# How do you stiffen your clutch pedal?
**URL:** https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-you-stiffen-your-clutch-pedal/80759
**Category:** SON240sx Automotive
**Created:** [March 22, 2004, 7:44pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-you-stiffen-your-clutch-pedal/80759 "2004-03-22T19:44:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 13
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@SHIFT\_KA24DET](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/SHIFT_KA24DET)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2004, 7:44pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-you-stiffen-your-clutch-pedal/80759/1 "2004-03-22T19:44:55Z")
I just changed the clutch and pressure plate on friends 240 with just a
stock OEM one and his clutch is silly soft. I don’t understand why, it’s
completely bled with new fluid, the masters new, there are no leaks, the
pedal is adjusted. What can it be? In my rubber S13 my clutch pedal was
stiff as heck and it was the same OEM clutch and pressure plate. And the
engagement was like on or off this one is like a big pile of mush…
What to do?
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### Author:  [@syd\_mysta](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/syd_mysta)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2004, 9:34pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-you-stiffen-your-clutch-pedal/80759/2 "2004-03-22T21:34:36Z")
Have you checked the springs of the clutch pedal? They may be shot and could be the reason why the pedal is soft. I know my pedal spring squeaks like hell and it makes it stick right at the point of disengagement. But that just need some lube.
Also maybe the clutch pedal part of the tranny was not hooked properly. Its been awhile since I replaced my clutch and I can’t quite remember.
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### Author:  [@oshiet](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/oshiet)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2004, 7:27am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-you-stiffen-your-clutch-pedal/80759/3 "2004-03-23T07:27:10Z")
That last crap clutch I replaced in my car gave me super soft pedal feel. I even took out the clutch damper, and bled it through the vacuum machine, then manual bled it to make sure. I also replaced the MC and SC at the same time, so I can’t really pinpoint the problem. If there is one besides the PP being too soft.
To this day, it’s still soft and I’ve just learned to live with it. It engages and holds without any problems - Even at DX1. Chunky drove the car and looked at me funny when he depressed the clutch. I just shrugged my shoulders. :lol:
My girlfriend loves driving the car because it doesn’t leave her with a sore leg in traffic.
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### Author:  [@Racer\_XTREME](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Racer_XTREME)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2004, 11:10am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-you-stiffen-your-clutch-pedal/80759/4 "2004-03-23T11:10:00Z")
if it is not air in the system that is giving a soft petal, then the only other thing it could be is the pressure plate, you press on the petal, it pushes on the slave, which pushes on the fork, which pushes the bearing against the splines of the pressure plate and that uses a lever like system to raise the contact point on the pressure plate to the clutch disc. So it is probably the pressure plate that is too weak / old.
I have a p-plate for my old KA, it was strong when removed if you want it, or get a remanufactured one.
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### Author:  [@SHIFT\_KA24DET](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/SHIFT_KA24DET)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2004, 1:33pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-you-stiffen-your-clutch-pedal/80759/5 "2004-03-24T13:33:22Z")
> [@philip\_240sx](#):
>
> From what I’ve read/heard, the clutch damper (a small loop of line and a distribution block located near the slave cyl) is extremely difficult to bleed. This could be the cause of your problem. The ultimate fix for this is to remove the damper, bend the stock hard line 180 deg and connect it directly to the flex line going to the slave cylinder.
>
> Also, has the clutch been broken in yet? This may make a difference.
We thought it may have been the dampener so we removed that and
it didn’t change a thing if anything made it worse. On my rubber car I
just left the dampener in. It’s the same pressure plate as in my rubber
car so I don’t think that would be the case. Is there any difference in a
1990 and a 1993 Clutch Master or Slave Cylinder?
I think it could possibly be a weak slave cylinder causing this problem.
It doesn’t leak but it is 220,000km old.
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### Author:  [@MRWmotorsports](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MRWmotorsports)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2004, 2:31pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-you-stiffen-your-clutch-pedal/80759/6 "2004-03-24T14:31:58Z")
> [@SHIFT\_SR20DET](#):
>
> [quote=philip\_240sx]From what I’ve read/heard, the clutch damper (a small loop of line and a distribution block located near the slave cyl) is extremely difficult to bleed. This could be the cause of your problem. The ultimate fix for this is to remove the damper, bend the stock hard line 180 deg and connect it directly to the flex line going to the slave cylinder.
>
> Also, has the clutch been broken in yet? This may make a difference.
We thought it may have been the dampener so we removed that and
it didn’t change a thing if anything made it worse. On my rubber car I
just left the dampener in. It’s the same pressure plate as in my rubber
car so I don’t think that would be the case. Is there any difference in a
1990 and a 1993 Clutch Master or Slave Cylinder?
I think it could possibly be a weak slave cylinder causing this problem.
It doesn’t leak but it is 220,000km old.[/quote]
There’s no such thing as a weak slave cylinder they either work or they leak… it’s hydraulics, not like a spring, nothing to get weak.
As someone already mentioned the pressure plate is basically a spring, it could get weak. This is alomst certainly what’s causing the problem, a crappy pressure plate. Even new (rebuilt) ones will sometimes be defective. Just because its the same make as another one that works fine doesn’t mean jack.
My $0.02
-Martin.
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### Author:  [@SHIFT\_KA24DET](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/SHIFT_KA24DET)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2004, 2:52pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-you-stiffen-your-clutch-pedal/80759/7 "2004-03-24T14:52:37Z")
> [@MRWmotorsports](#):
>
> As someone already mentioned the pressure plate is basically a spring, it could get weak. This is alomst certainly what’s causing the problem, a crappy pressure plate. Even new (rebuilt) ones will sometimes be defective. Just because its the same make as another one that works fine doesn’t mean jack.
> My $0.02
>
> -Martin.
I know how a clutch system works.
The pressure is brand new.
I’m going to replace the Slave Cylinder because it
looks like its leaking where the flex line connects to it.
DAMNIT!
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### Author:  [@MRWmotorsports](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MRWmotorsports)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2004, 3:00pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-you-stiffen-your-clutch-pedal/80759/8 "2004-03-24T15:00:59Z")
> [@SHIFT\_SR20DET](#):
>
> [quote=MRWmotorsports]As someone already mentioned the pressure plate is basically a spring, it could get weak. This is alomst certainly what’s causing the problem, a crappy pressure plate. Even new (rebuilt) ones will sometimes be defective. Just because its the same make as another one that works fine doesn’t mean jack.
> My $0.02
>
> -Martin.
I know how a clutch system works.
The pressure is brand new.
I’m going to replace the Slave Cylinder because it
looks like its leaking where the flex line connects to it.
DAMNIT![/quote]
Brand new, or brand new rebuilt? Either way I still vote pressure plate. The only way the slave could effect the feel of the clutch is if it where the wrong bore by a significant ammount… as far as I know they are all the same.
Good luck… Martin.
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### Author:  [@akademiks](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/akademiks)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2004, 5:03pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-you-stiffen-your-clutch-pedal/80759/9 "2004-03-24T17:03:23Z")
hopefully this might help, found this for ya
i havent tried it, so let me know how it goes:
[http://www.zeroyon.com/pics/installs/clutchlinemod/clutchlinemod.html](http://www.zeroyon.com/pics/installs/clutchlinemod/clutchlinemod.html)
---
### Author:  [@SHIFT\_KA24DET](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/SHIFT_KA24DET)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2004, 8:41pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-you-stiffen-your-clutch-pedal/80759/10 "2004-03-24T20:41:32Z")
> [@akademiks](#):
>
> hopefully this might help, found this for ya
>
> i havent tried it, so let me know how it goes:
>
> [zeroyon.com - zeroyon Resources and Information.](http://www.zeroyon.com/pics/installs/clutchlinemod/clutchlinemod.html)
Awesome write up dude, but I already did that and noticed nothing. :x
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### Author:  [@Alex](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Alex)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2004, 12:05pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-you-stiffen-your-clutch-pedal/80759/11 "2004-03-25T12:05:52Z")
my pedal is quite soft also, even with the ACT pressure plate. i have bled the system numerous times, checked for leaks, installed a new slave but its still soft. maybe the pedal return spring has more to do with it then i though. and mine is worn out. let me know if you figure anything out.
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### Author:  [@SHIFT\_KA24DET](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/SHIFT_KA24DET)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2004, 11:53am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-you-stiffen-your-clutch-pedal/80759/12 "2004-03-26T11:53:24Z")
Will do…
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### Author:  [@GreyGandalf\_S14](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/GreyGandalf_S14)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2004, 6:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-do-you-stiffen-your-clutch-pedal/80759/13 "2004-03-29T18:27:41Z")
> [@SHIFT\_SR20DET](#):
>
> Is there any difference in a
> 1990 and a 1993 Clutch Master or Slave Cylinder?
> I think it could possibly be a weak slave cylinder causing this problem.
> It doesn’t leak but it is 220,000km old.
i put a '92 master cylinder from the yard on my '95. seems to be working fine. my pedal used to be mush, and would occasionally stick to the ground. I properly adjusted the pedal freeplay, removed the dampening system, and it made my pedal 200% stiffer than ever.
although you did mention a leak in the slave, I would start there, then try re-adjusting the pedal freeplay. not sure about an older slave, but an older master should work fine on an s13.
oh, and a master cylinder rebuild kit cost $16 at CT, and is fairly simple to do.
good luck