Need clutch lesson

[Mike Stitzer]

I would like some explainations of having the clutch replaced in a 95 mtx. I've heard that replacing the clutch and TOB with OEM parts can still give a crappy pedal feel. Something about the sleeve the TOB rides on. If I take it to a Ford garage, will they replace this sleeve? Basically the clutch on my car feels like crap, gritty and not linear in action. I've replaced the cable, so I know it's not that. I would like to understand the parts of the SHO tranny before I fold and take it to a stealer and have them tell me they're replacing all these other parts. Actually, my clutch is probably OK, It's only 1 and 1/2 years old, but if it's a pain to get in to replace the TOB, I might as well throw a clutch in there. I plan on keeping the car.

Mike

 

[drivinhard]

Order SHO NUT's clutch video how-to replacement video, it'll show you everything you want to know, including how to do it...



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White 92
SR71SHO - racer '89

 

[ab4774]

When I first bought my 91 SHO back in October it too had a notchy/gritty and very heavy clutch petal. Ten days after getting the car the clutch failed.

The TOB, at least on my car, rides on an aluminum shaft, and the steel bearing eventually mushroomed the aluminum shaft. This caused the bearing to **** sideways and grind its way through half of the fingers on the pressure plate. The mushroomed shaft caused the notch feeling in the clutch petal, and it would bind up causing a heavy petal.

The clutch kit I bought was a LUK. I have had good luck with these clutches. I have 4 in service including my SHO, my F150 which I do a lot of towing with, my 85 SAAB that I used to heavily autoX, and my VW GTi that I strictly autoX and drag race. The kit for the SHO included a steel sleeve that slips tightly over the mushroomed aluminum shaft, and includes a new oversized TOB (so it will slide on oversized steel sleeve). The clutch petal is now smooth, easy to push in, and not grainy/notchy.

Another few tips:
I would defiantly have the flywheel resurfaced no matter how good it looks, and while your in there I would also replace the crank oil seal, and the seals in the tranny that ride on the axle shafts. Changing the seals now will save you the hassle later on down the road. I would also make sure that the clutch kit you get has one of the sleeves in it (unless Ford fixed the problem by 95).

Good luck,
Adam


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