[Shotimes] Clutch seems to drag after warm-up ('95 MTX)

Phil Piotrowski philpio@pjpai.com
Sun, 18 Apr 2004 09:25:39 -0500


A few months ago, I had my clutch replaced with a Center Force clutch,
Grizzly Paw TOB.
(The Center Force I bought from a private party, but it was in original
packaging, never used, probably a few years old.
I also had the tranny fluid changed to Redline D4 (Had been running Redline
MTL).
Shortly there after, the clutch seemed to be dragging, such that it was
difficult to get the
Car into 1st gear, and impossible sometimes for reverse (resorted to turning
the car off, put it in reverse,and the restarting...)
Anyway, I had the clutch cable replaced (the mechanic said it was at the end
of the ratchet adjustment)
But that did not help, and the old cable did not seem stretched.
I had some plastic/rubber grommet (looks like from the firewall) replaced,
still not help.

The curious part is that the dragging only starts after the
car/clutch/tranny is warmed up.
Just out of the garage, the car shifts fine.
After 1/2 hour of stop and go , or an hour on the highway, suddenly, getting
into first gets difficult.
I can pull up on the clutch pedal, and sometimes get a 'click', and
sometimes this helps (but not always).
I have also found that, even if I am having the shifting problem, 
When I come home, and go to back into the driveway,
if I come to a quick stop, and then shift to reverse quickly (like while the
car is just rocking backwards from the stopping), that the shift to reverse
is smooth !

I have switched back to Redline MTL (At least I sucked out and replaced 3
quarts of the D4).

The weather is getting warmer (Chicago), and it takes less time for things
to heat-up and start causing problems.

Any Ideas what this might be ?
And possible solutions ?

Thanks,

Philip J. Piotrowski
philpio@pjpai.com
'95 MTX - 168K
UDP, PP Y-pipe, dynomax
Pro-m MAF, springs, Koni...