General Ranger clutch questions...

[mp3deviant721]

Why does it seem like some trucks I drive have really soft clutch pedals and others nice and firm? Mine is nice and firm and when I go to test drive a truck with a soft pedal, I have a hard time getting the clutch to engage smoothly, because I'm used to a firm clutch. My dad's 91 has a nice and firm pedal and I can drive that thing without issues. Is it because the owners are running the master cylinders dry? That's the only reason I can think of that would cause a soft pedal.

 

[Twizzler09]

In my experience it seems to have something to do with the pressure plate itself, actually. I just finished a clutch install on my truck and everything was installed properly and the clutch system bled, the old clutch was quite firm, much more so than ANY other hydraulic clutch I've ever driven. The new one on the other hand, is quite soft in comparison. Same master/slave cylinders, so the only thing that comes to my mind is the pressure plate.

 

[mp3deviant721]

It could be the pressure plates too. I really don't know.

 

[Sunk]

Maybe slight differences in the springs on the slave?

 

[LIMA BEAN]

Springs on the pressure plate. Heavy duty and racing clutch pressure plates usually have more pressure, I have had quit afew Centerforce clutch/ pressure plates and they are designed to hook-up right now when you dump the clutch. Sometimes people put a return spring in thats stiffer on the stretch but snaps back superfast on pourpose, other times its just because they put the wrong one in unknowingly.

 

[adsm08]

Yeah, the pressure plate figures into it the most, along with wear on the hydraulics. If the plate fingers aren't stiff the pedal can never be stiff. Also, if the fluid line is run too close to the exhaust it can expand once it gets hot and allow the pedal to loose some stiffness.