So it begins...

Came home from my first proper drive out in my MK4 1.3 last night and when reversing up the drive it sounded like something snapped? and the clutch pedal went straight to the floor and subsequently stalled.

Not looked at it yet and with the dark nights it will prob be the weekend but has anyone any initial thoughts on what might be the problem?

Cheers

 

Either cable has snapped or ratchet has gone bang

 

Ratchet gets my vote, quite common but only a few quid to replace

 

Yeah someone else suggested this but i've heard it's a ballache to replace?

 

Yup, fiver in parts, lifetime of patience

 

Defo the ratchet gone mate, I used to do them when I worked at ford back in the 90s
Not a very nice job at all,,, I had to do my gf's rst s2 Last year, but I lost my rag with it
and got someone else to finish the job off for me lol
I had more patience back then

 

I don't know if this helps but as i was trying to have a little nosey round the pedals this lunch time this little metal clip fell down. Can anyone confirm if this may well be the cause of the problem?

 

That clip looks like the one which goes on the brake pedal, if it is that's nothing to do with your clutch problem.

 

I think I'm going to take the dash out and fix it properly for peace of mind as everywhere I've looked it seems to be a nightmare of a job even with the drivers seat out!
I'm one of them who can't sleep at night worrying about stupid things

 

It'll take longer but a lot easier with the dash out.

 

Yeah that clip goes on your brake pedal rod,,,
If you wanted you could take the whole pedal box out
Instead of dash ?

 

is it just me that does not find clutch ratchets difficult to change then lol! after you have changed a clutch cable on a citroen xantia all others feel easy lol

 

when putting it all back together glue the bushes into the pedals

 

Ok so ive now removed the dash (no fun with a hangover) but it still looks like its going to be a ballache!

It does seem that the clip is from the brake pedal rod.

From what i can see/feel it seems as though the spring on the pawl isnt under tension and therefore not pressing against the ratchet?

So next job is to remove the pedal and investigate....

Can anyone tell me how to remove the speedo cable from the back of the clocks?

 

Squeeze the sides of the cable connection at the back of the speedo head to release it.

 

Put tie wrap on the big spring so you can pull it down onto the pedal last so you can assemble the gummins while it's not under tension

 

Sorry mate i dont quite understand what you mean?

 

big spring that connects onto the quadrant and the pedal. Put it on last but it's too strong to do using fingers so tie wrap the end and then yuk the tie wrap with a pair of plyers or similar to hook it onto the pedal. Will make sense when you look at at hopefully bud.

 

Ok mate cheers for the heads up

 

How did you get on mate ?
Job all done yet ?

 

Not touched it since mate with the dark nights (and working all week) and usually too busy or hungover at weekends!

Plus it really peed me off ( first hour after taxing the thing) so gonna wait till after christmas.
I need to build a garage!

 

Off work today so couldn't resist removing the pedal out for a nosey!

It seems its been replaced before with aftermarket parts.

Does anybody know which colour I need to order or how I measure this current quadrant?

I know people say replace with same colour but with it being aftermarket I suppose they could make them any colour?

 

i hate them too...easier with a sunroof and seat out
as far as colors it just all needs to match-the ratchet and pawl that is...get the same size though

 

Sunroof ???

 

on back feet out of sunroof head under dash....

 

Ah, the good old Escort Quadrants! How I hope the plastic one in my car lasts with a Helix 4 paddle clutch...

Anyway,

Add a Pug 306 GTi-6 with AC to that list (that almost require telepathy) with the 106 coming a close second (Steering rack and other pipes are in the way. The 306 DTurbos (non AC) were where you could not see what you were doing but they were relatively simple IME (less crap for the cable to get trapped in!). When I saw the Quadrant in my RST it did not look great on the back but it did look doable in comparison to the above clutch cable changes.

I knew I forgot one! BMW E36 pollen filter changes ; did they design a car around a pollen filter?

 

Finally sorted this yesterday

Got a rebuild kit, genuine Ford for 4 quid delivered. Quadrant, pawl, bushes and spring

Not too bad really but access makes you curse!

I removed seat which enables you to lie on your back with feet on rear bench

Remove cable gearbox end

Disassemble pedals and replace new parts

Leave the spring attached to the quadrant off at the clutch arm end and securely attach some metal wire to it through the small hole (copper?) leaving enough to grasp

When reassembling put clip on brake pedal side first then at clutch pedal side push clip over widest point at very end and work it along until it falls in its recess

Push pawl up with finger and move quadrant round to enable more cable at gearbox end and then attach cable at gearbox

Finally pull the wire through the hole to hook spring on the arm which will tension the quadrant

Hopefully this will have fixed it

 

So I've been for a drive for a couple of hours and still ok so pretty happy