Got my ACT xtreme clutch and fidanza flywheel in and took it for the first drive this evening...couldn't even get the car into gear without taking out a lot of the freeplay in the pedal, and I kept smelling burnt clutch while driving it around, even though I was taking it easy and shifting slowly. Is it normal or perhaps it my engagement set incorrectly? Also noticed my slave cylinder looked shitty when I did this job, and I plan to replace it this weekend. As I pulled back into the driveway after a 30 minute drive the clutch wouldn't let me put it in gear again.Scared I'm frying my new clutch with an incorrect pedal setting...advice?

 

did you bleed it?

 

Nope, I didn't take any of the clutch lines off. Once I replace the slave cylinder I shall. I'm thinking my problem is something with the pedal adjustment, perhaps I over-compensated for all the freeplay and now it's riding the clutch some.

 

You should adjust your clutch all the way out so there is no preload. Leave a tiny bit of slack in there and tighten the nut back up.

 

Don't forget: 500 mile breakin not 499. It's been my experience that a clutch that is broke in properly will last longer and dosn't shudder as bad. Make sure you have the pedal height right and I would go ahead and bleed the line for good measure.

 

Will do, in fact I'm heading out now to get the slave cylinder so I can keep from losing pedal feel.

 

with my act i never adjusted anything. i even gave it a half mile before i put the hammer down. it's really been perfect

 

I've never broken in a clutch... although I've never had one last more than 35K miles either...

 

you gotta remember, that your ACT clutch will engage near the floor. ACT alters the pivot point on the PP so that it's much like a short shirt where the throw is short. this allows you to easily push down on their heavy plates.

you probably adjusted it out too far it it's not clamping down all the way now.

adjust it back to stock and get used to the engagement point:

 

i had adjusted the height so i only had a tiny bit of free play-once i got the new slave cylinder my shifts felt perfect...must've just been losing a lot of pressure.loving the new clutch now, just gotta remember to take it easy on it for the breakin period.