Clutch won't disengage

[den240]

Got a cool new problem I've not encountered before:

My clutch has decided that it will no longer disengage.

For a while it worked correctly when the engine/trans was completely warmed up, now it won't disengage at all. This made me think it was a hydraulic problem, so I replaced the slave cylinder , then the master , then replaced the extra connection that is where some cars have the damper loop with a shorty solid pipe connection . Then bled and bled and bled the system . still not disengaging!

The slave cylinder end of the actuator arm moves approx 5/8 inches, which seems like a reasonable amount, so seemingly the hydraulics are working OK.

I also replaced the release bearing as it was squealing and needed replacing anyway, but didn't do anything with the pressure plate and disc. (they have only been in for about 8k miles, and they are what I thought was good quality ACT parts...)

All the other possible problems I can think of at this point are:1. actuator arm is bent so is not moving the release bearing far enough?

2. the pivot point that holds the actuator arm is not holding correctly? (seems OK when I tried moving the arm when no slave cylinder attached)

3. pressure plate fingers somehow got bent or something similar so they don't push far enough?

Anyone want to push me some guesses of what I should look at first of these three or any other guesses of what the prob could be?

den240

[den240]

HMMM, didn't think of it, but maybe the rubber hose just before the slave cylinder needs replacing?

[Toddles82]

I did this in my old SE-R. If you don't get the throwout arm on their correctly it well bend and then break. That was a cable system and not hydraulic like ours, but I did break the throwout arm.

[den240]

Anyone tell me if 5/8 inch is the right amount of travel for the slave-cylinder end of the actuator arm?

[eddiec]

5/8 doesnt seem like much. i looked in the 91 fsm and couldn't find mention of how much travel the slave arm has. but have you checked your pedal. is it adjusted properly. the fsm gives the pedal free play @ 1.0-3.0 mm. and pedal height is between 186-196 mm

[smokin240]

sounds like your throw out bearing is getting stuck on the end of the transmission shaft. I dont think that necessarly means its old, just not on right (too far in, too far out). im sure you tried pulling the clutch pedal back out right?

[den240]

Well, it turns out it was that damn hose!

Replaced it with a braided one from spl, bled and adjusted and now I'm good to go again

I guess I was right when I kept thinking it had to be some hydraulic thing, just never really thought of that hose as anything that possibly COULD go bad!

[eddiec]

tell that to all the naysayers who spew that ss clutch lines are unnecessary.

[den240]

here's the pic of what I replaced the damper thing with... a couple of brass adapters and a short brass pipe:

[eddiec]

if you haven't already i would secure the end of the hard line so vibration does not cause an issue.