help with clutch cable removal

qsoundrichqsoundrich Band Wagon
in Engine & Drivetrain
I've detached the clutch cable from the tranny end and all the hooks in the engine compartment. I'm having a hell of a time getting the cable to disconnect from the pedal, though. I wonder if the people who did the clutch on the car used the wrong cable, because it shouldn't be that difficult.

To describe how the system looks, the cable connects in to a metal bracket. The metal bracket connects to the hook on the top of the pedal, and it seems like this should just slide out towards the seat, away from the firewall. The problem is that it's not sliding straight out. It seems to be locked in to the "C" at the top of the pedal.

So do I have an odd setup or have I just not managed to turn this thing the right way to get it out yet? I fussed with it for over an hour with no luck. :oops:

Comments

  • bam-bambam-bam Council Member
    I think you just haven't turned it the right way, or as we say in Georgia, "You ain't holdin' yer mouth right" :lol:

    Think of the pedal hook as the "C" you described. If you could see it from the left side, the cable clevis would be pointing to 9 0'clock. There's not enough space to pull it straight toward 3o'clock, you have to rotate the clevis around the C up past noon. Impossible to do unless the tranny end is free, but you already got that, right?
  • qsoundrichqsoundrich Band Wagon
    Yes the other end is free. So you're saying I have to pull the metal bracket thingy up to 12 o clock then try to pull it out to 3 oclock, and the cable goes into the firewall at 9 o'clock.

    Edit: I think I kind of see what you're saying in my mind now.. it's just a b*tch to get up under there for a full-sized person like myself.
  • bam-bambam-bam Council Member
    I think you got it, kind of hard for me to describe. Basically just grab it where the cable meets the clevis and rotate it around the C clockwise 'til it comes off the hook.

    ( I just removed the pedal assembly TWICE, I feel your pain!)
  • evol911evol911 familEE
    Just out of curiosity, why are you taking the cable out?
  • qsoundrichqsoundrich Band Wagon
    Okay I got it out! I found out that the only way to get enough slack you have to hold the pedal down with something heavy (like a ball joint separator tool.) It came off rather easily when I had it all the way to the floor.

    So I got the cable out, but I'm pretty sure that isn't my problem. I'm trying to diagnose what's wrong with my clutch.. the car has been sitting for a year since I had a sudden clutch failure (which I've posted about before.)

    I checked the throwout arm and it doesn't seem to be doing anything--it takes very little effort to pull the arm up. Like I said, I'm not really sure how it's supposed to act, but I would expect it would spring back if the pressure plate were behaving correctly. I can't shift it into gear when the arm is up either.

    So I'm trying to decide if I want to try to do the clutch myself, pay someone $1000 to do it, or sell the wagon for a few hundred. It's an '88 4wd with 185k and it runs perfectly, including A/C. Only problems are the windshield and the drivers window doesn't roll up quite straight. It's got a few dents and slight paint oxidation, but it's rust free and about the best looking Civic wagon I've seen in Colorado. I just replaced the battery and the arms on the hatch liftgate. It even has a nice alpine stereo. I'm thinking of going to a Subaru though for better crash protection. But I think this car is probably more reliable than a Subaru that's 10 years younger.
  • evol911evol911 familEE
    It seems as though your pressure plate is broke. You shouldn't be able to to move the throw-out arm or if you could it would take quite a bit of pull. Doing the clutch really isn't that bad, pull half-shafts out of knuckles then out of transmission unbolt all motor mounts except drivers side engine mount, unbolt tranny and slide it out change clutch and replace everytthing. Should take you maybe a day if its your first time. Just remember to tap the half-shafts back into the tranny with a rubber mallet, you don't want them popping out when you test drive after your done. Oh and drain the tranny before you remove the halfshafts cause it will drain from where they go into the tranny. :D
  • qsoundrichqsoundrich Band Wagon
    Got under the car today and I see quite a bit of fluid where the rear drive shaft goes out of the transfer case. Dunno if this is viscous fluid or water (it's been raining a lot here) or tranny fluid. Should I be really concerned about this? Haven't had any problems with 4wd in the past but it's been sitting a while.
  • WorldHazardWorldHazard New Wagonist
    mine just completely snapped off and sliced my leg! that's how i did it (completely unintentional mind you)
Sign In or Register to comment.

© Vanilla Keystone Theme 2025