clutch problems

[csmclobo]

I'll try to make this short and to the point. My clutch felt weak last Tuesday, and started to slip. I pulled the trans, and found the center of the clutch disc had turned blue, and the springs rattled . I got a replacement clutch kit, including pilot bearing, disc, pressure plate , throw out bearing, and an alignment tool from "Rhino pak". After assembley, the clutch would not disengage, no matter how far I adjusted the cable. I removed the trans again, just to be sure everything was put together right. It was. I reassembled it, under the watchful eye of Jim, aka FB71. We could find no reason, but it still didn't release. I removed the trans again, and got another kit from the same store, same brand. Same results. I called their tech line and explained the situation. I told them that when stacked side by side, the new setup was much thicker than the old one. Now I know there will be some difference, due to wear, but this was more like 1/8" thickness. They agreed to take their kit back, and refund, and suggested I try another brand. I now have a kit from "Sachs" , and it looks the same. Has anyone else run into this before? If so, how did you resolve the situation? What brand do most of you use? This isn't my first time replaceing a clutch, but this is the first time in a Festiva, and it's driving me nuts.
Lobo
(Ford no longer offers one, that was my first choice)

[packrat427]

Perfection from Advanced Auto parts .
I think they are made by Brute force .

I have had no trouble with mine , It has been in for over a year , and I abuse it everyday :lol:

[freshtiva]

Zoom

http://tinyurl.com/ymb69n

[packrat427]

Thanks , Those are all made by the same company ,
Perfection
Zoom
Brute force
Super brute
I did not know that , till now :lol:

[FestYboy]

if your disk was installed backwards, it won't disengage or if the fork teeth are worn or bent, youll get the same results but i doubt Jim would overlook something like that.

[Guest]

With the car in gear, will it roll if you manually push the clutch lever on the trans in all the way? This is kind of farfetched, but is there a chance that the lever itself was bent? I've had mine do this once while driving, but it ended up being the cable end came off. But if you can disengage it by manually pushing the lever, it's not the clutch kit.

[csmclobo]

It was the kit from Rhino. After carefully measuring, we found the difference was in 1/64th of an inch thickness, but that was enough to make it not release. She runs great now, feels solid when I shift. Thanks for all the advice. Knock wood, I hope this will be the last time I have to change it.

[Guest]

Hear that peoples.. Don't buy the Rhino Clutch Kit..

[packrat427]

So what brand did you actually end up using ??

[mechanicaldj]

and did you smack Jim for giving you bad instruction??????

god teachers are worthless..............LOL