Thread: Clutch/Tranny question

Okay, a guy with an almost stock SE-R came by the house today, so I could help him troubleshoot his car (timing issue).

I decided to take it around the block a few times and see how it felt, and HOLY CRAP. His clutch is BUTTAH. I have NEVER felt a clutch on an SE-R so smooth and soft, with accurate engagements, and engagement almost at the top of the pedal.

What do I need to do to at least get HALF decent feel back?

Obviously, there's a big difference between cars, as I have the 99 P11 tranny, and the XTPP with 6 puck sprung disc. I just don't understand how mine feels rough, and not as precise as his does? One thing I found odd looking at his tranny, is he has the 1" spacer mod, as well as about 4 or 5 washers where the bracket sits. His cable looks a lot shorter than mine, too. His doesn't kink as bad as mine does where it would normally go around the charcoal canister. Mine does almost a 90 degree bend, whereas his only does about a 30 degree bend.

Last I had checked, I was using a GA clutch cable from a b13, maybe I'm wrong? What's the SHORTEST clutch cable we can use on the b14 with a p11 tranny?

Thanks.

But is he running the same disc and pressure plate as you are using?

I use a ACT Heavy duty PP with 6 pad sprung disc and it feels rough but get's the job done.

Of course he's using a stock disc/pp setup, but this is my point: His clutch cable is a ton shorter than mine. It doesn't have a kink in it like mine does. Engagement is at the top of the pedal.

On mine, with the previous pressure plate (HD), there is absolutely NO difference between the HD and XT pressure plates. They feel identical. I was told that the HD pressure plate feels a lot softer than the XTPP does, but I don't see it.

If you still have his number i would call him, maybe for some reason he knows something we do not. If you are using the 1.6 cable then i think that is the shortest that is known. Is there a difference between the b14 and b13 GA cables?

All of these will help:

Cable routing with less sever bends (as you've pointed out).
Lubrication of the clutch cable (brand new is "buttah", lithium or graphite or something is recommended to lube but I can't remember which).
Lubrication of the shaft/throw out bearing surface (axle grease is fine).
Lubrication of clutch actuator arm inside transmission (axle grease is fine).

Get all those done and a factory clutch/pp setup will feel like you have zero resistance. The feeling doesn't last long, but it stays decent for a long time.

Well, the actual length of the cable doesn't matter... its the length from the fixed point to the clutch arm. The way that he was able to get his pedal feel all the way to the top is the spacer mod that he did.

gotcha on the spacer mod. I was told that I could adjust the pedal from in car, as well. Is this true?

Is there a HUGE difference in position of the clutch bracket between b14's and p11's?

His pedal feel was almost non-existant, like he has a hydraulic clutch.

Nope. Not that I know of at least. The only stock adjustment is at the other end of the cable.

cool, thanks. Guess I'll just have to put up with the pedal feel for now, until I come up with an idea