06 tribute manual transmission clutch hard to press.
06 tribute manual transmission clutch hard to press.
All of a sudden my clutch went from totally normal to very hard to press down. It's now been this way for quite a long time. It's a hydraulic clutch (clutch was replaced by a shop a few months prior to the issue, but me and the shop....did not get along.) in an 06 tribute with a 4 cylinder motor.
Looking for what I'll need done in order to not have to break my leg to shift the thing. Thanks.
I figure it's something the shop didn't do correctly, as it was supposed to have new flywheel, pressure plate, clutch disc, pilot bearing and throw-out bearing but there's no way to verify they replaced it all or did it correctly and the problem started suddenly about 3 months later.
Sounds like a collapsed line between the clutch master cylinder (at the pedal) and the slave cylinder (on the transmission). Especially if the thing still works, but just requires herculean effort to disengage. The line is rubber, and a common failure mode if it disintegrates it for little flaps of material to block the line, typically when pressure is going only in one direction -- i.e., when you're pressing the pedal, or releasing it.
You could have a shredded seal or piece of crud partially blocking one of the passages in either the master or slave cylinder. My money is on the master (on the clutch pedal end, poking through the firewall). That's typically what I see fail first out of the two on any car. Although anything's possible depending on if/how your mechanic fucked up.
Replacing the master cylinder as a DIY job is not too tough. Doing the slave cylinder or line is a little more involved, with working in cramped spaces (usually -- I don't know what it looks like on a Tribute/Escape offhand). Most modern vehicles have the slave cylinder on the outside of the transmission, at least.
Thanks for the info. Is there any good way of diagnosing which, if either, it is without just firing the parts cannon at it?
It is possible that you have a broken clutch finger. If the shop did a poor job installing the clutch. They could have done some damage to the pressure plate. That could lead to premature failure of the fingers. The only solution though is a new clutch.
Could be a few things, clutch fork bent but let's pray not.
Have you adjusted it? My mentor's rule of thumb is to adjust new clutches after they're broken in, he hits them a week or so later if possible. I'd recommend it and have seen it happen quite a few times.
Could be clogged or pinched hydraulic lines. Bleeding the slave cylinder would be a start with that.
Check your clutch pedal, anything bent, broken etc?
Will get back with more. Am not an expert on clutches btw have just replaced quite a few. Not pretending to be an expert
Really hope it's not the fork though, that will do this but you'd have to drop the trans to replace it.