What's going on with my clutch and brakes?
 

I have close to 29K miles on my EVO and I've been waiting for the clutch to go as so many folks have been having issues with theirs. Most of my miles are highway miles and the car has received very little abuse.

About a month ago I noticed that the clutch release through the pedal was getting higher and higher and this past weekend the clutch was acting like it was either on or off, the release was maybe a half inch from the top of the pedal movement. When I was following behind some folks to a g2g, I kept having to use my brakes, because when I'd take my foot off the gas pedal the revs would just stay and wouldn't go down like normal unless I used the brakes. So I thought for sure my clutch is dying and hopefully it will last until friday when I've got an appointment to get it replaced. I got in my car Monday morning and the clutch is back to normal, the release is still a little high, but not as high as it was this past weekend and the shifts are buttery smooth with no problems what so ever. I can't figure out, I would think that the clutch would just get worse, but not get better than worse, then better.

Today when I got in, the brake pedal was super stiff, it still braked but the pedal is just so much stiffer than it has ever been. What gives?

I know they clutch and the brake share the same resevior for fluid so I popped the hood and the fluid appears as a dark clear yellow or a very light amber color and is right in the middle of the max/min lines. So I'm assuming it has enough fluid.

With the car turned off, and you pump the brake pedal, it progressively get's stiffer.

So I can't figure out what's going on? Does anyone else have a clue?

Should I just get the clutch replaced on Friday and hope that I'm fixing the right problem?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Sounds like an issue with your hydraulics to me

Have you checked your fluid..make sure its full and not leaking someplace

Yeah, I thought of that too, which is why I checked the fluid resivior which is right in the middle of the max and min lines. I'll have to keep an eye on it and see if it drops to check for a leak.

Hopefully the shop will be able to diagnose it before they replace the clutch.

Generally a good first step with system like ours would be to get your clutch and brakes bled. If the problem is air in the line, that should clear it.

That is exactly what I would suggest. If the clutch was going bad you would notice it when you shifted (mostly in lower gears) and you would feal the slip. What you are describing does not sound like a bad clutch to me.

Get both the systems bled and make sure the fluid is not leaking somewhere. I would hold off on the clutch; unless you just want to replace it.

-just some thoughts. ;-)