Manual and automatic transmissions are equally popular in India. The clutch in a manual car links the wheels to the engine. The rotational energy created by the engine is transferred to the wheels through the clutch. At times, the clutch pedal could feel way too hard to press. This could be due to some problems within the system. In this article, we will discuss various reasons why a clutch pedal could possibly become too hard to press.

Blocked Pedal

hard car clutch

This reason may sound too simple but could definitely be a cause which you might be ignoring. If you have small items on the floor of your vehicle, there is a possibility that one of these small items might be caught between the clutch pedal and the floor. This won’t allow you to press the pedal completely. If you feel the clutch pedal is stiff than usual, do check if something is stuck between the pedal and the floor.

Worn out Clutch Cable

hard car clutch

The clutch cable connects the clutch pedal to the clutch linkage. When the clutch pedal is pressed down, it causes the cable to pull on the linkage so that the clutch is disengaged. Once the clutch is disengaged, you can shift the gears of the transmission safely. If the clutch cable is broken or stretched too much, then you might have to press down harder on the clutch pedal to disengage the clutch.

Clutch needs adjustment

hard car clutch

If the clutch is too stiff, one of the easiest things you can do is check the clutch pedal adjustment. If the clutch is way out of its set adjustment, the clutch may be partially or even fully disengaged when the clutch pedal rest at the top of its travel. Checking for clutch pedal adjustment could be a solution. This could be true if you have recently changed the clutch or the clutch master cylinder.

Bad Pivot Ball

hard car clutch

The clutch pivot ball is designed to make the operation of the clutch feel as smooth as possible. It is what gives the clutch pedal that smooth feel when you press down on it with your foot. If the clutch pivot ball is worn out or damaged, the smoothness of the feel will start to fade. Instead, you will be left with a stiffer clutch pedal that will require more force to press down.

Aftermarket Clutch

hard car clutch

Aftermarket clutches are often designed to hold more torque than the clutch that the car was originally sold with. If you have recently changed the clutch but replaced an OEM unit with an aftermarket one, this could be normal. While buying a used vehicle, this may be one thing to ask the previous owner before you decide to buy the vehicle.

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