Removing clutch & brake pedal pivot assembly

Maintenance advice to keep your Spider in shape.
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kensmith

Removing clutch & brake pedal pivot assembly

Post by kensmith »

I want to remove the clutch pedal and replace the bushings and clutch cable. What's the easiest way to do this? Thanks !!!
So Cal Mark

Re: Removing clutch & brake pedal pivot assembly

Post by So Cal Mark »

the easiest way is to have someone else do it! :lol:
Seriously, it's not hard just darn uncomfortable to twist under the dash for access
kensmith

Re: Removing clutch & brake pedal pivot assembly

Post by kensmith »

Would it be easier if I remove the driver seat? I'm 61 and my body does not like to be in awkward positions. :(
grittracing

Re: Removing clutch & brake pedal pivot assembly

Post by grittracing »

I find younger kids wanting to learn how to work on cars or motorcycles. I tell them I will teach them. I even pay them so much a hour. but they have to do the work. I explain and point out what needs to be done. and they are more than eager to do the bad jobs.I do work to I am by no means a lazy person I have always thought if I have a skill and there was someone who wanted to learn.I would teach it. my first student is doing very well he is just about to finish college and he is working now as a Emt and wants to be a firefighter. and is currently building a Drag bike (Harley).
kensmith

Re: Removing clutch & brake pedal pivot assembly

Post by kensmith »

Has anyone done this and do you have suggestions to make it easy?
grittracing

Re: Removing clutch & brake pedal pivot assembly

Post by grittracing »

I have not taken the pedal assembly a apart. but I have taken a few cars apart and from what I can see. I looks like the way I would do it would be to take the whole assy. out of the car Just so I didn't pull my hair out and you could get a better look at everything.If I remember drop correctly.undo the clamp on the steering shaft. 4 bolts steering wheel drops.and slide it off the shaft than 4 bolts to undo the Brake power boaster/pedal assy. bracket. and it all falls out undo the throttle cable and clutch cable before starting this job. I think both have to be undone by the engine, to come out without any trouble. as for the pedal assy I have not gone that far but I have a assy here if you need one. I can send pics if requested
kensmith

Re: Removing clutch & brake pedal pivot assembly

Post by kensmith »

That sounds like a lot of work. What I want to do is remove the clutch pedal and check the pedal bushings, grease the pivot area, remove the clutch cable and oil it, replace the cable, re-install the pedal and hope the noise goes away and everything works smoothly. I don't want to remove the mounting assembly unless I have to.
mdrburchette
Posts: 5754
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2006 5:49 am
Your car is a: 1972 Fiat 124 Sport
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Re: Removing clutch & brake pedal pivot assembly

Post by mdrburchette »

It's been a while since I did this, but I don't recall the pedal box being all that difficult to remove. You'll have to drop the steering column and disconnect the column at one of the joints. Remove the clutch spring and clutch cable. Then there are four bolts in the firewall that need to be removed and four bolts on the front frame for the dash. This will be the perfect opportunity to beef up the prongs where the clutch cable hooks to.
1972 124 Spider (Don)
1971 124 Spider (Juan)
1986 Bertone X19 (Blue)
1978 124 Spider Lemons racer
1974 X19 SCCA racer (Paul)
2012 500 Prima Edizione #19 (Mini Rossa)
Ever changing count of parts cars....It's a disease!
Adam

Re: Removing clutch & brake pedal pivot assembly

Post by Adam »

I am in the process of dropping my pedal box but hit a small road block taking out the pedal block. The bottom two bolts for the upper steering support seem to be under the bracket and the back almost looks like a spring loaded seat... any tips on how I get it out, besides a pry bar and a lack of patients? Also, what should I consider when looking to beef up the clutch fork?

Thanks,

Adam
azygoustoyou

Re: Removing clutch & brake pedal pivot assembly

Post by azygoustoyou »

Before you take it completely apart. Buy some Teflon chain lube at Walmart in the Auto section and spray into the sleeves and such. It won't attract dust or be greasy. I used it on mine. The easiest way to take it out is to use some nickles in between the spring and take it off. Keep the nickles there or you'll never get the spring back on. Pull out the bolt to get to the sleeves. This was a hard job even with having the whole steering box out of the car putting the spring back. I didn't put anything on the spring though.

Adam, does your box look like this?
Image
Image
Adam

Re: Removing clutch & brake pedal pivot assembly

Post by Adam »

My box looks like that. I took the bolt out of the pedal box and was able to remove the clutch pedal. There was a crack where the pedal arm meets the fingers. I had a welder put in a piece of angle iron as well as box in the ends of the fingers. I got everything back together in reverse order and not it seems that my clutch pedal will not return to normal position without a helping hand. I used a teflon based wet grease on the bushing (and my mountain bike) I'm thinking that it is too thick and causing the pedal to stick a bit. My other thought is that the welder painted the pedal when completed and perhapse I need to sand the ends of the piviot point. I agree that it is a complete pain in the butt to work upside-down in the foot well!. I think i'll snap a picture of the ignition and remove all the wires so that I can bring the pedal box into my work shop to re-assemble.
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124JOE
Posts: 3141
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:11 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 fiat spider sport 1800
Location: SO. WI

Re: Removing clutch & brake pedal pivot assembly

Post by 124JOE »

pull your pedal up and go under to check the clutch end for slack.joe
when you do everything correct people arent sure youve done anything at all (futurama)
ul1joe@yahoo.com 124joe@gmail.com
Adam

Re: Removing clutch & brake pedal pivot assembly

Post by Adam »

Done and done... everything back together I disconnected the clutch pedal spring under the dash. After another flurry of italian cursing, the pedal is smooth as butter! Fire her up, press in the clutch, go to put her in first and I hear the grind of teeth on teeth. So it appears that my clutch is not disengadging properly. I visually inspected the clutch cable and it looks good, the seats and solid and the cable is moving freely. I'll try installing my spare tomorrow and see if that fixes anything, but I am really at a loss. Could the yoke have come off the throw out bearing? The clutch, pressure plate, and throw out bearing were just replaced in the spring.

On a side note, I have decided to use my Haynes manual as kindling this winter...
User avatar
124JOE
Posts: 3141
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:11 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 fiat spider sport 1800
Location: SO. WI

Re: Removing clutch & brake pedal pivot assembly

Post by 124JOE »

tighten up the cable at the tranz end about an inch
then retry.joe
when you do everything correct people arent sure youve done anything at all (futurama)
ul1joe@yahoo.com 124joe@gmail.com
Adam

Re: Removing clutch & brake pedal pivot assembly

Post by Adam »

tightened all the way and still wont disengage. I'll try new cable tomorrow and see if it changes anything. I sort of figured that there isn't much to the clutch pedal, so I am a little confused over the current predicament.
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