Clutch stuck when launching
 

Has anyone else had problems with their clutch pedal sticking about halfway down when launching the car. Its an 08 touring. And whenever I launch it hard and slip the clutch it sticks. Usually it will release after you let off and let the RPMs drop but tonight it stayed down. Any input is appreciated.

Mine did that while drifting. Every time. I hated it. Got a new clutch. Solved the problem:)

Happened to me too. I am dealing with mine now and it is getting worse. From what I have been told by other HR owners, the concentric slave cylinder can fail and cause this. I will update in two weeks when I get back if you have not found a solution by then.

AngelsVQ, what clutch did you go with? And thanks tthomas. The car has 30,000 miles on it with mostly easy driving so the clutch is still in pretty good shape. But if a new aftermarket clutch will fix this I'll go ahead and swap it. What's the fix for the concentric slave cylinder if thats the problem?

I suggest you try bleeding the system...If your "launching", your clutch is taking a beating. I've seen one guy at a drift event have his clutch literally stuck to the floor board he had to physically pull it out. And even with it down it wouldn,t go in gear. He built up air in his in his system wich is probably what might be happening to you. And if I'm wrong it doesnt hurt to crawl under the tranny, loosen up the bleeder, add brake fluid, and pump your clutch.

thanks for all the help guys. I'll bleed the clutch this weekend and see if that helps.

I believe that we first saw this problem at least 4 years ago in the drag racing forum.

Mine is an 08 and has 40k miles. I suggest trying the bleed for air and if that fails taking it to the dealership. If it is the csc it has to be replaced.

Yeah I had this problem then I just went ahead and installed ACT light weight flywheel, ACT Heavy duty clutch, braided clutch line, and new fluid. Never had a problem since, did the replacement for other reasons too not just that.

The ill-conceived CSC is near the top of my list of "designed-to-fail" parts. To add insult to injury, the piping has a built-in air pocket that makes it almost impossible to bleed. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that the Z assembly line has the cars tilted at a 45-degree angle so the clutch can be bled by mere mortals after the drive train is installed in the body.

competition sprung stage 4 clutch with their light weight flywheel.

the drivability is great for such an aggressive clutch. but if your not to performance oriented and not willing to deal with it i would go with a less aggressive one. with a full disc not pucks

hmm, i have the same issue bled the clutch a couple times but after a few days it continues clutch sticks about halfway down when getting on it pretty hard, but after its bled everytime it seems to fix it until A( air is getting back in the system. or B( the diaphram in the slave itself got owned and is no longer holding pressure. either way when i get a bit more $ im going to order Zspeeds heavy duty csc and get some steel braided lines and see if this solves the problem, paying $50 a pop for motul fluids everytime i bleed isnt fun XD

Had same issue, changed to a JWT clutch/flywheel problem solved :)

Probably boiling clutch fluid with HARD launches or air in the system. Do you find it hard to get your car in gear? That would say definate air in the system.

Yeah the csc in our cars isn't too great. Like DavidV said this has been an existing issue. You do have a few options though. The most cost efficient one would be doing what Figgy said or going to the dealership and complaining. I mean you could always buy a new clutch and flywheel, but of course that could get expensive. There is a vendor on here, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the vendor's name is Southbend or something of that nature, He has a "fix" for the slave cylinder that is relatively inexpensive and he also has an upgrade slave cylinder which would be an excellent option to consider, especially if you decide to replace your clutch, unless you go with a twin disk.

Mine originally did it too, change clutch and flywheel and it'll go away. The best guesses we have at this point is either the diaphragm spring inverting under higher RPM or the stock duel mass flywheel is sightly spreading apart at higher RPM, pushing the pressure plate back on the release bearing, thus causing the clutch to be slightly released.

mine didnt do it till i went FI with a osgiken twin plate, ordered up the zspeed csc with the sleave once its in ill post up about it

I believe you're the first person I've ever heard have the issue with an aftermarket clutch and flywheel.

weird, did some reading and searching and saw a few other people who were FI with beefy clutches that had the same issues, the stock slave couldnt handle it from what i read and what the shop i work with found out when they called zspeed to order the new csc with the sleeve :dunno:

I hope to hear the results of the Zspeed csc n sleeve.