Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2003 02:04:39 GMT From: ma_twain <ma_twainnopsamo.com> Subject: Re: The clutches of evil.......
TL Mitchell wrote: > Greetin's all, > > Had an interesting clutch episode on the '97 900 SE convert the other > day..... returning from a road trip I pulled up to the mailbox to unload > what piled up for a few days. When I released the clutch the engagement > point had changed radically. Previously the clutch would begin to engage > coming right off the firewall, just the way I like it. Full engagement would > occur somewhere around 50 - 75% of pedal travel. This time the engagement > point was the same, however the clutch was fully engaged in less than 20% of > pedal travel. The balance of the pedal travel had no effect and although > everything worked fine it was hard to shift and wouldn't go into reverse at > all with the vehicle running..... jsut some grinding and gnashing. > > I figured since there was no previous indication of impending clutch > problems..... no slipping, no binding..... that this was probably a cable > problem. <Snip> Saab used a hydraulic clutch until 1996/7. They went back to the hydraulic clutch after a year or two with the cable clutch. I have had no problems in 18 years with my Saab with the hydraulic clutch, but my Volvo has gone through two clutch cables in 20 years. My Ford has left me stranded with a broken clutch cable. Based on this history, I passed on a nice looking Saab - with a cable clutch.