turns black.  I suspect blockage in hardline.

 

I've replaced every other component twice trying to fix it.  Bleeding fixes it for a few miles, then it slowly gets worse until its as it was. 

 

Its OKAY when the car is cold, but when it warms up it gets worse. 

 

 

Try bleeding your fluid, see what happens.   After that maybe blow out the hard line with compressed air, but I'm just going to replace it. 

[Str8_69]

 

 

 

 

 

I thought maybe the trans/engine bolts were loose and maybe it was binding, but it's all there and tight. Wonder if the clutch slave is loose on the tranmission. I'm checking that first thing in the morning.

 

 

If that's not it, pull it and make sure there's some grease on the throw out where the slave rod pivots.

[metalmonkey47]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'm going to blow out the hardline when I replace the hydraulic hose and probably end up doing that today. Oriellys has one about 10 miles from my house according to their website. 

 

 

Gonna take everything apart and bleed it first and see how it goes. I really hope it's not the TO bearing..

[datzenmike]

The difference is the release bearing is spinning when running.... stopped when not. Load would be the same.

[metalmonkey47]

It's the T/O for sure. Starting to make a funny noise.

 

 

Also starting to think my T/O collar may be too short. It's the same one that was always on there, but looking at my clutch adjustments which are WAYYYYYYY out of spec just to get the clutch pedal in the right place. I'm thinking maybe the T/O is possibly touching the pressure plate with the pedal out, and that's why it's worn so abnormally fast. 

 

The T/O collar between my 4 speed and 5 speed were identical. Wondering if maybe someone mixed them with another at some point. It was fine on my 5speed, but maybe the fork on the 5 speed was different? Dunno. Fuck. 

[datzenmike]

The 4 and 5 speeds use basically the same front case. The clutch arms are the same. If you used the same collar on the 4 speed on the 5 speed it won't know the difference.

 

As long as you have a few mm of pedal clearance it should be fine.