Adjusting the Clutch Pedal Travel (mechanical gearbox)

John- Same clutch pedal and adjustments as the 360, so the 360 procedure should be pretty close, even though the clutches are quite different. Same section in the 360 WSM.

 

does anyone know where the clutch is supposed to catch. Is it more towards the top of the pedal travel or more to the bottom

 

I don't own a manual Fcar, but have driven a few as well as quite a few other manuals.

In my experience, the engagement point should be near the top of the pedal's travel. I.e., when pressing the pedal, you should have less than an inch of "free" travel and then disengagement should begin. By the time you get halfway or more through pedal travel, you should be fully disengaged.

Yes, you need to make sure the clutch is fully engaged with the pedal released, but most manuals I've driven begin disengagement immediately after an inch or less of "pedal lash".

 

I can't look at the video now, but in a nutshell, does "the man" recommend setting engagement low (near the floor), high, or in the middle?

 

I have to agree with you on this based on my experience. I bought a 2006 manual shift maserati a few years ago. When i bought it it had 3,500 miles on it and i sold it with 12k miles on it. When pressing the clutch pedal down i had 1 inch of play then as i pressed further the clutch would begin to disengage, and more than half way down maybe like 2/3 way down, the clutch would be fully disengaged so i could shift. When letting the clutch pedal back up, i remember the beginnings of engagement towards the bottom and be fully engaged as i got back to the top. However this doesnt mean the 360 or 430 is the same way so it would be nice to hear from some manual shift owners for their opinions...And i agree with John when he says a manual clutch should last 40 to 50k miles or even more. I know first hand of a DR. who drives around tampa bay with over 100k miles on his maserati stick shift and he is the original owner.

 

My 430 clutch starts to engage not far off the floor and continues through the remaining pedal travel. I would say the engagement is in the top 3/4 of the travel. Clutches that don't engage till the pedal is nearly all the way out are a ***** to drive.

 

Hi Glen, Doesnt this sound familiar to what i posted above. Here it is>>>>When letting the clutch pedal back up, i remember the beginnings of engagement towards the bottom and be fully engaged as i got back to the top.

 

I think you may be trying to address a symptom and not the cause; clutch bite point is often indicative of clutch wear: if its near the floor the clutch is most likely worn. The actual adjustment on the pedal is not really for the bite point but for fine tuning of the pedal height for optimum heel and toe - if the bite point is low and the pedal is adjusted to accommodate, the pedal will end up proud of the rest to account for the additional travel required to operate a worn clutch. The other purpose of adjustment is to take out slack between the pedal and MC, but if you had 1/2 pedal travel worth of slack it would feel loose and without any resistance whatsoever, which leads me to think there's something else at play.

I suggest:

- Check free play in the pedal - is there obvious play between pedal rest position and the start of resistance from the MC?;
- Check the pedal heights are equal. If the clutch pedal is visibly lower you are correct to adjust it;
- Bleed the clutch;
- Check the pedal box for signs of weeping from the clutch master;
-- Early F430's also had a recall on the clutch master https://www.theaa.com/allaboutcars/recalls/recalls.jsp?modelID=F430&modelName=F430&makeName=Ferrari&makeId=B2 Mine was an 06 and I replaced it;
- Check the clutch fluid distribution block for signs of weeping;
- Check the brake fluid is clean;
- Visually inspect the clutch. See http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/360-430-sponsored-yellow-compass-group/546987-clutch-wear-pic-whats-translate.html for an idea;

Clutch bite on mine was very crisp. The car had a new clutch when I purchased it.

 

Yes very much the same and normal.
I'm on my 3rd daily driver manual BMW and approaching 150k miles for the third time on an original clutch. Sold the last 2 and clutch was still fine.
Shooting for the same with this Ferrari clutch! Might take a few lifetimes!

 

I agree (except for the part about heel/toe). If a large part of the total available clutch pedal travel is used to go from initial bite to full engagement, then there's a problem. It shouldn't begin to engage close to the floor - if it does, you're just too close to not being able to fully disengage.

Regarding heel/toe: I certainly agree with adjusting the clutch to be even with the brake, but it doesn't really matter for heel/toe since the clutch pedal has a fully-dedicated foot for operation.

 

Sorry, yes - you're right. Wrong pedal

 

anybody have info on how to adjust the pedal travel on a 360? I'm not seeing any info on this in the workshop manual i have in section D3

 

Mine is a 430 and I haven't looked but I believe there is adjustment at at the top of the pedal where it pushes into the master cylinder.

 

Since the throw out bearing is in constant contact with the pressure plate it should be immediate.

There may be some play between the pedal and the clutch master. Once the clutch master begins to travel the pressure plate should begin to release.

 

I just got down under there and checked, it's extremely easy and straightforward to adjust the end travel stop point with a single screw. I had too much slack at the top of clutch before it would actually engage with the clutch master. Hoping it feels great now

 

I would just say be a little careful and make sure you have a little bit of play at the top with the clutch released. Make sure the adjustment you make is not constantly putting pressure on the clutch. As that will put a slight load on the release bearing and an axial load on the crankshaft causing crankshaft thrust bearing wear.

I did this on my Scirocco a long time ago when I was just learning.


I just did the pedal travel adjustment on my 360 as I'm installing a manual swap kit right now. The travel should be 111.8mm from the top, aligning the clutch pedal with the brake pedal.

 

You sure travel is supposed to be 111mm? I read 121mm? I was also told to ignore that number and just adjust it to what works as every car and different brand MCs are different.

 

Totally agree. I have adj many to get them where I want it, regardless of a service book. Some like the bite up high, others down low, some in the middle.