[Ryan34]

Hi, I have had my ST for about a year now. Over the past few months it has been bothering my knee. To the point where I am driving my older 06 X3 most of the time now. But i love my ST and would rather be driving that; especially since i have a decent car payemtnt on it and won't be able to sell it for probably another year without taking a big loss.

I asked the local dealer if there were any options of making the clutch less stiff. but he said unfortunately no. and those cars do have very stiff clutches. .... I thought there might be a small chance i would get tired of driving a stick when i bought the car, and that really hasn't been the case , but i never thought driving a stick would actually be hazordous to my knee.


Any way, if you guys know any modification i may be able to do to the clutch to help make it less stiff , please do share.

Thank you

 

[shineboy]

Stiff clutch .... really? Clutch should be as easy as a... Honda Civic? Sounds like the beginning of a medical issue or simply should have bought an automatic, obviously not a ST. Seriously, it is an easy clutch.

Anyways, there is a return spring that can be removed and might help, run a risk of other issues by removing. Search around on the site you can read what others say about its removal.

 

[Cowlynz]

Try adjusting the seat. Sounds as if you are hyper-extending the knee. https://www.recaro-automotive.com/fileadmin/CONTENT_NEW_WEBSITE/animationen/technik_allgemein/sitzschule_100630_en.swf

 

[UnfocusedST]

Sent from another garage.

 

[UnfocusedST]

Stiff clutch .... really? Clutch should be as easy as a... Honda Civic? Sounds like the beginning of a medical issue or simply should have bought an automatic, obviously not a ST. Seriously, it is an easy clutch.

Anyways, there is a return spring that can be removed and might help, run a risk of other issues by removing. Search around on the site you can read what others say about its removal.

Do not remove the clutch spring. There have been reported transmission issues related to this.

Sent from another garage.

 

[shineboy]

Do not remove the clutch spring. There have been reported transmission issues related to this.

Sent from another garage.

Was and do not advocate this but it is an option. Much like tuning... risk vs reward

 

[UnfocusedST]

Was and do not advocate this but it is an option. Much like tuning... risk vs reward

Upgrade the clutch line instead.

Sent from another garage.

 

[Hosz]

I think you should see a doctor instead of trying to modify your ST.

 

[shineboy]

Upgrade the clutch line instead.

Sent from another garage.

If I am not mistaken the line will only fix the quirky, mushy, release nothing to do with stiffness or difficulty of pedal to push.

 

[UnfocusedST]

If I am not mistaken the line will only fix the quirky, mushy, release nothing to do with stiffness or difficulty of pedal to push.

It removed the restricter in the line. So might help. I need to find a day above freezing to install mine.

Sent from another garage.

 

[UnfocusedST]

I think you should see a doctor instead of trying to modify your ST.

Also check the video I posted for proper seating position.

Sent from another garage.

 

[shineboy]

It removed the restricter in the line. So might help. I need to find a day above freezing to install mine.

Sent from another garage.

Yeah I thought restrictor was so the clutch doesn't disengage "too fast" but I suppose it could stiffen it up too

 

[UnfocusedST]

Yeah I thought restrictor was so the clutch doesn't disengage "too fast" but I suppose it could stiffen it up too

It's like blowing throw a straw vs blowing through the same straw that tapers smaller at the end. I belive they use a check valve, but it can still restrict in both directions. Once I get mine installed and the car back on the ground I plan on doing a full review.

Sent from another garage.

 

[mazui]

I'm with the seating position crowd. This car has one of the easiest clutches I've driven, almost as easy as the disgustingly light clutch in my Celica. If you are stretching at all to depress the clutch, your seat is definitely too far back.

 

[AK2112]

Something worth noting...

I had a 2015 ST. Clutch was not heavy by any means, but there was a distinct springy pushback to it that made it feel a little stiff... certainly stiffer than a mk7 GTI for example. Press down on the pedal and the first tiny bit was light and then you'd absolutely feel where the engagement was based on a springy resistance you'd encounter.

I now have a 2016 ST and the clutch feel is definitely different from my 2015. The action of the pedal is much more linear... it's a nice smooth, light feel the entire length of the pedal travel versus my 2015. You don't even run into the defined push-back that I had on the 2015. It makes for a noticeably smoother engagement.

They changed something from 2015 to 2016.

 

[UnfocusedST]

Something worth noting...

I had a 2015 ST. Clutch was not heavy by any means, but there was a distinct springy pushback to it that made it feel a little stiff... certainly stiffer than a mk7 GTI for example. Press down on the pedal and the first tiny bit was light and then you'd absolutely feel where the engagement was based on a springy resistance you'd encounter.

I now have a 2016 ST and the clutch feel is definitely different from my 2015. The action of the pedal is much more linear... it's a nice smooth, light feel the entire length of the pedal travel versus my 2015. You don't even run into the defined push-back that I had on the 2015. It makes for a noticeably smoother engagement.

They changed something from 2015 to 2016.

Or there was something odd about your 15.

Sent from another garage.

 

[va7kpt]

Do some lunges at the gym, try physiotherapy.
Unless the floor mat is somehow wedged in behind the pedal, the clutch isn't the issue

 

[STateOfChaos]

For another data point: I have a 2015 and have noticed after hopping in a friend's new '16 and test driving an RS, both were significantly lighter than mine. Only other ST I've driven was a 13 with 60k on the clock and had a clutch about as stiff as mine.

 

[UnfocusedST]

For another data point: I have a 2015 and have noticed after hopping in a friend's new '16 and test driving an RS, both were significantly lighter than mine. Only other ST I've driven was a 13 with 60k on the clock and had a clutch about as stiff as mine.

Odd.

Sent from another garage.

 

[909cobra]

try driving a mechanical clutch in a 97 cobra. talk about stiff....st is heaven sent. weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee