I did that clutch assist spring removal just now...

"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390) 05/12/2015 at 15:15 • Filed to: Focus ST Clutch

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Woah...I was not expecting the clutch to feel THAT much different.

I just did a short review of an Ecoboost Mustang in which I said and I quote “It’s much heavier(not saying much though) than the ST, but still has no feel to it. It only feels like it has two settings: on and off, as if there’s no buffer or space between.”.

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Removing that spring made the whole difference and more. The ST’s clutch feels soo much better, much more natural and “classical” than it did with the spring. I took it on a short spin arond my neighborhood, I love it! It doesn’t ever feel like stuttering or stumbling anymore. And also important, it is now heavier than the Mustang. But the weird thing is that it’s now heavier than my 944, and heavier than our 911! WTF??

I could actually feel the muscles in my left leg getting warmer(that burning feeling you get when working out) depressing and releasing the clutch. I wasn’t prepared for that much of an increase in weight. I’m not a weak person by any means, I’m sure I’ll get used to it in time. The clutch travel has also decreased by a noticeable but small amount.

I’m gonna run with it for the rest of the month and see which one wins in the end, the clutch, or my left leg..

Carl (@stuffcarlsays) > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/12/2015 at 15:24

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Power of The Freight!!

CKeffer > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/12/2015 at 15:26

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The heavier pedal makes this a no go for me since I use the ST to commute every day, and the last thing I want in Houston traffic is a heavier clutch pedal.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > CKeffer 05/12/2015 at 15:31

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Well we’re about to find out in an hour how I fair in rush hour traffic. This is gonna be interesting. I was thinking though, why not just get a different spring with a slightly heavier feel than the stock one? Why is that not a thing?

jariten1781 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/12/2015 at 15:46

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Why would removing the clutch return spring make it heavier? Does not compute. Should just remove the free play at the top of the travel and maybe make it feel a bit more direct.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > jariten1781 05/12/2015 at 15:46

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I don’t get it either, must be some Ford juju witchcraft or something.

CKeffer > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/12/2015 at 15:47

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*shrug* I have no clue man.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/12/2015 at 15:50

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A lot of old-timey cars (30s-60s) had coil spring clutches that took a lot of force to depress, so had a helper-spring setup called a mousetrap to help actuate them that engaged after about the first half inch of press - only on cars with mechanical clutch linkage, obviously, and once diaphragm clutches started to get common, they showed up less. This setup seems to be very similar in function to those old gizmos, if not design. I’ve got one on my Ranchero I’ll probably have to disable.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > CKeffer 05/12/2015 at 15:52

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I feel like there could be some money in that. By the way, I’m calling TM and dibs on that.

desertdog5051 > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 05/12/2015 at 16:00

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At first I thought you were talking about Harleys.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > desertdog5051 05/12/2015 at 16:02

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Yeah, I noticed that most usage of “clutch mousetrap” on the interwebs had to do with Harleys. Due, of course, to the fact that Harleys are sometimes stuck between the 30s and 60s by choice.

CKeffer > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/12/2015 at 16:05

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Bwahahaha, you’re entirely welcome to it, I’m way too lazy to get that set up.

Coty > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/12/2015 at 16:11

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It’s amazing, no?

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Coty 05/12/2015 at 16:12

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Its certainly better, but whether or not my leg can take it is another question.

Coty > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/12/2015 at 16:15

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My commute only has a few stop signs, not really ever any traffic. I’m sure you’ll get used to it though. With the spring in I would always come rally close to stalling from a start, so that’s hwy I like it.

TheOnelectronic > jariten1781 05/12/2015 at 16:16

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It’s an assist spring. It helps you push the clutch in, and it helps resist the clutch on the way out. Removing it gets rid of that assistance, so it’s harder to push in, and pushes back harder.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Coty 05/12/2015 at 16:17

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I’m about to go through Woodward rush hour as I do at least twice a week. We’ll see what happens.

Coty > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/12/2015 at 16:17

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RIP in peace.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Coty 05/12/2015 at 16:25

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Might have to go to an automatic after this..

Axial > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/12/2015 at 16:31

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Heavier clutch in rush hour is fine if your torque on the low-end is high. Then you can just lift off and let the car glide. Otherwise, it can be a pain in the butt having to slowly let it out while revving the engine every time.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/12/2015 at 16:36

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Is this also a thing on the FiST?

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/12/2015 at 16:36

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You'll get used to it. At least you know how to drive manual already. After two hours of driving I took my car to school for the first time. With this clutch, the stupidity of other high school drivers and constant stopping and going I got used to it very fast. Now this clutch is light! I don't miss high school....

Coty > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 05/12/2015 at 16:51

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Nah, give it a month, Thunder Thighs.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Axial 05/12/2015 at 17:39

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That’s actually kind of a relief of sorts. Thanks much! :)

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Coty 05/12/2015 at 17:41

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Oh lawd no. Not Thunder Thighs...

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. 05/12/2015 at 17:43

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I should think so. Apparently it’s also the same on the Mustang as well.

TheOnelectronic > Coty 05/12/2015 at 21:11

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I just did it on mine, and it feels kind of weird, like the clutch now has about half the travel. May take some getting used to.

Coty > TheOnelectronic 05/12/2015 at 21:49

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I like the fact that it engages earlier.

TheOnelectronic > Coty 05/12/2015 at 22:36

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It doesn’t really engage earlier, it just doesn’t come towards you as far, so it’s always kind of half-pressed.

And on that note, I was getting hints of hot clutch smell while driving around, so I’m sort of wondering if that spring isn’t to keep the weight of the pedal from engaging the clutch ever so slightly. It is still a very light clutch, after all.

Coty > TheOnelectronic 05/12/2015 at 22:42

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I haven’t encountered that at all, but that’s just me. I definitely think it makes the friction point feel less fuzzy, though.

Coty > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. 05/12/2015 at 22:47

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I’d be amazed if it wasn’t.