NO clutch flexable line?

[4g63telantra]

Few weeks ago I swapped my auto tranny for a 5spd. When doing the clutch line from slave to master, I did not add a rubber flexable clutch line. Its all metal tubing.

Just wanted to know if I have to run a flexable line or is it fine without it?

 

[donmagicjuan]

I can't imagine why this would be a problem. Many people upgrade the flexible hose on their fluid systems to stainless steel braided lines in an attempt to minimize ballooning of the hose and improve pedal response/feedback. My guess is you'll just get the same effect from running hard line the whole way. As long as it doesn't cause any interference issues when removing or installing other parts...

 

[forcefed4]

If it is all steel hard line, you will have a problem, the transmission will move when the frame of the car does not, you need to have some kind of flexible line between the trans and the car, otherwise you might break that hard line. If that happens you will not be able to get the car out of gear

 

[donmagicjuan]

If it is all steel hard line, you will have a problem, the transmission will move when the frame of the car does not, you need to have some kind of flexible line between the trans and the car, otherwise you might break that hard line. If that happens you will not be able to get the car out of gear

I understand the logic behind this, but the hard line has a surprising amount of elasticity. While the engine and tranny do move quite a bit with respect to the frame, I wouldn't think it'd be enough to deform the line to the point of failure. Always better safe than sorry, though.

In the event of a clutch failure, however, it is possible to get the tranny out of gear, provided it is not under load.

 

[forcefed4]

In the event of a clutch failure, however, it is possible to get the tranny out of gear, provided it is not under load.

True, I didn't even think of that, I guess if I lost my clutch i would just do that without thinking.

You're right about the hard line, it does flex alot, but IMO I would only consider it temporary. It's not made to flex, that's what flexlines are for.

 

[The_EE]

Metal can flex, look at the wing on an airplane when it is in flight. Problem is, even a little flex, over time, causes stress fractures and in time, even with minimal flex, metal does rip.

Wish I had access to my friend 69 camero. The body is starting to tear itself in half behind the drivers door from the flex of the body because the car isnt reinforced enough.

 

[donmagicjuan]

Problem is, even a little flex, over time, causes stress fractures and in time, even with minimal flex, metal does rip.

Excellent point, takes me back to my materials science class. Shame on me for not remembering.

 

[Defiant]

I understand the logic behind this, but the hard line has a surprising amount of elasticity.

Yeah, as above- until it work-hardens. You want some flex line between the chassis and the engine.

 

[donmagicjuan]

Yeah, as above- until it work-hardens. You want some flex line between the chassis and the engine.

I agree with the consensus on having a flexible line, but work hardening happens in the plastic region, not the elastic region of a material's stress-strain curve. Stress cracking, on the other hand, can and does occur in the elastic region, as a result of cyclical loading.

 

[Defiant]

Uh, yeh. The crack won't much care what you want to attribute it to, but that's my fault for giving up on Berkeley.

 

[donmagicjuan]

Uh, yeh. The crack won't much care what you want to attribute it to, but that's my fault for giving up on Berkeley.

Maybe not, but this site is committed to the dissemination of accurate information, right?

 

[Defiant]

Maybe not, but this site is committed to the dissemination of accurate information, right?

Many on this site should be committed, true.