squeeky clutch pedal?

Tough one to diagnose from California.

It is just four bolts to remove driver's seat, which is what I do first when trying to get at the pedal assembly.

But my guess is just a good spray with some silicone lube or similar should fix things up.

Larry

If you have a factory clutch master cylinder, it's probably the spring on the rod under the rubber boot.

I had the same problem and noticed it when I was reviewing some video footage I took from my camera I had mounted in the car. I found the spring was broken into three pieces.

Good luck... let us know what you actually find.

Thanks for the replies. It certainly sounds like there is more than just a lubrification issue. The broken spring makes sense. Thanks again, Blake

Blake, you didn't mention what year your Pantera is. Note that from mid-'72-up, there was an 'effort-reduction' kit installed in the clutch pedal linkage under the dash. This adds several links and pivot pins that run steel-to-steel, none of which have ever been greased since the car left Modena (and maybe not even then). This is, as you say- likely not a quicky spray-it-and-forget-it thing....
Note also that the mousetrap-spring on the clutch shaft regularly breaks and is not worth replacing; a new one will only break soon after you fix it, and it requires dashboard removal to R & R it.

I have a buddy here in Phoenix that has on several occasions replaced the clutch and brake pedal return springs under the dash. Without tools, laying on his back, by carefully winding them on. Mines been working fine for 5 years since he replaced them. Would you believe he did it in just a couple of minutes too!

I'd heard that some guys with tough fingers can wind the moustrap spring on without distorting it but I couldn't. FWIW, removing the dash only takes about 20 minutes. Replacing it with everything working again takes a full day....

As to the broken spring. I find mine is. So you don't have to take anything apart? Looks pretty tough to wind it on by hand given the strength and position. Any more details or tips on this?

What happens if you do nothing? Mine has been working fine broken. I think....

No need to replace the spring. It is not necessary. I did replace it during a restoration I did back in '93 on my yellow Pantera. It has since broke and I have not noticed any issue. I no longer replace them.

It still works but the squeak got old for me really fast. I had an old clutch m/c laying around and was about to just swap out the spring assembly but I also had a leak so I just replaced the whole thing.

Broken spring makes more of a creaking sound as you press then a clunk. Something like that.

Jack speaks the truth! If you have the effort reduction kit (standard issue starting in late 1972), it's quite possible the sound you are hearing is the assembly eating itself.

There will be a tech article in next month's PCNC newsletter showing what can happen if you let things go too far for too long. A poor fellow in San Diego really destroyed his linkage, and the clutch stopped working completely. It's easy to fix (by replacing the worn-out parts) but the real solution is to lubricate everything thoroughly.

Here is what the system looks like. This is with the whole pedal box out of the car; the view is from the center of the car, looking to the side. Get in there and lube everything and hope for the best!

quote:

Here is what the system looks like.

Hey Mike, ya stole my pic!! LOL

John