strange clutch pedal feeling

[chief88]

Clutch pedal feels different today - only seems to be something I can feel through the pedal - can't tell any difference in "take-offs" etc. The pedal feels "sticky" or "grabby" mostly when letting it out.

Its REALLY rainy today and I don't have a bell housing cover ( I know, I know - but this is how it arrived to me). Do you think it's possible that the rain/water is just getting in the bottom and I'm experiencing some slippage on the plate from the water?? or, is this precursor to clutch (master/slave cylinders) problems?

What do you think?

 

[2mbb]

If you really can't feel the difference in take-off's then chances are it's a problem with the hydraulics or pedal or linkage (e.g. pivot arm). If the truck is not moving (engine off or in neutral) does the pedal still feel strange? if so, it's probably not the clutch or friction disc.

 

[Downey]

Without a bottom clutch cover, my gut feeling is that you've gotten too much poo-poo on the throw-out bearing retainer (the surface the throw-out bearing glides on). If I'm correct, spraying up in there with some silicon spray should eliminate the problem, atleast temp fix.

 

[forestdan7]

I'll chime in here, too, and see if this leads to anything for both of us.

My pedal also sometimes feels kind of "grabby" when releasing it. I do have a bellhousing cover. And a leaky rear main. The clutch engages well, and passes the 1/2 inch off the floor smooth shift between first and reverse test.

But it also intermittently pops, like the linkage is grabbing, usually when engaging the clutch. I can temporarily fix this by moving the rubber boot and spraying some kind of oil or grease into the piston shaft with the pedal partway depressed.

Are these symptoms of imminent failure? Or just something that my temp fix will take care of till I finally get an H55?

I hope this is related enough not to be a hijack.

 

[High Desert]

Grabby clutch very often means you've leaked oil on to the clutch surface..that oil burns into the clutch altering the surface into a non slipping composition, which leads to grabbing and chattering. Other causes/symptoms of course do apply but this is why my clutch was grabby and chattering.

Having that shield off is not helping matters, don't think it would be there if the designers didn't think it had a purpose, road grime won't help the workings at all.

 

[forestdan7]

Thanks, High Desert. I imagine that's what's up with mine, since my rear main has a pretty constant drip.

Anybody else get that pop from the pedal linkage? There are a couple of linkage adjustments listed in the FSM, but they don't seem to address my symptoms. Doesn't seem to be a matter of pedal height or freeplay, though I guess the freeplay could be a little much.

 

[lb510]

hey all,

greetings from sunny mexico. today my clutch pedal started acting funny. usually it has a little play (doesn'[t engage until it's depressed a bit) and it springs back up to it's normal pedal height, but today it seems very stiff and when depressed it makes a bit of a clicking noise and feels sticky. also doens't seem to be returning to it's normal height. shifts ok, but something isn't right. I live in a very dusty and sandy place and I'm sure I leak fluid from every possible place as well. any suggestions on a diy fix? Don't have a shop manual unfortunately so I'm not sure where to begin and there isn't a decent mechanic for a few hundred miles. if I try pulling back the rubber boot (is this the boot that goes between the pedal and the floor?) and spraying something in there can I use plain old wd40?

thanks all

cheers

lb

 

[forestdan7]

That's what I did, but I used Fluid Film so it would stay lubed longer.

Not sure if that's the best fix, but it's lasted a couple of months without the pop returning.

It looks like from the FSM that when that piston assembly is disassembled and cleaned, lithium soap based grease is what should be used to lubricate it, but I didn't feel like I needed to take the whole thing apart just yet. Till the rest of the clutch needs fixing.

 

[lb510]

hey thanks. I got some wd40 in there and it seems to have stopped clicking. topped off the resevior (was a bit low) and it is shifting ok, but the pedal is still stiffer than it was and sitting a bit lower? maybe time for a new master and slave? I"m pretty sure everything on this truck is original (81). it's hard to get parts where I am so I gotta plan ahead best I can. should I just order toyota parts?

thanks again!

 

[forestdan7]

I would get Toyota parts. From what I've read, the Toyota clutch parts are about the best you can get.

I don't know about shipping to Mexico, but try Cruiserdan on this forum for parts. Discount for MUD members, and he's really good at finding what you need. Search the forum for his contact info.