Clutch cable service life

[njoconnor]

Any thoughts on "average" clutch cable life? The PO's mechanic installed a new clutch kit back in 2011, and there's about 1500 mile on the car since then. No issues at present, but I'm wondering if discretion suggests a change over before the driving and miles increase. Got pretty good at changing/adjusting the cable AND the pedal (went through 2...broken forks) on my 71 Coupe back about 40 years ago. Just curious. I'll be adding a spare to the standard packing list/toolbag.

Thanks.

Neil

[seabeelt]

Neil, this is our second spider, and to my recollection we have never changed one in either car. Both the old and now the new have well over 100k miles. Our first was a daily driver. Replaced the clutch once, but not the cable. No issues in the firewall or forks either. Just regular lubrication and maint. I suppose if the throw out bearing got stuck this in turn might bend the fork or stretch and break the cable, but that's just playing what if.
R/

[DieselSpider]

Last few cars with clutch cable had over 120,000 miles each on the OEM cable. Got spoiled with the 2.2 Chryslers and their self adjusting clutch cables.

[707kevin]

I can't believe how cheap some of the replacement cables are. I can only imaging there is a HUGE quality difference between the aftermarket ones and original. My brand new aftermarket cable feels grainy right out of the package. Would be nice if someone made a heavy duty, Teflon lined cable with hardened steal ends.

Does anyone have good luck with dry glide or silicone or another cable lube?

[looker44]

Somewhere there is a post on clutch cable and a worn ground to the tranny. I seen to remember if the ground to tranny is bad, the clutch cable will act as the ground and premature wear due to resistance. May be a lot of bull, just passin what I recall

[bradartigue]

Somewhere there is a post on clutch cable and a worn ground to the tranny. I seen to remember if the ground to tranny is bad, the clutch cable will act as the ground and premature wear due to resistance. May be a lot of bull, just passin what I recall

Correct. If the engine is not sufficiently grounded the clutch and speedometer cables will break prematurely. Normally the clutch cables do stretch over time, and I find that the stretching starts slowly (an adjustment a year) then increases to the point you're out of adjustment range, then you replace it. Think about 10 years.

[aevansgatech]

Does anyone have good luck with dry glide or silicone or another cable lube?

I second this question. My clutch pedal is a bit creaky, seemingly a sticky cable or creaky spring. I'm wondering what I can use to lubricate the pedal/cable mechanisms?

[131]

Your nearest motorcycle shop should stock a cable lube adaptor, it fits over the cable and a thumb screw tightens it to seal around the cable outer sheath. It has a hole in it for a spray lube nozzle, I use silicon chain lube on mine. A spare cable in a plastic bag in the boot is cheap insurance.

[johndemar]

FWIW I changed the original clutch cable when I did a nut and bolt on the car about 5 years ago.

[Turbofiat124]

I can't believe how cheap some of the replacement cables are. I can only imaging there is a HUGE quality difference between the aftermarket ones and original. My brand new aftermarket cable feels grainy right out of the package. Would be nice if someone made a heavy duty, Teflon lined cable with hardened steal ends.

Does anyone have good luck with dry glide or silicone or another cable lube?

I've wondered the same thing. In the past 23 years I've owned my Spider, I've replaced about 3 or 4 clutch cables. The first time was just for the heck of it because it was old and was afraid it might snap. But like allot of parts, the newer parts have nowhere near the lifespan as the OEM parts that came on these cars. Seems like the 2nd or 3rd cable died a premature death.

What happened to me was the clutch get's progressively harder to depress and let out. Leading to burn out, jack rabbit take offs in 1st gear. Sort of like driving a Porsche. Porsches have always had stiffer than average clutches.

I had one do this on the way to FFO in 2001 then again a couple of years later at FFO 2003. Weird coincidence.

The cable was not stretching but digging into the Teflon sleeve causing binding.

So far I have confirmed the following:

Ground cable between transmission and body is there and seems to have a good ground.
No cracks in firewall
No bent clutch pedal
Don't know if clutch arm at the transmission end is bent
I don't know I have the cable routed improperly. Is it possible to route it incorrectly?

Every now and then I will wrap a towel around the pedals and floorboard and spray some Penephite graphite based lubricating oil into the cable and has seemed to help. I have not replaced a clutch cable in years.

Here is the Penephite stuff I was talking about.

http://www.kanolabs.com/

I don't know if lubricating the clutch cable works or I just purchased a couple of cheap substandard clutch cables. It seems odd I had two of these cables start binding from digging into the Teflon liner in a short period of time. Then the last one I replaced has held up for more than 10 years.