Clutch/Brake pivot.

[Multiphonikks]

Hi Folks...

After being completely snowed in with the new job (and what with kipping on Pyoor_kate's floor) I've not kept up with things much on here... but hey... I have a question.

I have quite a bit of play in the clutch/brake spindle. If I brake and then put the clutch in and release the clutch before releasing the brake I'm getting the clutch returning to just under a half inch from where it returns to when the brake is not on. The clutch is engaging fine, but seems to be catching itself on the brake when I lift the clutch while the brake is on. Methinks it's time to replace the spindle....

Thoughts?

Nikki.

[chickenjohn]

Both my Minors do that! Its one of those "must do jobs" that I forgot about due to the amount of welding needed to both cars! ;)

If thats all thats wrong with your car!

[Stig]

Methinks it's time to replace the spindle....

Yep, sounds like it. I did this a while ago, the shaft and clutch pedal comes as one unit so you have to remove the gearbox cover to do the job (IIRC). I'll warn you that a couple of the brass screws might not want to come out -sometimes the captive nuts aren't so captive!
Might be worth doing the bushes on the clutch relay shaft while you're at it (as well as the bush in the brake pedal), access is easier when you've got a stonking great hole in the floor!

[rayofleamington]

Methinks it's time to replace the spindle....

Replace the spindle if it is heavily worn but otherwise just replace the brake pedal bushes.

The brake pedal uses the clutch pedal shaft as its pivot. Therefore when it runs dry and goes rusty you get friction between them (and they wear away as well). In severe cases the clutch will not re-engage when you press the brakes! If that happens during hard braking and you downshift to get engine braking, you are left with no engine braking at all - One of mine did that and I had to keep letting go of the brakes to allow the clutch to engage, oytherwise stopping when coming off the motorway downhill to the roundabout would be very hary!

As a quick fix (only involves a few screws to remove the M/C cover), squirt some thick oil onto the shaft at the sides of the brake pedal and wiggle the pedal to let the oil work its way along the shaft and into the brake pedal bushes. Repeat this a fair bit and you will have a lubricated pead. Then do the same with the clutch shaft where it passes through the chassis leg. Then apply some grease to the same points which may keep it working a bit longer.

[Onne]

I have got the same trouble. Elisabeth is getting greased troughout tomorrow, so i'll tell the garage man