e36 clutch pedal dropped to floor - Page 3 - Dorkiphus.net
Navigation » Dorkiphus.net > Technical & Track Disussions > BMW Technical Discussions » e36 clutch pedal dropped to floor

BMW Technical Discussions BMW related technical discussions and questions go here.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #21  
Old 02-04-2018, 11:56 AM
LPM911's Avatar
LPM911 LPM911 is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 3,012
LPM911
Default

No luck fishing it out with the magnet yet. However, while I was in there, I noticed I can wobble the clutch fork a lot more than I expected. Is that normal? Using my finger I can push it up and down, side to side, back and forth with no resistance.
__________________
Lane
'93 RS America | '03 M3 | '02 325iT | '98 328is | '15 i3 REX
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 02-04-2018, 05:21 PM
mlytle mlytle is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: alexandria
Posts: 492
mlytle
Default

iirc, if it is the piston you are fishing for...think it is stainless steel. magnet ain't gonna do much good.

yes, fork does have a little play in it. it is just around the throwout bearing in the middle and only held by a small spring clip on the side opposite the slave.
__________________
Marshall
----------------
95 M3
97 M3
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 02-05-2018, 09:41 AM
LPM911's Avatar
LPM911 LPM911 is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 3,012
LPM911
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mlytle View Post
iirc, if it is the piston you are fishing for...think it is stainless steel. magnet ain't gonna do much good.

yes, fork does have a little play in it. it is just around the throwout bearing in the middle and only held by a small spring clip on the side opposite the slave.
The replacement piston stuck to the magnet, so I had assumed that the old part was that way too. Found some pictures on the internet and have a better picture of whats in there. Good to know that some play in the fork is expected, but still need to get that piston out. Might just turn into a clutch job WYIT.
__________________
Lane
'93 RS America | '03 M3 | '02 325iT | '98 328is | '15 i3 REX
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 02-05-2018, 10:15 AM
86911TLCAB 86911TLCAB is offline
Tito
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Bristow VA
Posts: 2,189
86911TLCAB
Default

Lane, if you look through the thread below there is a picture of the inside of the bellhousing, the clutch fork and the pin.

https://dorkiphus.net/porsche/showthread.php?t=37205

When I first got my 97 e36 I could not push the clutch all the way down. when I did I get some very horrible grinding feeling. Not fully understanding the potential issues I figured it was just the clutch itself. When I removed the trans, I found the little plastic fork pin (picture in the thread) was broken and the fork was no longer connected on the passenger side of the bellhousing. so I am not sure what was really happening when I pushed the clutch pedal in.

So there is some movement, but I don't think it should move real free unless the fork pin is broken (apparently a common problem--they now sell a brass pin). If you are able to move that around freely, I would venture your pin is broken and the passenger side of the clutch fork is not connected to the housing.

when I did mine I swapped out the shifter bushings also...the car shifts like it was new.
__________________
Tito

82 911 SC with 3.2
73 RSR project
97 328is
99 328is
97 Lexus SC300 Manual

86 TL (gone)
993 (gone)
75 911S (gone)
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 02-05-2018, 07:55 PM
mlytle mlytle is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: alexandria
Posts: 492
mlytle
Default

if the plastic pin is broken, you would probably be able to spin the clutch fork around since it would not be anchored on that side.

i hope it does not turn into a clutch job! if it seems like it might be going that way, you could just get as far as loosening the bellhousing bolts enough to slide the trans back a half inch..enough to get the pin out.

maybe call around to some autopart stores to see if any have a loaner borescope tool that will let you look around in there.
__________________
Marshall
----------------
95 M3
97 M3
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 02-05-2018, 08:59 PM
LPM911's Avatar
LPM911 LPM911 is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 3,012
LPM911
Default

I think tito nailed it, I think the clutch fork pin is busted or its otherwise become disconnected on that end. I could stick my finger in the cup on the clutch fork and pull it directly towards the side of the bell housing away from the fork pin. I have a video where you can hear me clanging it all over the place.
__________________
Lane
'93 RS America | '03 M3 | '02 325iT | '98 328is | '15 i3 REX
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 02-06-2018, 07:17 AM
86911TLCAB 86911TLCAB is offline
Tito
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Bristow VA
Posts: 2,189
86911TLCAB
Default

It is likely broken. If it were me I would get the car home and prep for a tranny pull. If you decide to do the clutch, and don't want to buy a new dual mass friction flywheel, I was able to have mine resurfaced for about 120 bucks.
__________________
Tito

82 911 SC with 3.2
73 RSR project
97 328is
99 328is
97 Lexus SC300 Manual

86 TL (gone)
993 (gone)
75 911S (gone)
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 05-06-2018, 09:38 PM
LPM911's Avatar
LPM911 LPM911 is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 3,012
LPM911
Default

Fast forward a few months... I finally moved it from my office's parking deck (haha) and went to it. At the end of the day, definitely had to pull the trans off. Pelican's instructions were pretty spot, which is I think what I followed last time too. The starter would not free up until we whacked it pretty good.

Anyways, after seeing the inside, I think the pivot pin on the clutch fork broke a long time ago (found 2 pieces) and then the spring holding it on must've broken as well because it was in pieces in the bell housing. I think the speed bump I was going over must've been the last straw and wiggled the clutch fork away from the rod of the slave cylinder, so when I pushed in the clutch, it just shot out. I think the slave cylinder was slowly on its last leg anyways due to the topping off of brake fluid.

There was some weird scoring on the inside of the clutch fork and also the area where the push fit pivot pin is scared up and not smooth either. I'll be replacing them, but I'm worried the pivot pin may not seat very well. Picture below.

On the plus side, lots of clutch material left!

Finally off!!!:
Name:  IMG_0101.jpg
Views: 132
Size:  378.1 KB

Lots of damaged things:
Name:  IMG_0103.jpg
Views: 122
Size:  372.5 KB

Scoring in the bell housing where the pivot pin pushes in:
Name:  IMG_0102.jpg
Views: 119
Size:  412.3 KB

Scoring on the clutch fork:
Name:  IMG_0104.jpg
Views: 128
Size:  288.5 KB


Time to order some parts...
__________________
Lane
'93 RS America | '03 M3 | '02 325iT | '98 328is | '15 i3 REX
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 05-06-2018, 09:47 PM
smdubovsky's Avatar
smdubovsky smdubovsky is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Silver Spring, MD
Posts: 5,281
smdubovsky has three HoF threadssmdubovsky has three HoF threadssmdubovsky has three HoF threads
Default

FWIW, Taking the trans off is easy. Getting that SOB to line back up is the hard part
__________________
Stephen
www.salazar-racing.com
1970 914/6 - 3.0L GT
1983 911SC - 3.32L IROC
1984 930
2008 S2R1000, dirt bikes (some gas, some electric), Sherco trials bike
Sold: 2001 Boxster (hers), 2003 996tt x50 , SpecE30, 1996 E36M3 GTS2 racecar, 2015 Mustang GT
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 05-07-2018, 09:57 AM
LPM911's Avatar
LPM911 LPM911 is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 3,012
LPM911
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by smdubovsky View Post
FWIW, Taking the trans off is easy. Getting that SOB to line back up is the hard part
That sounds about right, this is the second time I've taken the trans off this car...
__________________
Lane
'93 RS America | '03 M3 | '02 325iT | '98 328is | '15 i3 REX
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump