light clutch pedal?

boosted180 · 07-06-2009, 01:18 AM

hi everyone. i'm picking up my platinum graphite with sports package 6spd manual tomorrow!

the only thing i was a little concerned about is the clutch pedal felt very light - almost *too* light. it also doesnt feel like it grabs hard enough (like a worn out clutch pedal).

do all 370's have a relatively light clutch pedal feel? i would say my subaru wrx has a pedal that feels twice as heavy and twice as "sensitive" (it grabs really hard and you have to feather the throttle jsut right to make the car not jerk). on the 370, it feels almost too "easy", like the feeling you get when your clutch is worn out. does anyone know what i'm talking about?

g96818 · 07-06-2009, 03:52 AM

i know what you mean, i gotta get that adjusted if there's a way

Modshack · 07-06-2009, 02:36 PM

Pedal feel (pressure) has nothing to do with the clutch's ability to grab. A lot of manufacturers build assist springs into the system and some are quite strong (girlfriend/wife friendly). On some cars this can be adjusted (on a corvette you just switch from the girly spring to the Manly one, or leave it off completely). The linkage is pretty complex under the dash for the Z...Take a look.

DIGItonium · 07-06-2009, 02:44 PM

Clutch pedal feel is super light compared to my '03 350Z. However, does anyone notice a bit more initial play and more effort as we accumulate additional miles? I'm around 1800 mi. right now, and it feels a bit different compared to 10mi.

m4a1mustang · 07-06-2009, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIGItonium

Clutch pedal feel is super light compared to my '03 350Z. However, does anyone notice a bit more initial play and more effort as we accumulate additional miles? I'm around 1800 mi. right now, and it feels a bit different compared to 10mi.

Yes, definitely.

AK370Z · 07-07-2009, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIGItonium

Clutch pedal feel is super light compared to my '03 350Z. However, does anyone notice a bit more initial play and more effort as we accumulate additional miles? I'm around 1800 mi. right now, and it feels a bit different compared to 10mi.

YES! At 5700 miles, it's def feels different.

m4a1mustang · 07-07-2009, 07:19 AM

I have 6700 miles on mine. It feels like I need a little bit more pedal at times and still is pretty spongy/light.

I think maybe I'll go with that JWT Clutch/Flywheel combo someday.

boosted180 · 07-07-2009, 08:32 AM

so i guess it's nothing "abnormal". i guess as i get more miles on it it'll feel more like a clutch pedal should feel. i hope the free play goes away also.

does anyone else also notice that in first gear, the tranny feels like it shakes and shudders and if you dont disengage the clutch just right, it feels like the entire tranny shakes underneath the car? just feels like a lot of free play in the drive train and it makes more noise in general than in other gears. it's not terrible, but feels a little annoying.

m4a1mustang · 07-07-2009, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boosted180

so i guess it's nothing "abnormal". i guess as i get more miles on it it'll feel more like a clutch pedal should feel. i hope the free play goes away also.

does anyone else also notice that in first gear, the tranny feels like it shakes and shudders and if you dont disengage the clutch just right, it feels like the entire tranny shakes underneath the car? just feels like a lot of free play in the drive train and it makes more noise in general than in other gears. it's not terrible, but feels a little annoying.

The M6's make a lot of noise. Definitely annoying, but nothing really to worry about.

I personally feel like there isn't much clutch feel... it's pretty sloppy even as it breaks in.

DIGItonium · 07-07-2009, 12:47 PM

The free play I'm experiencing is about 1-2cm so far, and it wasn't there before. Gear shifting is finally starting to get a bit more smooth, and I'm able to shift a bit faster. It still gets notchy at times, but nothing compared to my '03 350Z.

On the other hand, my '03 350Z free play was almost half way down. I adjusted it a few times, but it engagements were so delayed I had issues driving smoothly. When I pressed down the clutch pedal and quickly let it out, release wasn't quick as if it was sticky (that winter time feeling). Engagements were slow... the gearbox didn't like fast shifting. It would resist and clunk.

boosted180 · 07-07-2009, 02:56 PM

i havnt had time to even look yet, but can the clutch pedal be adjusted to "catch" earlier? on most of the older cars i've had, you can adjust the clutch pedal to engage sooner (closer to the floor).

the way it is now on the new z, it doesnt engage until it's almost completely out. and the engagement is so soft, you literally dont even need to give it any gas to get it in gear. in any other car, it would stall if you dont ease onto the gas as you're getting off the clutch. i'll get used to it, i guess, but it's kind of annoying for now.

boosted180 · 07-13-2009, 03:37 PM

i adjust my clutch pedal to engage earlier (closer to the floor) and it made a night and day difference! it shifts more quickly, more smoothly, and even the annoying noise can be made to lessen if you do everything smoothly (which is much easier when the clutch doesnt engage so far up, like the way it did from the factory).

i also fabricated my own gas pedal to go along with aftermarket brake and clutch pedals. i added about 3/4" in height to the gas pedal and moved it slightly closer to the brake, which makes heel-and-toe much easier. but it still doesnt feel as "natural" as all the other cars i've had b/c the gas pedal pivots at the bottom and not at the top. this makes it harder to be precise when matching revs. the added bonus is a nicer look compared to the cheap plastic pedals.

it's so much more enjoyable to drive the car now.

m4a1mustang · 07-13-2009, 04:17 PM

Please post a write-up on how to do the clutch adjustment!

shabarivas · 07-13-2009, 04:29 PM

+1 for that!!

xiven · 07-13-2009, 04:37 PM

i like those pedals too. post up where you got them from.

07-06-2009, 01:18 AM	#1 (permalink)
boosted180 Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: long beach Posts: 188 Drives: '09 370z sport 6m Rep Power: 16	light clutch pedal? hi everyone. i'm picking up my platinum graphite with sports package 6spd manual tomorrow! the only thing i was a little concerned about is the clutch pedal felt very light - almost too light. it also doesnt feel like it grabs hard enough (like a worn out clutch pedal). do all 370's have a relatively light clutch pedal feel? i would say my subaru wrx has a pedal that feels twice as heavy and twice as "sensitive" (it grabs really hard and you have to feather the throttle jsut right to make the car not jerk). on the 370, it feels almost too "easy", like the feeling you get when your clutch is worn out. does anyone know what i'm talking about? Fountainhead likes this.

07-06-2009, 03:52 AM	#2 (permalink)
g96818 Track Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: A rock in a big pond Posts: 681 Drives: 2009 370Z, 2012 M56 Rep Power: 3394	i know what you mean, i gotta get that adjusted if there's a way __________________ CZP are lying thieves!

07-06-2009, 02:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
Modshack A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greenville NC Posts: 2,883 Drives: 370Z Sport Rep Power: 976	Pedal feel (pressure) has nothing to do with the clutch's ability to grab. A lot of manufacturers build assist springs into the system and some are quite strong (girlfriend/wife friendly). On some cars this can be adjusted (on a corvette you just switch from the girly spring to the Manly one, or leave it off completely). The linkage is pretty complex under the dash for the Z...Take a look. __________________ Steal my car! (SOLD)...Now Porsche Cayman S Oil Cooler DIY: Here!

07-06-2009, 02:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 42	Clutch pedal feel is super light compared to my '03 350Z. However, does anyone notice a bit more initial play and more effort as we accumulate additional miles? I'm around 1800 mi. right now, and it feels a bit different compared to 10mi. __________________

07-07-2009, 07:19 AM	#7 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	I have 6700 miles on mine. It feels like I need a little bit more pedal at times and still is pretty spongy/light. I think maybe I'll go with that JWT Clutch/Flywheel combo someday. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

07-07-2009, 08:32 AM	#8 (permalink)
boosted180 Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: long beach Posts: 188 Drives: '09 370z sport 6m Rep Power: 16	so i guess it's nothing "abnormal". i guess as i get more miles on it it'll feel more like a clutch pedal should feel. i hope the free play goes away also. does anyone else also notice that in first gear, the tranny feels like it shakes and shudders and if you dont disengage the clutch just right, it feels like the entire tranny shakes underneath the car? just feels like a lot of free play in the drive train and it makes more noise in general than in other gears. it's not terrible, but feels a little annoying.

07-07-2009, 12:47 PM	#10 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 42	The free play I'm experiencing is about 1-2cm so far, and it wasn't there before. Gear shifting is finally starting to get a bit more smooth, and I'm able to shift a bit faster. It still gets notchy at times, but nothing compared to my '03 350Z. On the other hand, my '03 350Z free play was almost half way down. I adjusted it a few times, but it engagements were so delayed I had issues driving smoothly. When I pressed down the clutch pedal and quickly let it out, release wasn't quick as if it was sticky (that winter time feeling). Engagements were slow... the gearbox didn't like fast shifting. It would resist and clunk. __________________

07-07-2009, 02:56 PM	#11 (permalink)
boosted180 Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: long beach Posts: 188 Drives: '09 370z sport 6m Rep Power: 16	i havnt had time to even look yet, but can the clutch pedal be adjusted to "catch" earlier? on most of the older cars i've had, you can adjust the clutch pedal to engage sooner (closer to the floor). the way it is now on the new z, it doesnt engage until it's almost completely out. and the engagement is so soft, you literally dont even need to give it any gas to get it in gear. in any other car, it would stall if you dont ease onto the gas as you're getting off the clutch. i'll get used to it, i guess, but it's kind of annoying for now.

07-13-2009, 04:17 PM	#13 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	Please post a write-up on how to do the clutch adjustment! __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

07-13-2009, 04:29 PM	#14 (permalink)
shabarivas A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,188 Drives: 370z MB 6mt Rep Power: 914	+1 for that!!

07-13-2009, 04:37 PM	#15 (permalink)
xiven A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Atlanta Age: 43 Posts: 4,128 Drives: Cookie Monster Rep Power: 294	i like those pedals too. post up where you got them from.

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