lost my clutch vac assist..

[TajMan]

The other day I pulled out onto a main road by my shop, and I lost my clutch vacuum assist.
Pedal effort was all the sudden much harder, and even with pedal to the floor I was having a much harder time getting into each gear, almost impossible to get into 1st gear from a stop!

I couldn't find any fitting popped off etc, yet

Where are the places to check? Was it that metal hardline that goes over the transmission that's for the clutch vacuum assist? (brake booster hose size)

[Jimvr4]

It's the hard line that goes past the battery to the tank along the front crossmember

[stealthee]

Are you sure there isn't a TOB issue? If it seizes it will make it a bitch to shift

[sergechronos]

Believe that the hard line that you're talking about Jim is for the reservoir that provides vacuum assist for after the vehicle is off and before it's started.

At any rate, I'd probably check the hydraulic system/clutch master and make sure that it's full of clean fluid and not leaking anywhere.

[GTOJOE]

Believe it or not that reservoir is not used for making the clutch pedal easier when the car is off. It's actually used as a pressure balancing device. Ie as the revs change the vacuum also changes and therefore the clutch pressure would differ depending on the engine revs. This devise equalises the vacuum to the clutch booster so it always feels the same regardless of engine revs.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

[TajMan]

The clutch reservoir is low, and the fluid looks nasty and needs flushed.. but its not low enough to cause the clutch release problem and I don't think that's the source of the problem or a sudden TOB issue.
I think its the clutch assist, because its a problem that happened all at once and then the pedal was harder to press as if no-assist.

[bearded1]

Believe it or not that reservoir is not used for making the clutch pedal easier when the car is off. It's actually used as a pressure balancing device. Ie as the revs change the vacuum also changes and therefore the clutch pressure would differ depending on the engine revs. This devise equalises the vacuum to the clutch booster so it always feels the same regardless of engine revs.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk




While I'm sure there's truth in this, I threw mine out during my vacuum reduction process and there's still plenty of vacuum held past the check valve (which I cut out of my old stock line and inserted in my new line) to help me easily depress the clutch pedal, even under boost. It's been a non issue for me, I can't tell the difference with the motor running, and I've swapped the stock clutch out since then as well.

Just FWIW





Jake

[bearded1]

The clutch reservoir is low, and the fluid looks nasty and needs flushed.. but its not low enough to cause the clutch release problem and I don't think that's the source of the problem or a sudden TOB issue.
I think its the clutch assist, because its a problem that happened all at once and then the pedal was harder to press as if no-assist.




If you had a failed vacuum line somewhere after it connects to the plenum (like towards your vacuum reservoir) your manifold vacuum would suck from the atmosphere instead of the assist at the master, as it's the path of least resistance. That would definitely make your pedal harder to depress. Regardless, if you had enough fluid, and your hydraulics were all ok, you should still be able to shift into gears without problem when you fully depress the pedal, irrespective of how hard that may be (if you JUST had a vacuum issue).

I'd bet you have a hydraulic issue.Or as mentioned, a physical hindrance.



Jake

[mb3000]

I say one of the hoses associated with the vac system cracked and is leaking, or you have a more serious problem.

[bearded1]

I say one of the hoses associated with the vac system cracked and is leaking, or you have a more serious problem.




And it may be, but it should still go into gear with or without vacuum assist if there's no other issues.





Jake

[TajMan]

I'm starting to accept the fact I may have not broken something with the vac assist, but may have broken one of the fingers on the aftermarket pressure plate?
Clutch almost releases but drags a bit.

I just can't believe the pedal effort feels like it does if that failure alone was the case..

[curt93t/t]

Check the check valve that's in the hose coming from the drivers side of the plenum to the booster. You should be able to blow through one side but not the other.

[CoopKill]

Not vac assist. You would have zero issues with selecting a gear with, or without vacuum assist. I have ran no vac to the clutch, and vac with a deleted cannister with no issues with gear selection.

[CoopKill]

My vote would be pressure plate, or clutch issue. Do not drive it too much if you suspect this as well as you may be doing harm to your synchros if it is fighting going into gear.

Edit: Check the slave cylinder to see if something dropped in there, and is partially blocking it from functioning. I believe if the master was failing, you would lose pedal, not get stiffness.