Why is our clutch/shifter so stiff??
Evolving Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 480
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From: San Luis Obispo, CA
I've driven an STi and its clutch makes the RA's feel wimpy. My dad's WRX is almost as short and stiff as the STi's. And the shifter may be seemingly hard in the RA if you haven't upgraded your bushings.
maybe you are shifting too fast without matching speeds of engine and transmission. Slow down a bit with your hand speed or you can try double clutch shifting. Also, I installed a clutch block to shorten the movement of the pedal. Because our shifter is so short all ready and they didn't change the pedal height even when rev matching I was moveing too fast with my hand. This helped alot.
Originally Posted by jwhitey
I love the clutch it soft compared to my 79 CJ7 jeep that's the one that will kick your ***. The gears though I do find rather werid I have trouble with shifting down sometimes like with the clutch on the floor and going to 3rd it will like grind with the clutch on the floor which is werid to me. i don't know maybe it's just me.
when you calculate all the angles, which I did not, the block took out about an inch and a half of travel. My clutch, without clutchblock, begins to grab at around 1 and 3/4 inches. I just made it so the clutch grabs as soon as you move the pedal off the floor, with clutchblock. Some of you may have adjusted your piston to the master cylinder but that only makes your clutch closer to the floor. Doing it this way not only makes it closer to the floor, but shortens the distance you have to push the clutch pedal. You will notice immediately a difference in the speed of your shifts, which is a very simple way to win more races
Evolving Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 211
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From: Bay Area, CA
Originally Posted by MitsuRalliArt
Honda's and Saab's use cable linkage. They are much easier to shift but they lack feedback. My mother's minivan has electric steering that is completely devoid of any and all feedback. Some people don't want it. I personally like being able to feel the syncros touch and then the gear popping into place. Others don't.
The same goes for our clutch compared to most. I love the short take up and quick engagement of our clutch. I do get used to it, but whenever I drive another manual it's always a shock how sloppy the clutch is (shifters are usually just as sloppy but I'm less shocked by them for whatever reason). And it's even more of a shock when I get back in my car and go back to my clutch again
VW/Audi in particular comes to mind for bad clutches (long throw, engagement high up in the pedal travel, no feel), and BMW for sloppy shifters. Speaking of BMW's shifters, ever drive an old 6 series? My god! I once heard a great description of finding a gear with one - "Engine room, we need 3rd gear! <5 second pause> Third gear engaged!"
Their newer shifters (E46 3 series at least) are much better but still below par, especially given how well they drive otherwise.Ya know, given that the 9-3's shifter isn't at all like ours, I gotta say I like it a lot for a low-effort, traffic-friendly shifter.
Originally Posted by mojambo
I will be installing the works stage 2 later this week. I'll let you guys know what a stiff clutch is like
Sobe,
You say thye friction point is too high?? you can adjust this really easily. MY friction point was so high I could barely take off cause my clutch is pretty worn out. I adjusted the bolt on the pedal that pushes into the master cilynder. My friction point is right on the floor now. this will take you 5 minutes.
Sobe,
You say thye friction point is too high?? you can adjust this really easily. MY friction point was so high I could barely take off cause my clutch is pretty worn out. I adjusted the bolt on the pedal that pushes into the master cilynder. My friction point is right on the floor now. this will take you 5 minutes.
Evolved Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 929
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From: A
Originally Posted by no1v2
Agreed! I love the RA's shifter and clutch (ompared to the other manuals I've driven (no high-end sports cars). The 9-3 I drove's shifter was smooth and low effort, and is probably nicer than a Ralliart's to commute with in rush hour/stop-and-go for those poor SOBs stuck doing that daily. To me it felter sloppy and hard to shift quickly with compared to the Ralliart's. And the 9-3 I drove was a Viggen! (their sporty model)
The same goes for our clutch compared to most. I love the short take up and quick engagement of our clutch. I do get used to it, but whenever I drive another manual it's always a shock how sloppy the clutch is (shifters are usually just as sloppy but I'm less shocked by them for whatever reason). And it's even more of a shock when I get back in my car and go back to my clutch again
VW/Audi in particular comes to mind for bad clutches (long throw, engagement high up in the pedal travel, no feel), and BMW for sloppy shifters. Speaking of BMW's shifters, ever drive an old 6 series? My god! I once heard a great description of finding a gear with one - "Engine room, we need 3rd gear! <5 second pause> Third gear engaged!" Their newer shifters (E46 3 series at least) are much better but still below par, especially given how well they drive otherwise.
Ya know, given that the 9-3's shifter isn't at all like ours, I gotta say I like it a lot for a low-effort, traffic-friendly shifter.
The same goes for our clutch compared to most. I love the short take up and quick engagement of our clutch. I do get used to it, but whenever I drive another manual it's always a shock how sloppy the clutch is (shifters are usually just as sloppy but I'm less shocked by them for whatever reason). And it's even more of a shock when I get back in my car and go back to my clutch again
VW/Audi in particular comes to mind for bad clutches (long throw, engagement high up in the pedal travel, no feel), and BMW for sloppy shifters. Speaking of BMW's shifters, ever drive an old 6 series? My god! I once heard a great description of finding a gear with one - "Engine room, we need 3rd gear! <5 second pause> Third gear engaged!"
Their newer shifters (E46 3 series at least) are much better but still below par, especially given how well they drive otherwise.Ya know, given that the 9-3's shifter isn't at all like ours, I gotta say I like it a lot for a low-effort, traffic-friendly shifter.
Just how many FWD cars have hydraulic clutches?
Evolving Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
Originally Posted by captain150
Honda's and Saabs clutches are cable? I remember reading that here. I thought you meant the shifter was cable too, I was gunna say, the RA's is too
Just how many FWD cars have hydraulic clutches?
Just how many FWD cars have hydraulic clutches?
I don't know anything about cable vs hydraulic clutches or shifters, I just know which ones I've tried are sloppy and which ones feel tight
The Del Sol I had before had a hydraulic clutch. Just throwing that in there.
When I was in Thailand, I drove my father in law's protege for a few weeks. I came back and drove my car again and I had forgotten how shifting was supposed to be. I was like, "hell yeah!". Man, our shifter is pure bliss. Better than any car I've driven to date.
When I was in Thailand, I drove my father in law's protege for a few weeks. I came back and drove my car again and I had forgotten how shifting was supposed to be. I was like, "hell yeah!". Man, our shifter is pure bliss. Better than any car I've driven to date.
I recently installed my RRM clutchline, and after a difficult bleeding process (n00b) I couldn't feel that much of a difference from the stock slave cylinder. Anyone else find this "normal"? Only reason I ask is because I was under the impression the clutch was suppose to feel stiffer. 