clutch will not disengage

[MyBeatGSX]

This happened completely randomly yesterday as I was pulling into a parking lot (actually I was just saying to my gf, this is same parking lot I broke in last time ). I put the clutch in so I could move the shifter to neutral, and it just stayed on the floor. I hit it a few times and it came back up. I tried to put it back into 1st. The clutch went to the floor with almost no effort until like the last 1/2" of travel. It grinded HARD into first but went in and then stalled when I stopped the car (tranny in 1st clutch full depressed).

My friends and I looked everything over. The fluid is at normal level, no leaks and all the hydro system seems to work fine. The cylinder moves the fork just fine when the pedal is depressed. The only previous symptoms or warning was that the clutch pedal was slightly slow to return sometimes, much more so on cold days. And it also screeched on engagement, although that could just as likely be one of my belts, although it sounds a little different than belt squeal.

So what am I looking at? Broken pressure plate? Do people break 2100's just putting around town? Bent release fork maybe, throwout bearing is dead? I'm guessing its something in there, I just want to make sure before having someone take it apart and it turns out to be some stupid little hydro or pedal related thing I could have done myself.

 

[FORMONTOYA]

Sounds like a pressure problem. The first thing I would do is bleed it again and make sure there is no air in the line. Go over it again and check for leaks. Usually you will break a fork instead of bend it, but you could have broken an ear. I doubt you bent the pressure plate "ears".

1. Check for air in lines/bleed clutch.
2. Check for leaks, not just slave/master, but from beginning to end.
3. Check the "free play" in the pedal.

 

[majik2k5]

Just glancing over it real quick, but it sounds like your slave cylinder went bad on you.

 

[travislaw]

Just glancing over it real quick, but it sounds like your slave cylinder went bad on you.

I agree. The clutch peddle sticking to the floor is usually a sign of the Clutch Master or Slave Cylinder going bad.

 

[gurmanator]

if it squeals then I would look at the t/o bearing.take off the slave cylinder and see what kind of preassure you have(clutch fork-t/o bearing-preassure plate).

 

[dreamwalker]

I agree with the clutch/slave cylinder going bad. But, I had a similiar experience only to find out that my pressure plate was cracked. Im not saying that yours is. But when I checked everything that everyone else has already mentioned I checked my tranny when I pulled it I checked the clutch and everything only to find out that my pressure plate was broken. If all else fails check your pressure plate and clutch. Good luck man

 

[MrBoxx]

I had a throwout bearing fail on me that didn't squeal. It also caused difficulty getting into gears, but didn't affect clutch pedal pressure or drop the pedal to the floor.

I hate to ask, but is it possible that the crank is walking? I hope it's just a slave or master cylinder going out.

 

[MyBeatGSX]

The pedal stayed on the floor for like 3 seconds. It returned to normal height and now stays and returns to normal height just fine. There are NO leaks anywhere which was stated in my original post. Fluid is at the same height its been at since I got the car.

Air in lines doesn't cause a sudden failure. I don't see a broken slave cylinder still moving the clutch fork. All the pumping in the world doesn't build enough pressure to disengage the clutch. The fact that the release fork is being moved just fine would indicate to me that the hydro system isn't at fault, did anyone read that part of my post? What would make everyone think its still hydro related? I'm not trying to argue, but if you thoroughly read my first post I think anything hydro system related has already been ruled out. FYI, the master and slave cylinders have already been replaced on this car a few years and even fewer miles ago.

My local shop owner that I spoke to today told me ACT street disks had a defect back when mine was purchased that caused the hub springs to pop out, which would obviously wedge them between the disc and the pressure plate, not letting the clutch release. That would either make it stick engaged, or if abused enough would break the fork.

 

[kelvinb]

i think if a spring popped out, it would cause more then a squeel, and you would hear it rattling ( it would probably be sitting near the bottom where the flywheel is)

release fork is moving, but how far?

recently, i had some shifting problems, but it was not clutch related. when i pressed the clutch, my tranny would move...the bottom bolt had backed its self out. i would check everything over, even if it looks tight (in my case it did) i would make sure everything is tight.

 

[underpressure25]

Sounds like a slave master cylinder mine did the same thing and it was the slave master cyl.
Good luck

 

[MyBeatGSX]

The release fork was broken. But since its all apart, in goes a 2600 and ACT flywheel.