Clutch question

[nedchap]

I don't see in the manual if a return spring is needed for the clutch pedal and fork. Do I need one or the other, both or none. T5 transmission with kit. New to this. Thank you.

[CobraEd]

I believe that just the force of the fingers on the pressure plate is sufficiant.


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[Excaliber]

It depends on who manufactured your throw out bearing. Most typical Ford OEM type LATE MODEL throw out bearings are theoritically designed to run with slight contact to the fingers of the pressure plate.

BUT, that depends on WHICH throw out bearing you have AND if your feeling lucky. Some guys don't like the throw out bearing running against the pressure plate fingers at all. They might go to extraordinary lengths to prevent it. Most folks don't know, don't care and most folks get away with the stock setup and light contact.

So,,, do you feel lucky??

[Double Venom]

nedchap,

welcome by the way... Usually 99.9% of the times with your set up you do not need or want a return spring, Unless you're one of the few that Excalibur is talking about.

Hundreds of Cobras later I can only remember one time that I was requested to put in a helper "spring" on the clutch pedal!

[nedchap]

Thanks for the input. No spring it is.

[Krewton]

Nedchap,

I actually had to install a spring assist today. I'm running a T-5 tranny too. I was getting a bit of squeak from the throwout bearing touching the fingers on the pressure plate. Works perfect now.

Krewton

[Double Venom]

Krewton,

Question- are you running hydraulics or Mechanical?
If Hydraulic and your bearing is touching usually it is a sign of air in the lines?
Mechanical making noise = usually means to much play?

Neither of those, then a spring it shall be!
?

[Krewton]

DV

Hydraulic. I can try and bleed a little more.

Krewton

[RICK LAKE]

nedchap I fork setup should run a spring to stop the wearout of the thrownout bearing. Been running them for over 30 years. Era has a master slave cylinder setup on there cars and run a spring unless it's a hydro thrown out bearing. In this case the fluid pulls the bearing surface away from the pressure plate forks and back into the master and mini tank to hold the fluid.
You can try without a spring but if you hear a squeaking noise with the pedal out and disappears with the pedal in, that's the hydro bearing rubbing on the disc and wearing out the surface of the bearing. My clutch takes about 2.5 hours to swap in the car. Some cars take alot longer. Rick L.

[undy]

The thoughts of those tiny little ball bearings spinnin' round and round and ... round all the time is almost too much to bear. Every time one of these clutch "spring things" pop up it just heightens the paranoia, at least in my case.

I'm still hooked on the old school, 3/4" pedal play when adjusting the clutch. That 3/4" of play indicated that your throwout bearing wasn't riding on the pressure plate's fingers or diaphragm, you had the obligatory air gap. If it did ride on it all the time you were headed for a premature throwout bearing failure, initially accompanied by some bearing squeal. I know a lot of the newer stuff operates with the throwout bearing loaded, including the new generation hydraulic throwout bearings. Since we fancy our cars to be primarily old school I'll have to give the nod to the clutch return spring.