1996 Clutch Question

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vette@vette.net - 05 Nov 2007 20:03 GMT

I have a 1996 vette with the LT4 engine. It has about 50K miles but
they were mostly city and stop and go.

Lately the clutch engages much lower than usual when cold then goes
back to normal when the car's warmed up.

I was under the impression that when the clutch wore out the opposite
occured, that is the clutch engaged higher and higher until eventually
it starts slipping.

Is that true? If it is then what might be causing the symptoms?

Thanks in advance for any help.

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pj - 05 Nov 2007 21:50 GMT

> I have a 1996 vette with the LT4 engine. It has about 50K miles but
> they were mostly city and stop and go.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> Thanks in advance for any help.

The earlier C4 clutch linkage used a 'pull' geometry rather than a
'push' and the hydraulics make it 'self adjusting.' At the clutch
wears, fluid level in the 'master cylinder' should rise.

Guess: Old/contaminated fluid causes the master cylinder valve to stick
a bit when it's cool then work OK when it's warm.

Least expensive thing would be to empty, flush and refill the hydraulic
circuit. The '89 calls for GM #12345347 and discourages use of DOT 3
brake fluid. OTOH, my C5 says #12345347 or "equivalant DOT 3" .....
Figure!

Grease monkey's have been known to refill the clutch hydraulics with
power steering fluid.

--
pj

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Ric Seyler - 06 Nov 2007 22:35 GMT

>> I have a 1996 vette with the LT4 engine. It has about 50K miles but
>> they were mostly city and stop and go.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> 'push' and the hydraulics make it 'self adjusting.' At the clutch
> wears, fluid level in the 'master cylinder' should rise.

Correct it's a pull linkage. Mine doesn't release as high as it used to
either. And it took me a while to
think about it, and it "eventually" came to me. :-) Ahhhh it pulls,
doesn't push....

Was raised with push clutches where the pedal releases higher as the
clutch plate wears down....

> Guess: Old/contaminated fluid causes the master cylinder valve to
> stick a bit when it's cool then work OK when it's warm.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> Grease monkey's have been known to refill the clutch hydraulics with
> power steering fluid.

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