How to make the clutch pedal softer?

Discussion in 'Freightliner Forum' started by bigtire, Oct 10, 2012.

  1. bigtire

    bigtire Light Load Member

    117
    13
    Feb 19, 2012
    Las Vegas, Nevada
    0
    I have a Columbia 2006 dd 14 l, Eaton fuller 10 speed. The clutch pedal is very heavy to press. My wife can't drive it. Is there a way to make the pedal softer? This is the problem that is pushing me to buy a truck with a ultrashift.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. GAlanFink

    GAlanFink Medium Load Member

    334
    271
    May 8, 2012
    Bucks County, PA
    0
    The only time I use the clutch is starting out and, in your wife's case, if she is unable to depress the clutch at all, she either needs to exercise a tad more or you can have your throw out bearing spring(s) tension lowered slightly at some cost, I'm sure.
    I can appreciate the aggravation of a hard clutch though having had to run trash pickup for WM some years ago. That constant clutching can tear your left knee up.
    If she can depress the clutch but just doesn't have the strength for the constant clutching involved with standard shifting, she might want to learn how to use the RPM's to find the next 'slot'. Usually, it's somewhere around 400 rpm up or down and, if climbing or going down a grade, simply skip a gear to 'keep up' with vehicle speed changes.
    On a positive note, your wife will never snap a drive shaft because the vehicle speed exceeded or dropped out of range of the gear she is going into.
     
  4. BigJim1937

    BigJim1937 Medium Load Member

    303
    135
    Mar 27, 2012
    Fargo,ND
    0
    well you could try a small piece of foam on the pedal. JOKING There is an adjustment, check with a good service shop and they can fix that for you. My wife has been driving longer than I have the clutch pedal on her truck looks like it did when it came out of the factory.
     
    bullhaulerswife Thanks this.
  5. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

    19,720
    12,268
    Jul 6, 2009
    0
    Thete are no springs on the throw out bearing.

    The stiffness is in the clutch disc. It probably has a 2300 pound disc. U can replace it with a 1800 pound disc. World of diference in the pedal.

    Clutch pressure plate i mean
     
    NYROADIE and bullhaulerswife Thank this.
  6. BigJim1937

    BigJim1937 Medium Load Member

    303
    135
    Mar 27, 2012
    Fargo,ND
    0
    Well last time I checked there were return springs otherwise how the hell would it move back. just sayin
     
  7. Worthken

    Worthken Light Load Member

    265
    83
    Jun 2, 2012
    Delmas South Africa
    0
    Have a look at the linkages. There is a way to set it up to get the maximum leverage out of the pedal. The way the linkage connects at the gearbaox also plays a role, a longer arm on the clutch fork shaft can also make a differance.
     
  8. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

    19,720
    12,268
    Jul 6, 2009
    0
    the clutch fork is how the hell it moves back.
     
  9. Real Deal

    Real Deal Medium Load Member

    468
    230
    May 29, 2012
    Saint George UT
    0
    Look at the clutch pedal linkage.It should have a spring inside of another spring that returns the pedal.Take it down to a single.If it is already a single replace it with a softer one. And don't listen to about 95% of advice on here.
     
  10. daf105paccar

    daf105paccar Road Train Member

    6,564
    7,290
    Apr 15, 2012
    0
    Or you could change your truck to an air assisted clutch.:biggrin_255:
    Soft as butter on a hot day.
     
  11. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

    19,720
    12,268
    Jul 6, 2009
    0
    My clutch pedal dont have springs
    Its all linkage
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.