Heavy Clutch Pedal

[cre8toruk]

Hi All,

just wondering something... the one thing I noticed when driving and test driving my boxster is the heavyness of the clutch or rather how much effort I have to put in to using the clutch pedal.

I drove the wife's Golf GT Sport last night and nearly put my foot through the floor.... can anyone confirm if the boxster's clutch pedal is quite a heavy thing (by comparison?). Having come from an Elise where the clutch is like breath I don't know if it's normal or not...

I can change gear no problem and there's no noises etc... I could do with the benefit of someone elses experience really...

Thanks in advance.

[Johnniem]

Compared to my Chimaera the clutch on my 987 3.4S is light but some consider the Porsche clutch heavy compared to most modern cars. The thing that gets me is that the 'bite point' is quite high. I would have expected it to be lower in a 'proper' sports car (which the Cayman definitely is!). I am thinking about getting a short shift mod done though as the gear change is considered too long (not just by me, I might add!).

[Trev450]

It depends on what you've been used to. I personally don't find them heavy, but regularly drive a track Evo with a twin plate clutch which is heavy.

[cre8toruk]

yeah that was sort of what I was asking... Obviously I've experienced an Elise and a Golf (and now a Boxster)... if it's supposed to be like that then that's great...

[s2000db]

Porsche clutches are not only heavy, but they even vary in weight between different cars of similar model!

A clutch getting monumentally heavy is one on its way out..

They're also great for giving you tendinitis btw.. ;-)

[Gio G]

I would say the clutch is normal.

Test drove a Mk 7 Golf recently and could not believe how light the clutch was in comparison to the Cayman. I prefer a heavier clutch along with a short shift gearbox!

G

[ro55a]

I have two 986s, if the clutch is "heavy" it's almost certainly near the end of its life. Just changed one recently and it got progressively heavier and heavier as it wore. It's now really light since being changed. New clutch very soon by the sounds of things!

[DRH986]

ro55a said:

I have two 986s, if the clutch is "heavy" it's almost certainly near the end of its life. Just changed one recently and it got progressively heavier and heavier as it wore. It's now really light since being changed. New clutch very soon by the sounds of things!

Ditto. I recently changed the clutch in my Cayman. It wasn't slipping, nor was the engagement point higher but the pedal is much lighter with the new clutch.

[f1ashgordon]

Relative to a bmw or vw etc it is heavy (gen2 997 here) and jumping from a Porsche in to a bmw is amusing as I mash both the clutch and the brake in to the carpet. Wouldn't worry about it.

[GregorFuk]

Yup. I'd describe my 997.1 4S clutch as heavy. I flit between this and a MK1 TT for my daily commute and I always mash the clutch in the TT when first swapping back; it's feather light in comparison.

Makes me wonder what a first time 911 buyer must think. If you go by the normal rule of thumb 'heavy clutch = worn clutch' then what would you think think when you step into your first manual 911? You'd have to test a few before you realise they're all like that. Just how heavy is heavy?

[jonm01]

People need to know the difference between heavy and stiffly sprung

[Ozzie Osmond]

jonm01 said:

People need to know the difference between heavy and stiffly sprung

It's all about "clamping force" of the spring which holds the clutch plate to the engine flywheel and that's determined by the torque of the engine.

A powerful 3-litre engine needs a strong spring to stop the clutch slipping. A 1-litre Micra - doesn't.