Stiff clutch pedal = failing clutch?

[DasWolfen at aol.com]

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In a message dated 5/4/03 12:52:39 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
b.benz at charter.net writes:

> I'm curious, Kneale,
>
> Just how and what springs in the clutch system "losing their tension" might
> cause a stiff pedel feel?
>
In a message dated 5/4/03 1:21:58 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
wolff at turboquattro.com writes:

> Kneale may not be able to describe the cause exactly, but the symptom of an
> old pressure plate assembly is that the clutch pedal get harder to push in.
> Maybe you can explain to us exactly why Bernie. I'm not kidding, I
> genuinely
> would like to know.
> Thanks much,
>
In a message dated 5/4/03 9:03:36 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
knotnook at traverse.com writes:

> Sorry for the hearsay evidence, Bernie.  I don't KNOW.  When I had a clutch
> replaced years ago, I was informed that the reason the new one felt so easy
> to push was because the springs in the old one had deteriorated.


 Yes tell us Bernie, why does an old clutch feel so stiff? On second thought
dont. I'm afraid you'll send something like "drive it till you hear rivets
gouging the flywheel."

 Kneale and Wolff,
 The reason a clutch feels the way it does involves how close to "center" the
diaphragm arms are on the pressure plate and thats a function of clutch
thickness.

 The center or breakover point of the pressure plate diaphragm is the point
of max resistance. Its very like a compound bow, when you begin pulling the
bowstring the effort required increases until you get to the breakover point,
once past that point effort drastically decreases. A new clutch disc is thick
enough to keep the pressure plate very close to its breakover point. As the
clutch wears it gets thinner and requires you to move the pedal further to
reach the breakover point. Eventually the clutch gets so thin that you never
reach the breakover point of the pressure plate. You feel this effect in the
pedal as stiff at the top and easy at the bottom when new and easy at the top
and stiff at the bottom when old.

 Sorry for the poor explanation but its the best I can do without drawings.
Keith