Ford Focus ST Forum banner

Does the Focus ST have an assistance clutch spring?

340K views 686 replies 193 participants last post by  Fwrun  
#1 ·
As the title states I'm wondering if the Focus has an assistance clutch spring?

I've heard many 2015 Mustang owners complaining about this clutch spring making the point of engagement very hard to determine, and from what I understand it is a simple fix for them. I also believe it is in the Fiesta ST, correct me if I’m wrong.

I've driven manual for 7 years now, I've had 2 different Focus ST's in the past 6 months (one a 13 and other 14). Both ST's clutch felt like it was assisted in the last 3-5 or so inches of return. To describe this in a bit more detail, when I bottom out the clutch with an amount of effort and slowly ease that effort making the pedal return. The last 3-5 inches of the return suddenly require more effort, catching me off guard sometimes normally resulting in a poor take off/shift into 2nd/3rd.

Does anyone else feel the same about the clutch feel? It's like no other car I've ever driven, it feels like a poor assist function to fake the driver into thinking the clutch is lighter than it really is.

I'm sorry if this is a double post, feel free to delete if so, I had trouble finding anything similar on the forums here both through the in-site search function and google.
 
#5 ·
Just removed the spring. SUPER EASY removal.

Results: All I can say is WOW, slight more effort to use, MUCH BETTER FEEL. I did notice with the spring out, there is a small amount of play in the pedal (about 1/2" -1"). I assume this is because the pedal is no longer spring loaded to return to the maximum highest position. There is a small noise I did not notice before removal. The noise is only heard when you release the clutch relatively quickly. Unnoticeable while driving.

Here are some pictures I took of the process:


Here you can see the spring in yellow, I removed it while pulling the clutch pedal towards the seat (as shown in the picture)...I HIGHLY recommend doing the opposite (Pushing the clutch to the floor) when removing the spring because the way I removed it the spring had full tension. Don't be stupid like me...


Here is the tool I used and spring after removal. To remove the spring I just placed the screwdriver in between the bottom spring casing (yellow) and the metal holding the casing closest to the floor prying the casing upward. Again, look at how big the spring is decompressed and how small it is when compressed...REMOVE WHEN CLUTCH IS IN. You could seriously get hurt if you have your head under there removing the spring incorrectly.


Here is a picture after you remove the entire assembly

Sorry for sideways pictures, I took them all the same way. Stupid Note 4.

So far I have only driven the car out of my driveway and back, I’m about to take it on a test drive right now. I will post back with final verdict/results.
 
#6 ·
Just removed the spring. SUPER EASY removal.

Results: All I can say is WOW, slight more effort to use, MUCH BETTER FEEL. I did notice with the spring out, there is a small amount of play in the pedal (about 1/2" -1"). I assume this is because the pedal is no longer spring loaded to return to the maximum highest position. There is a small noise I did not notice before removal. The noise is only heard when you release the clutch relatively quickly. Unnoticeable while driving.

Here are some pictures I took of the process:
View attachment 93896

Here you can see the spring in yellow, I removed it while pulling the clutch pedal towards the seat (as shown in the picture)...I HIGHLY recommend doing the opposite (Pushing the clutch to the floor) when removing the spring because the way I removed it the spring had full tension. Don't be stupid like me...
View attachment 93897

Here is the tool I used and spring after removal. To remove the spring I just placed the screwdriver in between the bottom spring casing (yellow) and the metal holding the casing closest to the floor prying the casing upward. Again, look at how big the spring is decompressed and how small it is when compressed...REMOVE WHEN CLUTCH IS IN. You could seriously get hurt if you have your head under there removing the spring incorrectly.
View attachment 93898

Here is a picture after you remove the entire assembly

Sorry for sideways pictures, I took them all the same way. Stupid Note 4.

So far I have only driven the car out of my driveway and back, I’m about to take it on a test drive right now. I will post back with final verdict/results.
Looking forward to results. Also would it be easy to re install the spring?
 
#8 · (Edited)
Okay, just got back from about a 15min drive taking the curvy roads around my house.

I have to say this is the best bang for the buck mod I think you could do (but then again I haven't done all that many mods).

Pros:
  1. The feel is much more linear, no more springing back up when trying to release pressure.
  2. My take offs are smoother and quicker.
  3. My shifts are faster, slicker, and overall even safer due to knowing when the clutch is actually going to engage.
  4. When shifting at 5k+ it feels how it should (I don't know how better to describe it), before this mod it felt like I was shifting too slow and at the point I thought I was engaging I really wasn't.
  5. For a while I thought there was this problem when shifting between 1st and 2nd, I could almost never make it smooth no matter how gentle I was. That problem is gone completely.
  6. I can rev match so easily now since I know when the clutch is going to grab.


Cons:
  1. I will admit though, the clutch is a bit heavier than I originally thought (Maybe around 5-10 pounds to compress more than before).
  2. Ever so slight play in the top of the pedal.
  3. Mechanical sound when the clutch is released quickly (only noticed when at a stop, cannot be over heard of the engine during motion).

I don't know if this is a pro or a con, but the pedal also travels less now (about 1"-2").

Now to just get a go-pedal spacer and a tune to remove that stupid rev hang/shift assist and this will be a wonderful driving experience.
I will update this thread if I ever come into any problems due to this mod.
 
#11 · (Edited)
Well now that I read this thread I had to try it. Couldn't get enough leverage with the screwdriver so I ended up just depressing the clutch and pushing up on the bottom until it popped out. Once you know what you're doing removal takes about 10 seconds. I put it in a little baggy so that dirt doesn't get all mixed with the grease on it. Interested to see how it feels tomorrow on the drive to work.
 
#16 ·
Yea, I just popped mine out and went around the block. It's way better now. I can actually launch the car from a standstill properly.

just pushed down on the clutch as hard as I could and popped a screwdriver in the bottom of the thicker bushing at the bottom and pushed it out of its carrier
 
#17 ·
Yes thank you for telling me this! I hate the feel of the clutch in this car, biggest upset about the car IMO. I will be doing this mod.


BTW my boss 302 had the extra spring and removing it was the best mod you could do to that car, I think it's a ford thing to make their clutches feel like lifeless compound bows.
 
#19 ·
I just pulled mine out and pumped the pedal a couple times. Feels like a rea clutch pedal now. Not that I had anything against the way it was before.

I'd go drive it now, but I've had a couple too many beers so I'll wait until the lanes quit dancing all over the road to drive it and see how it feels.


Sent from my iPhone 6 using Tapatalk.
 
#20 ·
After reading this post about two hours ago, I decided to go test it out. I have had my 2015 for about 2 weeks and I have put about 500 miles on the car. This is also the first standard car I have owned. As stated above, after doing this mod I find is a lot easier to launch as I can get a better feel of when the clutch engages. Highly recommend doing this.
 
#611 ·
So I know this is a SUPER OLD post. I am new here. But first off, Where in DFW are you at DaggerMouth?

Also, if yall look on reddit. One guy was changing the spring to one with a different rate. I thought that was a pretty good idea myself! If this was already covered, my apologies. I did not scroll through all pages lol.

References:

https://www.reddit.com/r/FocusST/comments/3ik9ab/clutch_petal_assist_spring_delete/

 
#24 ·
It takes about a minute to remove and re install so I saw no reason to not at least try it out.
 
#23 ·
Just took mine out, took about 30 seconds if that and most of the time was finding a screw driver. Pushing the clutch in and prying it off worked great and it gives it a little bit more of a stiff feeling but shifting feels much smoother now. I left my spring in a bag in my glove box in case I need it for some reason but loving the feel already!
 
#25 ·
After coming across this thread by chance, I'm wondering if this will make the issue I'm finding worse.

You guys are saying this helps you feel the clutch better which is great, but I'm finding my clutch pedal comes back up slower than other manuals I've had, so I was actually wondering if we have a clutch delay valve as well, but after finding this thread, I'm wondering what the point of a CDV would be with a helper spring. Anyone know? Thanks!
 
#27 ·
We have clutch line "restrictors" which is probably causing your issue.
 
#34 · (Edited)
The pedal sits about an inch or so closer to the floor and firewall. I can put my foot behind it and pull it up to where it used to sit, but then it just falls back down because it is not spring loaded to stay up.

I can't comment on the TOB question because I'm NOT very knowledgeable in this area. I just did a lot of reading on mustang and fiesta forums and saw this was a common thing done to them. I would suggest looking there if you are cautious, and to look for more information.