Clutch Adjuster Kit

[SpicyRay]

okay, so i checked out that "Project MSP" article in Turbo magazine. seems like they're just going to do what members here have done, turn up the boost, FMIC, downpipe, exhaust-in other words, nothing new. i noticed in their last section, they mentioned a clutch adjuster kit by arospeed that shortens the distance that you need to push the clutch. for myself, i think it would be great for the rush hour drives, has anyone tried it yet?

[Dexter]

i saw the pic but had to go. what does it do actually... i just read and now i see.

[csman22]

Has anyone installed or tested this item yet? If it adds comfort in rush hour, I;d be interested. If you think it's a gimmic let me know.

I did search, but no one seemed to have any info on it. Links below.
Thanks


Clutch Adjuster
http://www.autoall.com/store/c.cgi?productmore=clutchadjuster&productmfg=arospeed&id=productid&cmd=s&function=

Or

http://www.autoall.com/store/moreinfo/interior/ARO802045.html

[jaymode]

I dunno but would really like to change the way the clutch engages in mine. It has very limited slippage until the top where there is less than an inch to play with it grabbing. If this would help that I would get it, I have heard of people using this though.

[PaulMP3]

i posted this a while back

It is interesting though, i would be afraid i would set it wrong, and i would burn my clutch up.

[SpicyRay]

whoa, i forgot about this, but boy, rush hour sucks, this clutch is realllly heavy after a long, long, long day at school.

[flat_black]

Hmm... It would be nice to shorten the throw some. As it stands, my clutch engages right at the top, and if I ease off slowly, then let off too quickly, it pulls and bucks a tad. I'd prefer to have the clutch off once I got a few inches off of it. =)

[jred321]

wow, i thought this clutch was light. i guess for a stock clutch it may be a tad on the heavy side, but i've gotten used to driving aftermarket clutches i guess. my last clutch was an act2600 (xtreme i think they call it) pressure plate with a street disk. now that's heavy, this is nothing

[flat_black]

Yeah, this clutch is really, really light, IMO. Heavy in comparison to a stock VW Golf clutch, though. =) Hehee. I liked the clutch feel on the WRX STi... THAT was nice and firm... Really let you know when you were slipping the clutch, fully engaged, or off. =)

A funny thing I just noticed; That link from AutoAll.com has the clutch adjusters priced at 33.60...

Arospeed has it on their own site for 29.99. ;)

http://arospeed.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_124&products_id=569

[scapamouche]

I am planning to get one of them as soon as I can get the time to call arospeed and order one. I don't know when that will be, but I'll post a review once I have it.

I see great things since my clutch is fully disengaged about 2" into it's travel, so the remaining travel is unnecessary...

Edit: I just ordered the kit, so I'll review it once I have it installed.

[bored132]

i ordered one, i should get it tomorrow or thurs. when i install it i will post the details

[Tommy1005]

A friend of mine has one on his 90 M3, and it made a huge difference, expecially for autox-ing. I'm thinking about getting one before too long. Just my .02

[csman22]

Tommy, that's what I wanted to hear. I'm getting it.

And it's not so much that the cllutch is "heavy" it's that it's a long throw and it, as your buddy in the m4 stated, improved.

Board...let me know what you think, but I think the thing will work fine.

Flat_back...thanks for the reminder to go direct
http://arospeed.com/product_info.ph...products_id=569

Cheers

[flat_black]

Ahh, what the hell; I'll order mine from the speed shop today. =) They should be able to get it to me tommorow for pretty cheap. Lets see who posts thier install first! ;) Oh, and if someone gets it really soon, want to scan the instructions for the rest of us to see? Hehee...

Good luck!

[flat_black]

Anyone got it on, yet? =) I've been lazy, and havn't ordered it yet.

[bored132]

just picked mine up, installing it when it stops raining

[xelderx]

This seems like a good cheap mod. Keep us up to date on the install. I'm guessing it will work on the Pro5/MP3 clutch too? Driving in NOPI traffic had me saying a thing or two degrading about my clutch pedal.

[bored132]

still raining, fuckin florida! I guess tomorrow mourning
"if weather permits"

[SpicyRay]

yeah, keep us updated when u get it installed. okay, so its not the heaviness thats killing me, its that long throw! still though, it is heavier than other clutches ive felt.

[MSP Chris]

hey bored132 where is plantation in florida? As well who made the exhaust for you?

[bored132]

plantation broward and university, i got my exhaust done by a little custom shop in hollywood. Chris's customs, they did good work

[PaulMP3]

i ordered mine today also. we will se how it works.

[jrodhotrod]

I would like to get your guys feedback on this too. I read about it in Turbo Magazine but hadn't researched it further yet. Keep us updated.

[flat_black]

Hey, Bored? Do you have the instructions available to scan, by any chance? If so, that'd be cool to see before hand.

[csman22]

I ordered one on Wed so it should be in today, or Sat am. I'll put it on tonight or Sat am and give some feedback.
Cheers

[MSP Chris]

Just curious, is this anything like a short throw shifter. For any that dont know it just shortens the distance the shifter has to move to change gears.

[flat_black]

Yes, it shortens the distance the clutch needs to travel to engage... Let me see if I can explain how it works:

On the back of our, and most, clutch pedals, there's a small plunger that is connected to a resiviour of hydrolic fluid (clutch/brake fluid). When moved down toward the firewall, it disengages the clutch by adding pressure to the line the allows the clutch to be pulled away.

Now, on the back of the clutch pedal, there's a pin, or a rod, for lack of a better term, that, as the pedal is pressed down, it pushes the plunger inward as it travels further down, to it's stopping point.

This device, the clutch adjuster, works like a stock adjuster, which is a rod, held in place by a threaded hole on the back of the clutch pedal, and pinned in position by a locknut. This device offers a longer rod, so the distance traveled can be shorter to allow for the plunger to go an equal length inward, while the clutch only needs to be depressed, lets say, half as far.

It clamps in position to the arm of the clutch pedal, and the threaded bolt and locknut extend toward the plunger, and you adjust the length manually to what it needs to be.

Hope this description helps!

[SpicyRay]

that works, in really simple terms, it shortens the throw of the clutch to the least amount needed.

[JenzZx2]

That was my first thought on the car, the clutch may be a little on the stiff side, but I was expecting a much shorter throw than it has.. i am curious to see how this adjuster kit works out, but all in all.. i'd rather have a stiff clutch and a shorter throw.
-Jen

[csman22]

We'll it works, and I'm happy, but I wich I could send it back.

On my Speed, prior to this "clutch adjuster kit" I felt as if I had long throw. After the install, my clutch now stops just after the clutch is engaged, and no longer do I have to work as hard. It feels great and I have to admit..the product works!

I need to make another adjustment in order for the car to start. and you'll see what I mean, you'll figure it out, no worries.

So do I reccomend this item? Nay.. I think 29.00 bucks can be better spent; for example, spend the added 29.00 bucks on a table in vegas.

In hindsight, I'd just add something, anything, on top of the "stopper" so that it meets the clutch arm sooner.

For example, a $0.30 cent mod..

4 or 6 Nickels, stack them together with crazyglue, mount that to the 'stopper"

A more expensive option is as follows......stack quarters.

Anohter option invloes a drive to the hardware store. Go buy a 1/2 or 3/8 inch nut and bolt, throw out the bolt, and and glue that the stopper.

Other ideas...take a set of dice, use one on the the stopper, and you'll use the other for being able to start the car. I reccomend the dice because you have countless color options.

Sorry for the long post, just a little peeved with myself for not buying dice in the first.

[flat_black]

*makes a note to get a set of rubber stoppers at the hardware store on the way home* I was looking at the stock setup for the clutch, and I can see where you're coming from, csman. Such is the life of a ginuea pig!

[csman22]

I did get porked! But it's worth it, I;ve gotten so much good info for free on this site. At the end of the day, it's all good.
cs

[flat_black]

Yeah, I've been a ginuea pig for the board a couple of times, but I don't mind. =) It's like making a donation. Hehee. Anyway, I just got done installing my 'clutch adjuster kit'. I went down under my pedal, and epoxied a 1/2" nut that I had sitting around to the normal clutch stand, and the clutch is fully engaged about an inch of pedal throw back from the new point, rather than a few inches. The clutch fully engages just fine, and no issues yet. =) Hehee. Best of all, it didn't cost a thing!

[jrodhotrod]

Originally posted by flat_black
Yeah, I've been a ginuea pig for the board a couple of times, but I don't mind. =) It's like making a donation. Hehee. Anyway, I just got done installing my 'clutch adjuster kit'. I went down under my pedal, and epoxied a 1/2" nut that I had sitting around to the normal clutch stand, and the clutch is fully engaged about an inch of pedal throw back from the new point, rather than a few inches. The clutch fully engages just fine, and no issues yet. =) Hehee. Best of all, it didn't cost a thing!

Any chance you could post a picture of this? :D

[flat_black]

Sure! I'll take one after work today. =)

[SpicyRay]

ohhh, i never thought of that! nice job.

[chuyler1]

Originally posted by SpicyRay
whoa, i forgot about this, but boy, rush hour sucks, this clutch is realllly heavy after a long, long, long day at school.
I don't claim to be an expert but pooling all the cars that myself and my friends have driven that were standard, we have agreed that the Protege has one of the lightest easiest-to-use clutches out there. Try driving stick in a car w/o a hydrolic clutch...

[flat_black]

Here's the best pic I could get of my 'clutch adjuster'. After driving with it all day today, it seems to work well!

The nut is the thing inside the yellow circle in the pic. =) Just for those of you who couldn't tell.

[t3ase]

I swear the MSP guys on this board are bipolar or something. When this item was first mentioned as a member saw it in the magazine, I myself, asked about this clutch adjuster kit only to be told that it'd be a bad thing since "Mazda set it that way intentionally" and that I'd "need new motor mounts" and stuff. :confused: Neither of which made sence since you're just adjusting the travel but no one arguing that fact then...

Lemme find the thread...

From http://www.msprotege.com/vbb225/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26613&highlight=turbo+magazine+clutch


Originally posted by t3ase
Definately need more info on the clutch travel thing. That's one thing that bothers the hell out of me.. You have to floor the clutch to get it in gear. Any brand names/models/etc would be very helpful.

Originally posted by Micaspeed!
With out actually verifying this, I believe Mazda intentially limits how quickly the clutch engages, not travel. Just like BMW did on some 540's, I believe. This is to avoid driveline shock. BMW accomplished this by installing a flow limit valve in the rubber flex line from the master to slave. A simple retrofit with a non valved one, did the trick. Everyone who did this on the BMW said it made a big difference. I suspected such a device while driving my car on a daily basis. Let me know if anyone does a retro fit with an es part.

Godspeed!
Dave

Originally posted by MSPDAVE125
Any driveline changes should be compensated with some new Motor mounts. You'll shake the head right off the block with harder engaging clutch!

IMO

Originally posted by srd555
Man, I have read their little article on it several times and I still cannot figure it out.

It looks like it adjusts the pedal stop point, but I do not see how its going to help the throw. Or maybe I am just stupid and "can't read good".

And now it's the best idea that's hit the MSP now. :rolleyes:

[flat_black]

I'd hardly say it's the best idea out there. ;) Hehee. It's easy to adjust the clutch by yourself, by setting the engagement point, which I did just to make sure the clutch engaged fully when I clutched, and disengaged fully when off of it, but my simple 'nut-and-epoxy' adjuster seemed to be just the right height for me.

Again, NOT EVERYONE'S CLUTCH WILL HAVE THE SAME SETTINGS FROM THE FACTORY. I urge you to make sure the clutch is engaging and disengaging at the right points, as if it's not, you'll end up burning up a clutch REALLY fast, or worse.

But if you feel confident in adjusting the factory clutch settings, my solution is just right for you. =) And better yet, a 10 cent one. ;)

People can guess and spectulate all they like, but actually trying it is the true test, within reason. I mean, don't try and shoehorn a Supra Turbo header onto a Protege; Use common sense. But if you think something may work, think it out, try it, and make sure you know what you're doing. =) The true essence of customization is in the first part of the word; 'custom'. As in 'not originally designed for this car'.

That nut wasn't designed to fit on the little rubber mount, but it sure works for me, and now I have a clutch adjust that no one else has, albiet possibly only for a short while. ;)

t3ase: Your problem can probably be solved by adjusting the pin on the back of the clutch pedal, so you don't have to floor it as hard. It's two nuts, 12mm, one to lock the pin in place, the other to adjust the distance. If you want, I can send you the section from the FSM where it specifies how to adjust the clutch. Just ask. =)

[jrodhotrod]

Originally posted by flat_black
t3ase: Your problem can probably be solved by adjusting the pin on the back of the clutch pedal, so you don't have to floor it as hard. It's two nuts, 12mm, one to lock the pin in place, the other to adjust the distance. If you want, I can send you the section from the FSM where it specifies how to adjust the clutch. Just ask. =)

I wouldn't mind getting this information. pm me. Thanks!

[scapamouche]

Has anyone had an issue with the neutral safety switch?

I installed mine (already on order when the nut issue came out) today, but with any of the shortening nuts installed, the neutral safety switch plunger is not getting pushed in enough to allow the car to start. I'm figuring a simple post glued to the neutral switch arm on the pedal will do the trick, but I was wondering what anyone else had done...

[Emode]

id like a copy too if possible
the FSM that is

[Wiggles6983]

I'd like a copy too please.