metroplex

I understand the S197 hydraulic clutches are supposed to be lighter than the cable clutches on older Mustangs. It wasn't too bad at first, but after switching back/forth from my 09 Cobalt SS turbocharged, the clutch in my 07 GT feels like a rock. The Cobalt has a hydraulic clutch but is feather light. I noticed the same thing in other GM Delta I platforms like the Saturn Astra, it is almost like clicking a mouse button. I just switched back to my GT this morning and noticed how hard the clutch felt. It's manageable but I love the clutch feel on the Cobalt a lot more. After a few weeks I won't notice anymore as I'll get used to it, but is there anything we can do on the S197s to lighten the clutch feel?

DaTT(1sK)

Hit the gym and work those leg muscles?

In reality I know what you mean. Drove my Dad's focus a while back for like an hour....took me at least a day to get used my car again.

ford4v429

my Mom's friend had a original honda civic- like 1972?- the clutch was about stiff as a gas pedal...guess tiny motors dont need much clutch pressure. my buddies 455 trans-am was a workout if theres much bottom end torque, better be a pressure plate to hold it...turboed 4 cylinders probably have less than half the off idle torque of even the little 4.6 and as rpm builds counterweights on the clutch fingers often hold more than the springs...

I think the stock GT clutch does pretty well- ive had it down the track probably about 50 times, I very very rarely even romp on it on the street- no tickets in over 30 years would like to keep it that way- 43,000 miles so far still doing great...have noticed the slightest clutch chatter recently on cool mornings, pedal/engagement feels only slightly less smooth than the 09, engages at about the same distance from the floor, etc...had a sore left foot/ankle the last year or so, clutch effort is about all I would want to deal with, but not excessive at all. feels almost exactly like my 93 F150 clutch did.
with the little chatter, might pull it this winter- need to check out that pesky 2nd synchro still anyway...

DaTT(1sK)

My 1990 Thunderbird SC had a clutch that would give you leg cramps in traffic. I don't miss that.

bob

leverage aside (since that is fixed from the factory and isn't an easy change) your only recourse is to find a pressure plate that requires less effort. There may or may not be a clutch out there with the same diameter as the factory clutch that offers comparable holding power with less pedal effort or there may be a larger unit that offers the same or better holding power with less effort.

The trick though is to achieve the same rotational mass as stock with whatever clutch is out there so that the new clutch doesn't bork the engines response and ultimatelt the tranmssions ability to shift at high revs.

After I murdered the factory 8.5 clutch in my GT500, I switched it out to a Mcleod unit that is larger in diameter with equal or greater holding power and as a result the effort is a good bit lighter than the factory setup.

DaTT(1sK)

I test drove a 2010 GT500 and the clutch was probably half as heavy as my 05 GT. It was very light.

bob

IIRC the 2010 GT500 uses an 11 inch organic faced DD clutch and I imagine its very similar to the clutch I have in my car now. If you get the chance, try a 07-09 GT500 with the factory clutch which I found to be heavier than the clutch in my 07 GT, I also remember the clutch in my 02 GT being heavier than the clutch in the 07 and the clutch in the terminator heavier still compared to the 02 GT.

Cavero

I test drove a 2008 Bullitt, it's clutch felt about half as heavy as my GT. It was a lot easier to modulate too. I maintain that one day I may swap out my 06 system with one off an 08

Imatk

You guys know the clutch gets heavier as you drive the car right?

So if you test drove a car (and it was new) then it may not have been the clutch being lighter because it's a different clutch, it may just have been that it was newer than your clutch and therefore lighter.

maniak

When we changed the clutch on our '06 (v6), we went with a centerforce DF. You know, the kind with weights around it. I found that the initial press was the same, but once you reach the tipping point the clutch is much lighter than it used to be.

Granted, when I switch between the 2000 honda civic and the Mustang it takes me a few minutes to get used to the pedals. The honda has a very light clutch, but very heavy throttle pedal when compared to the mustang.

~Mark

area5179

Wow, I must be in the minority! If go without driving my GT for a few day's I almost put my foot thru the floor it feels so light! Then after a few days it gets back to normal.