Stiff Clutch

[Simonpiemon]

After the clutch started to go stiff on my 89 Scirocco I had the cable replaced at a garage. Its now going stiff again after only a month or so. It may just be me although I can hear a scraping sound as I apply the clutch. Could this be an easy fix?

[chopperoli]

I recommend searching the forum as it's a common thing. There is a known weakness at the bulkhead where the outer cable mounts to, at the pedal end.

[mark1gls]

Look at the bulk head where the cable goes through, very poor design from VW as it puts a lot of strain on the thin metal and can pull the rubber bung through the bulk head and make a rather big hole... you can get Mk1 golf strength plates but the need modding to fit or make one yourself?
Could also just be the cable has moved or not routed right and it’s rubbing on the bulk head or if the gearbox end the cable is not going straight down to the gearbox and is rubbing on the metal..

http://sciroccoregister.co.uk/carforum/ ... hp?t=15330

https://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/forum/index.ph ... utch-cable

https://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/forum/index.ph ... ntitled_57

[james butler]

http://sciroccoregister.co.uk/carforum/ ... 7&start=15

[james butler]

what i did find that helps a great deal is to try and straighten out the 45 degree kink in the outer cable as it goes through the bulkhead.
yo dont need to straighten it completely just about 25-30 degrees to releive the stress at that point.

[GT_II]

A heavy clutch pedal can also be a sign of a worn clutch, but if it improved a lot when the new cable was first fitted, then the clutch itself is unlikely to be the problem.

[Simonpiemon]

Thanks for all your help so the good news is I rerouted it better and sprayed some 3 in 1 around the cabke entry and it feels amazing again. Only drawback is now it sounds like something is crunchy within the cable I'm guessing I've sprayed some crap into the cable. It's only since I sprayed the cable it sounds crunchy

[james butler]

unfortunately that sounds like the new cable is starting to splay strands, that typiclly makes that crunchy sound.
i would start shopping for a new cable as a spare and keep it in the car.

[MK21800]

Yeah I'd also say it's starting to fray, possibly due to rubbing against the metal of the hole in the bulkhead due to the grommet not being seated in it correctly. Exactly the problem I've just had with mine. The other place to check is the clutch end - the adjuster should sit on a rubber mushroom shaped tube thing to guide it. If it's missing, they're about 3 quid on ebay. Probably worth getting a spare one of those as well in case the old one's perished. There is actually a rubber washer thing as well, but not sure whether that's essential or not.