Clutch pedal question

[84318i]

Hi,

Picked up an 89 535i/5speed and the clutch pedal seems wonky.

Looking for anyone with a manual / 5speed e34 if you could post a few clear photos of the clutch pedal assembly in the resting position and specifically what keeps the pedal from flapping up so to speak.

Trying to figure out why a clutch pedal is able to go UP (towards you) past the normal resting position ? It goes down and back up as expected, but can also be lifted further up without any effort whatsoever like it's not attached to the cylinder rod.

With the hydraulics are working as it should, could it simply be a missing or broken clutch pedal spring ?

http://www.unofficialbmw.com/images/clutchbushf.jpg

Something like this - http://www.unofficialbmw.com/e36/dri...edal_slop.html

Thanks

[The Chauffeur]

Just a thought... What you describe ("hydraulics ok... it goes down and back up as expected, but can also be lifted further up without any effort whatsoever...") sounds to me like a loose or broken cruise control stop switch, I might be wrong (also, assuming you have cruise control and haven't also checked that out yet). Does the rest of the pedal travel feel otherwise normal, ie. not loose or clunky?

[TheStigg]

Remove the panel by the pedals under the dash. There is a rubber boot on the end of the master cylinder. Pry the boot off. There is a retainer C-ring on the end of the master cylinder that keeps it from retracting all the way. Either the ring has popped out or the ball joint on the end of the rod has popped out of the socket inside the master cylinder. I had that happen on a brand new Febi master cylinder when I bled the clutch. The FTE brand is much better quality.

[84318i]

Just a thought... What you describe ("hydraulics ok... it goes down and back up as expected, but can also be lifted further up without any effort whatsoever...") sounds to me like a loose or broken cruise control stop switch, I might be wrong (also, assuming you have cruise control and haven't also checked that out yet). Does the rest of the pedal travel feel otherwise normal, ie. not loose or clunky?

Hi, thank you for your reply. Yep, the rest of the pedal/movement feels otherwise normal. I will check stop switch and see what I can find out there. Car does have cruise control, and you guessed it it doesn't work either .

Remove the panel by the pedals under the dash. There is a rubber boot on the end of the master cylinder. Pry the boot off. There is a retainer C-ring on the end of the master cylinder that keeps it from retracting all the way. Either the ring has popped out or the ball joint on the end of the rod has popped out of the socket inside the master cylinder. I had that happen on a brand new Febi master cylinder when I bled the clutch. The FTE brand is much better quality.

Hi, thanks for the reply! So I was thinking maybe it would be related to #17 http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=35_0057 vs the master cylinder as the pedal does otherwise feel and work as expected . I'll pull the panel and check if the ball joint on the end of the rod is coming out of the socket/master.

[TheStigg]

Item 17 is the return spring. Somewhat benign and not related to your problem, although it might be unseated. The clutch m/c piston rod is retracting beyond the travel range. There is a retainer ring and internal snap ring that ordinarily limits return travel:

pedal1a.jpg

It is not uncommon for the snap ring and retainer to pop out. You can inspect it in place if you pull the boot back:

mc_boot.jpg

There is a smaller snap ring that holds the push rod to the m/c piston:

mc_innards1.jpg

mc_innards2.jpg

Unless you have a receipt for a recent m/c replacement, I would just get a new one vs. messing with putting the retainer business back together. Again, AVOID FEBI!! and get an FTE.

[84318i]

Appreciate detailed response ! I'll take a look in the next day or so and update this thread then .

[84318i]

Figured it out, can't believe PO told me "it felt normal to me", sigh.

[The Chauffeur]

GHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!! Holy crap, how the hell did that thing not shoot the piston into space with every push of the pedal??? It's almost unbelievable it was still doing its job.....

[ross1]

Figured it out, can't believe PO told me "it felt normal to me", sigh.

HTF could that happen?
That rod operates in compression.

[84318i]

Tell me about it, gotta love previous owners !

It does have compression and clutch pedal otherwise works , I think a snap ring must be keeping the rod in place and doesn't let it come out ...