"Soft" Clutch

[rs899]

I went through considerable trouble a few weeks ago preemptively changing the clutch in my Mk2 Jetta.  I didn't like the way it was rattling and, turns out, the springs were pretty loose so I probably averted an eventual failure.

I didn't bother to change the pressure plate, but now that I have it all back together, I am thinking I should have.

This car's clutch action feels noticeably weaker than that on my Mk1 caddy, although it's not slipping.  For some reason, I guess I thought it had to do with the self-adjusting clutch cable, but after examining it I doubt that.

So....anyway...my question is..is there something about the Mk2 arrangement that makes the clutch softer?
Is the cable more of a straight shot or something?

Thoughts?

Rick

[theman53]

The only MKII I own has a lot softer feel than any MKI I have owned. I think the attachment of the cable on the firewall is alot better on the II than what the I has on the steering column deal.

[Rabbit on Roids]

mk2/mk3 pressure plates are very soft to disengage/engage..

i just put a 95 ABA pressure plate and flywheel on my 84 rabbit. it grabs WAY HARDER than the 200mm unit i took out, and pedal feel is about half that of the 200mm unit. but it grabs WAY BETTER!!!

if i used to shift my rabbit fast, it would just blow the clutch off.. now the clutch just grabs, and spins the tires.

i thought the mk2/3 plate wouldnt even work as good as the 200 i took off, just because the pedal feel was so soft. then i took off at the highway, blew the tires off in first, that was kinda expected, but then i grabbed second quickly, and the clutch didnt slip! but the tires did.. lol

so, it may be the pressure plate.

FWIW, the 190/200 mm clutch setups ive driven are way harder to push the pedal down on, and are kinda "grabby", compared to the 210mm setups ive had in both rabbits now.. 210mm clutch should be the first upgrade for a powerful diesel.. those 10 extra millimeters of clutch material are amazing!