Hi all,
I got a used 2001 Subaru Legacy last summer in July. It's a 5-speed manual, the first manual I've ever owned. It's in great shape body wise, and has the original undercoat still on it, which is a big deal for here in Maine, where cars rot out and die prematurely quite often. (Road salt and sand.)
The clutch it had in it seemed to work and grab okay when we bought the car, and I'm sure my early abuse of the clutch put some wear on it as I learned how to drive. Finally, though, I had it down to the point after a few months where I could drive smoothly, not slip the clutch, take off without burning it, etc etc. I think, and have been told by other people with a lot of experience driving manuals who watch me that I do okay now. I also do not by any means 'ride the clutch' - up or down, as quickly as possible.
When we bought the car, and right up until the point the clutch went out, it grabbed near the mid/top of the pedal's travel.
About a month and a half ago my clutch let go, which we pretty much expected since we had no idea how old the one in it was. We had it replaced at a local shop, and the mechanic told us the clutch disc itself actually had plenty of meat left on it, but the problem was the pressure plate didn't have enough spring to 'grab' anymore. Apparently, some fool had tried to replace only the clutch disc and leave the pressure plate and other parts behind. It was replaced with a full clutch kit, and away we went.
The new clutch grabbed very near the floor for the first week or so, but as it wore in, the engagement point gradually crept back up to it's original place near the mid/top of the pedal's travel. It seems fine this way, grabs tighter than the old clutch did and doesn't have any problems with disengaging. I can sit with the clutch all the way in and go straight from reverse to first and back as many times as you like.
I guess my question is, is it normal for the pedal to be grabbing near the middle/top again like that? I've heard that means a clutch is near death, but it was that way for six months before the pressure plate let go last time. I just don't want to end up putting another clutch in this car in six months. Thoughts?