New clutch now the pedal feels weird

[m1nd64m3]

I just replaced the clutch on my Talon with an oem pressure plate, an act street disk (couldn't find an oem disk), and resurfaced stock flywheel and now the clutch pedal feels weird. My old pedal felt very linear throughout the whole range, but this one does not, it's very non-linear and you can feel the change right before the engagement point. Car has new master and slave cylinders, also SS clutch line (the short one), and is properly bled. I have also adjusted the master cylinder rod to where I like the engagement point.

Is this normal? Im a total newb when it comes to manual dsm's, only had an auto dsm previously. I've never driven a car with a brand new clutch so I'm not entirely sure what to expect. It's grabs great though, and everything else is working perfectly fine.

And if people are wondering why the stockish clutch setup, it's because money is tight at the moment so the car will remain mostly stock for a while and I'll throw in a heavier clutch in the future when I start upgrading the turbo and other things.

 

[bewstin]

Well, when coming from an old clutch especially if you drive the car daily, a new one will feel weird. With a new clutch, when you press down a properly adjusted pedal you will feel the resistance from the pressure plate. Once the pedal is halfway down or so (position in which the clutch starts to disengage) you will feel almost a complete shift in resistance. It should go from stiffer at the top, then almost spring itself the rest of the way to the floor and get easier. On old clutches the fingers on the pressure plate get worn out, and the pedal feel will be smoother the whole way, new clutches have that 2 stage sort of feel to them, because the fingers are stronger. Sounds to me like your just not used to the feel of a new clutch. Is it engaging and disengaging properly?

 

[Total Eclipse]

As long as it's engaging/disengaging fine, you should be ok. It will just take time to get used to a new clutch-especially when being compared to driving on a worn used clutch.
Nate

 

[FearlessNick]

You should be good as long as your going in and out good and hear no grind or no problems going in and out of gear your good. Just the feel of a new clutch just like new break pads.

 

[DOHCTA]

also double check your clutch isn't dragging. with the shifter in 1st gear, and clutch pedal depressed, rev up to 7k rpm and if the car jolts forward, you need to adjust your pedal again.

 

[m1nd64m3]

Well, when coming from an old clutch especially if you drive the car daily, a new one will feel weird. With a new clutch, when you press down a properly adjusted pedal you will feel the resistance from the pressure plate. Once the pedal is halfway down or so (position in which the clutch starts to disengage) you will feel almost a complete shift in resistance. It should go from stiffer at the top, then almost spring itself the rest of the way to the floor and get easier. On old clutches the fingers on the pressure plate get worn out, and the pedal feel will be smoother the whole way, new clutches have that 2 stage sort of feel to them, because the fingers are stronger. Sounds to me like your just not used to the feel of a new clutch. Is it engaging and disengaging properly?

You described how it is perfectly, thanks!

It's good to know that this is normal and it makes sense because the only thing I could think of at this point that would cause it to feel like this would be the pressure plate. It's just weird getting used to it, but I've only put like 30 miles on it in the last few days and its already starting to feel more normal to me.

It engages just fine, I have never felt a clutch grab so well. I think it will just take some more driving to get totally used to it.

I'm pretty sure it is not dragging, wouldn't it also burn up the clutch so that you could smell it? I'll give the 7k test a try though.

Thanks everyone!

 

[bewstin]

Glad to hear!, I cant tell you how many times I've done clutches on my friends cars, and when they get in them to drive them off, they stall the car . You'll get used to it for sure.

 

[m1nd64m3]

Glad to hear!, I cant tell you how many times I've done clutches on my friends cars, and when they get in them to drive them off, they stall the car . You'll get used to it for sure.

I have killed I a couple times now, but after about 50 miles now the pedal feel seems to have become more linear.