HELP,lost clutch

[hdkeno]

What a way to start my vacation.
I noticed that lately my clutch just started having a hard pedal engagement.
Free play is good at the top,and it shifts into all gears no problem,but pedal is hard,and in the garage tonight,while depressing the pedal,i could hear some squeaking going on.
I greased the clutch cross shaft,and i think i may of over greased it,as some grease came out of the end,gave it about 6 or 7 pumps on the fitting.
Clutch still is hard,and still heard sqeaking.

All of a sudden when i get back into the car,no pedal it is all the way to the floor. Now the whole cross shaft is loose and easily slides off the clutch arm.

What happened? Now i have to try to have it towed later this week to my buddies shop,and see what happened.

Any ideas did overgreasing the cross shaft cause it to let go? Or is it something more serious. As always thanks in advance. Ken

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Could be the throwout bearing is sticking on the input shaft of the transmission. When your pedal came back up with the return spring, the linkage fell off the clutch lever arm. If you take off the boot on the bellhousing, you should be able to look in there to see if the throwout bearing is moving freely as the arm pushes on it. More importantly, if it releases when the pedal is released.

You might get lucky, and be able to regrease the shaft and free it up.

 

[Yoda]

A few years ago coming down out of Yosemite on the East side toward Mono Lake my clutch went away.... but more important here, it was a very hard pedel and squeeked when engaging and dis-engaging the pedel, the clutch pedel was on the floor during the entire ride down through the pass.

I pulled over and found the ball that screwed into the block was sheared off even with the block :eek ... I believe the clutch fork was not properly aligned and extremely dry.. My point is to be sure to check all the connections for the clutch fork, springs and all ... good luck and hopefully it's just a simple fix

Bud

 

[hdkeno]

Thanks Bud,I think that i have found the problem,but not sure that is a easy fix, At least for me.

where the cross shaft mounts to the frame, it appears there is a rubber bushing and or grommet atop a metal bracket which is affixed by 2 bolts to the frame.

That top piece is either sheared of or broken,meaning the rubber,bracket or both.

Is this a one piece bracket with bushing or seperate.
Either way the crossshaft end (closest to the pedal linkage) has to be attached to the bracket.

Has anyone encountered this? And if so how hard is it to get that cross shaft mounting bracket,and or bushing if that is even what it is called. Dealer item jobber or what.

When you remove the clutch linkage spring you can place the cross shaft end (end away from the clutch) into the bracket where it suppossed to go,but again the end of that bracket appears to be broken,so it would seem to me at least that i need a new bracket,and or bushing.
Again if anyone has changed one of these and knows exactly what it is called and how difficult to change,please let me know,because the way it stands now i cannot move the car at all,no clutch pedal at all free all the way from top to floor,all because of this broken A shaped bracket that supports the cross shaft and linkage to the frame. (where the cross shaft mounts to the frame bracket is also real close to the brake lines design flaw?) Again thanks for your help in advance, Ken

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Is it one of these?
http://www.corvetteamerica.com/cf/displaylearnmore.cfm?learnmoreid=3521&idlist=p_K1405,p_32835,p_32837,p_35688,p_28874,p_28870,p_41280,p_28792,p_28872,p_K1387,3725,3743,3788,p_35687,4178,p_K1465,p_42565,74,p_31177,p_35691,p_28875,p_41281,p_28876,p_28871,178,179,263,264,1314,4213,p_33294,p_35177,p_22392,p_33297,178,179,p_37313,p_33291,p_35176,4168,p_33293,4225,4182,3691,p_43410,5047,2756,4181,4033,3889,4825,p_33292,4117,p_35178,p_K1335,p_36846,p_36847,p_36854,p_22394,p_33298,4824,263,264,237,p_43929,263,264,4106,2211,p_36848,p_36852,p_36851,p_43928,p_36853,p_36849,p_36850,p_40971,3521,p_44828,p_44671,p_44675,328,5005,p_44673,p_44622,327,p_44676,p_44674,p_44672,p_44677,p_44830,329,p_44831,p_37660,p_40413,p_44832,p_41447,p_44833,p_44834,p_34404,1314,1314,378,1276,p_44835,p_38634,4886&searchdest=%2Fcf%2Flearnmorelist%2Ecfm%3Fsubcategoryid%3DX735&subcategoryid=X735

If so, then here's some links:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...oss+Shaft+to+Frame+Bracket&btnG=Google+Search

 

[hdkeno]

Thanks wishyouwerethere82,for the help.

Yes it is ONE of the problems. I managed temporarily to tighten up the cross shaft onto the bracket, with good ole mechanics wire and reinstalled the return spring,but im still have no clutch at all pedal moves freely up and down in the cab,with no resistance at all. Again last night when i parked her into the garage,noticed really hard clutch and squeaking and when i opened the hood and moved the linkage in and out a bit by hand thats when i lost the pedal. What else,pedal bushing shot?

I was just trying to get the clutch back long enough so that i didnt need a tow to my buddies shop. (he does good work on corvettes),but that dosent look the case right now.

Fortunatly,i have AAA + and am good for a tow up to 100 miles.
Which brings another point. Anybody have ever had their C3 towed on a flatbed? Im nervous about if they can safely winch it on without a problem.

Ken

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Probably popped the clutch fork off the throwout bearing shoulder when you moved the linkage out. It's pretty easy to put back on, just have to remove the boot so you can see in there.
As for towing on a flatbed, Yep, twice.
No problem getting it on and off with some wood ramps at the end of the bed. The towing guy should have them. Just tell them it's a Vette when you call.

 

[hdkeno]

I think that you are right,82,and again many thanks. I just had my wife go out to the garage and had her move the clutch in and out by hand while i looked underneath. (car is on stands) and when i tried to move the linkage in and out that loud sqeak that i heard is coming right from where the fork engages the throw out bearing,I am probably going to end up replacing more then just the bracket when all is said and done.
Clutch should be ok as the 1"-1/2" free play is right on,and until yesterday she shifted nice and smooth,no jumpng or slipping or noise.
Pedal just then started getting really hard,and squeaking.

At least it happened in my garage,not on the road. Ken