Clutch Pedal Height

[hamsterball]

Hello, this is actually a 2 problem thread.(CLIFF NOTES ON BOTTOM)

I was too lazy to read and research on how to do my clutch and fed up after installing my VLSD, so I took it to a professional shop where they did my clutch replacement for $370 (with an Exedy/Daikin clutch kit, with throwout bushing, and pilot bushing).

I took it in because clutch was slipping, and because i heard this loud tap-tap-tap-tap noise when the clutch was engaged in neutral. the noise goes away when you push the clutch in.

The clutch slip problem was gone, but the tapping noise is still there !! but I guess it's not a big deal, and hopefully it's not a significant noise.

I got the car back and there was some differences.There was more clutch pedal free play.The factory service manual reccomends .03-.11'' of free play, which is almost no play.

I talked to the guy, and he said "Yeah your clutch had no play basically. It wears the clutch out faster if you don't have any play." I told him that the FSM of my car says you should have less play, and he recommended with his personal opinion that I should keep the free play at that amount.

I went home and checked the amount of free play. It was like .5 or .6'', 5 times more than the stock specification.I also checked the pedal height. The stock pedal height specification is about 7.5'' and when I measured mine after the clutch job, it was 6.5''

The Clutch also engages at a different point. When my previous clutch wasn't slipping, it would engage gradually, and be fully engaged at around the top of the clutch (when it is almost out).The clutch I used to have also felt harder and felt like it had more pressure.This new clutch engages towards the center (closer to the floor), and it feels less stiff.

Cliff Notes- Got clutch done professionally- It has more free play after the job (mechanic adjusted it)- It engages towards the center closer to the firewall, but before adjustment it engaged towards the top of the clutch.- It does not feel as hard as my old clutch did.

My clutch pedal height is at 6.5'' and my free play is at .5''.The FSM states that pedal height should be 7.32''-7.7'' and that the free play shold be at around .03''-.12'' (which is almost no free play)

MY QUESTIONS ARE...

Do my current clutch settings harm or change the wear of the clutch in any way? (I'm about an inch off my pedal height, and have about 5 times more free play than the FSM says I should have)

Is it alright to keep the clutch at these settings? Should I ignore the mechanic's recommendations (even though the settings are incorrect according to FSM) and change my pedal height/free play to the way it was before?

Also.. Why is my throw-out bearing making that tapping noise even after replacement? (some one told me that the tapping noise when the clutch is engaged in neutral is the throwout bearing)

Note: I actually like how the clutch is engaging so quickly, and it seems to make it easier for me to engage gears, but i don't want this benefit at the expense of a clutch failure.

I already searched.... and searched. But all I found was HOW to adjust the clutch pedal, but I didn't find WHY you would want to or wouldn't want to.This is a question about the effects of pedal height and free play, not the procedure in changing them.

THANKS FOR HELPING

[hamsterball]

hrm... alright... i can't believe nobody's answering. i thought clutch pedal height and free play was crucial.

Can some of you at least fill me in with your car's info?

Please do answer these questions...

- What is your free play at ?? (Mine's at like .5-.6'')- What is your pedal height (mine's at about 6.5'')- Does your clutch engage towards the middle (when the clutch is barely off the floor), or does it engage towards teh middle-top, or towards the top?- How many miles have you put on your clutch with the following settings, how many miles has the clutch been used?

thanks.

[navysnail]

1. mine is maby 1-2mm2. dont know height, but its at the stop so what ever that equals, if you want me to measure it i can3. middle top i guess4. 10k or less

[navysnail]

on reading your other post:

i have the exact same clutch as you, and with all clutches, as long as the disengage, it doesnt matter what point they engage at, its personal preferance

the noise is in the transmission imput shaft seal or somthing if i remember right, mine does it as well, its not a problem if you dont mind the noise for now

your engagement sounds like mine, and its gona feel stiffer, you have to get used to it, its because its not worn out like the one you were used to, when i changed mine, i almost stalled driving it the first time lol

as long as it has some free play, its good, just make sure it has a little

you would want to adjust the clutch pedal if it was out of spec or wasnt engaging right

[Nismo_Freak]

As long as it doesn't engage right off the floor or at the top of the throw, you are adjusted correctly.

[hamsterball]

ooooh okay greeat.

yeah, this was my first new clutch.

on the old one you had to pull it up a great deal for it to engage, and on this one it engages on the center, but really really rapidly and fast.

i kind of like the settings, but i wanted a little less free play so I'll go ahead and do that.I was just worried about this much free play and this little pedal height (1'' off stock recommendation)..

I think I'll take it back after breaking it in, and ask them to adjust my pedal height and give a tiny bit less free play. It feels really really mushy because there is less amount of pedal movement.

thanks a lot guys for clearing my mind.i thought "but.. if the clutch will wear out fast, why did nissan give us these free play specifications?" and was confused, seems it's not too big of a deal as long as the clutch is disengaging and not slipping.

thanks!

Also, if there are any more people, could you find out your clutch height and free play for me?

[s13sr20chris]

i like to have more free play than stock in mine too. i also like the pedal low. i generally keep it set up so that i dont have to move my foot very far. i have an act clutch which is prob the same thing as most aftermarket clutches have the exedy/daikin names right on them.