apparition13 Posted December 5, 2005 Share Posted December 5, 2005 Howdy all, I had an 86 brat passed down to me a little under a year ago, and discovered that I really enjoyed driving it. The clutch felt a bit heavy; okay the clutch felt a lot heavy, and didn't engage until I had it pressed almost to the floor, but I just thought it was a quirk. I've driven heavier clutches. Sometime in late spring I was driving and pressed down on the clutch. I felt a pop, and it suddenly felt lighter. This concerned me so I contacted my mechanic, but as it still worked fine, maybe better, he didn't know what to tell me other than keep an eye on it. I said okay, and continued driving, and eventually mostly forgot about it. A month or so later I pressed the clutch, and felt and heard a snap as the clutch cable broke. I had the brat towed, and the cable replaced. They told me the hill holder also needed to be repaired (I had noticed it was out while driving), but given the expense they suggested disconnecting it instead, which is what I decided to do. Got the brat back, and things seemed better. Clutch wasn't as heavy, shifting was easier, good deal all around. As time went by, the clutch became heavier and shifting became difficult, particularly into reverse. My mechanic had shown me how to adjust the tension on the cable, so I removed the spare, grabbed a couple wrenches and tightened it up. Things were okay for a while, then I had to do it again. About a week ago I did it again, and things were okay for about four miles, and I was back to a heavy clutch and difficulty getting into reverse, first and second. I'd sometimes have to double clutch going around a corner to get it from first to second. Stopped by the mechanics, he took a quick look and told me I had over tightened the cable. We backed it off, but that didn't help with the shifting. A day or two later I tightened it up again. This time as soon as I felt resistance I backed off a little and tightened the retaining nut. Now things felt good. Lighter feeling clutch, much smoother shifting. Lasted about five days. Now I can't even get into reverse with the engine running. I'm stopping by the mechanics again today. Last time I was there he said it sounded like the cable might have broken through the firewall (or something along those lines), though he seemed doubtful as he had only seen that in bigger pickups with very heavy clutches. So, anyone have a diagnosis? Is he right, does it involve the firewall? Any other possibilities? I'm going to have to adjust it again before I drive today, and I plan on stoppin to see if there is anything visible and look into a repair, assuming it is a problem where the cable passes through the firewall. Any other suggestions would be appreciated. thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subarian Posted December 5, 2005 Share Posted December 5, 2005 Just out of curiosity, what's your idle RPM? It sounds like your clutch is wearing way too fast, and that's often caused by high RPMs at idle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apparition13 Posted December 5, 2005 Author Share Posted December 5, 2005 Just out of curiosity, what's your idle RPM? It sounds like your clutch is wearing way too fast, and that's often caused by high RPMs at idle. Once it warms up, under 1000. Seems pretty normal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coylethebarbarian Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 I know this is an older post...but the same thing happened with my '86 Brat...I've removed the cable, gut only after I'd tightened the clutch adjustment and I know it's about to break...but it doesn't matter because even with the adjustment as tight as I can get it-the clutch didn't work work...suggestions? Ordered a cable from the partsbin...you would know they were out of stock...now I am trying to find another place to order from (that's what I am doing looking up all these older posts for.....)....suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 ONLY buy clutch cables from the dealer. They are less than $20, and aftermarket are junk. See my write up for all the details: http://home.comcast.net/~trilinear/clutch.html GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coylethebarbarian Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 ONLY buy clutch cables from the dealer. They are less than $20, and aftermarket are junk. See my write up for all the details: http://home.comcast.net/~trilinear/clutch.html GD Thanks for the link to the write up, that will definitely help... What's a good place online for the cables? There is no dealer in my area that I could buy a cable from... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 www.subaruparts.com www.1stsubaruparts.com Both are dealerships. GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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