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Question about Clutch Pedal....

1169 Views 8 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  SweetPee
Hey guys what's up? So not even an hour ago my clutch gave out. I had already purchased a complete clutch kit and was gonna install it at my buddy's garage on Monday. Unfortunately, she didn't make it till Monday. So, I'm shifting and I can already "feel" it giving....BTW, I hadn't driven my jeep, but I HAD TO pick up my kiddos....Literally 5 minutes from my home, I can no longer put it in gear. So I'm like, "Ok, no big surprise, I knew it was gonna happen soon enough...plus I'm minutes away from home." Luckily for me, my neighbor was passing by so he pulled me home. Anyway, my question is; What would cause the clutch pedal to stiffen up? I mean, I can't even start up the jeep because obviously I need to apply the clutch pedal. As a teenager, I once messed up the clutch on a station wagon, but was still able to press and release clutch pedal.....Any ideas? Is it possible something worse happened? Thanks in advance guys!
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I would first suspect that the release fork and/or it's pivot point is damaged or broke.
Thank you for your quick response! Is the release fork and pivot point part of a complete clutch kit? Or are they separate?
Chavser16 said:
Thank you for your quick response! Is the release fork and pivot point part of a complete clutch kit? Or are they separate?
I'm not positive, it would depend on the kit you have. But it is not included with most kits. IIRC it is not a terribly expensive part, nor hard to find. It is a single piece unit, and it is what the pedal actuates in order to operate the clutch engagement/disengagement.
Ahh I see.....Thank you very much for your input!
You can start the jeep without pressing in the clutch... override in fuse box #20. You could have driven home - put it in second start it and go... it is a jeep they are made to be driven with the starter LOL...

Have you checked the clutch cylinder and slave, the line to and from? I would check those first, then move to the release arm and throwout bearing, could be the retainer clip or spring on the release arm broke. Or the Throwout bearing failed. Make sure the hydraulic system is good and the linkage is working. If thats system is ok, then I would move on to the pressure plate.

Most clutch kits come with disc, pressure plate, throwout bearing, and even an alignment tool but check with mfr -always get a new throwout bearing. The release arm and related parts- pivot ball, spring , if needed will not be included.
You may have broken the throw out bearing retainer, or at least that's what I think its called. When my clutch went out it went real easy to push then really really hard. I have pretty stout legs so I just pushed it in but it took a lot of force. Turns out the T.O.B. seized on the retainer and thats why it was hard. It finally broke the retainer free but I didn't have a clutch anymore.

You'll know its busted when you pull it apart, its about $100 part and only available at the dealer. Easy swap though, and really should be changed if the old one is scored but not broken, if it's scored it will prematurely wear out the throw out bearing.

Only way to really tell is pull the inspection cover, or the hole tranny. And since your clutch it bad might as well pull the tranny.
what year and model? one year (05 i think) had an issue where the plastic rod behind the clutch pedal would break so pushing in the clutch would do nothing, There may even have been a recall.
Elwarpo said:
what year and model? one year (05 i think) had an issue where the plastic rod behind the clutch pedal would break so pushing in the clutch would do nothing, There may even have been a recall.
He has an 04 according to his profile
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