Heavy clutch - sore knee!

[Jamie Boy]

Hi,

I've got a dodgy knee and I've been driving a Seat Ibiza Mark II for over 3 years now. I like the car but the clutch is destroying my already poor knee. Its so bad that I'm considering getting rid of the car! Does anyone know if it's possible to make the clutch a bit lighter by any means? Has anyone done this?

 

[AlpineWhite]

NEw clutch.

 

[Nath.]

My dad had the same on his old mk2 AIR and I sorted it for him

Reroute the clutch cable so as to remove the right angle bend in it, it comes up from the clutch pedal and goes through to the scuttle area where the wiper motor is
If you use some cable ties you can make the cable curve round rather than bend sharp round

This will make it better but to get it really good you need to replace or lubricate the clutch cable

 

[Deleted member 27930]

I got a mk2 Air woot.. and yes i have a heavy clutch lol

 

[jcs356]

Heavy clutch in Mk2 = undocumented design feature!

Worth checking that your pedal box isn't on the way out as this can make it worse.

 

[Chrisdaman]

the Mk2 Airs like the polo Open Air (roof length convertible thingy?)

 

[AlpineWhite]

Yep

 

[Deleted member 27930]

Yeh chris i love it

 

[OrcaGti]

put a brick in your shoe lol

 

[TopGearNL]

Don't know if you know this but if you time it well you can shift without using the clutch, not that I do it offcourse but you can!

 

[CraigW]

New clutch and cable, that should sort it.

 

[Jamie Boy]

Cheers for all the replies guys. I'm planning to fit a new clutch cable in the next couple of weeks but how much will it cost for a new clutch? I'm going to check the pedal box for any wear too. Any advice would be most welcome. I've found everyone on this forum really helpful. It's getting so bad and my knee is so sore that I've considered changing cars but, other than a heavy clutch and a wee bit of rust round the wheel arches (which I will sort out this weekend) my car is great and I'd like to keep it for a while yet. I was lucky enough to find a Haynes manual in my local charity shop last week for 50p! What are the chances? Anyway, thanks for the help and keep it coming. It's appreciated. Even the brick idea!

 

[CraigW]

Cheers for all the replies guys. I'm planning to fit a new clutch cable in the next couple of weeks but how much will it cost for a new clutch? I'm going to check the pedal box for any wear too. Any advice would be most welcome. I've found everyone on this forum really helpful. It's getting so bad and my knee is so sore that I've considered changing cars but, other than a heavy clutch and a wee bit of rust round the wheel arches (which I will sort out this weekend) my car is great and I'd like to keep it for a while yet. I was lucky enough to find a Haynes manual in my local charity shop last week for 50p! What are the chances? Anyway, thanks for the help and keep it coming. It's appreciated. Even the brick idea!

See thats the thing with these cars, they have all these little niggles but people still think the ibiza is a great car. Im the same, when I was having my pedal box issues I was honestly considering getting rid. But Im glad that I didnt now. Even though its only a 1.4 its a great car to drive and you can have so much fun.

 

[chris285]

See thats the thing with these cars, they have all these little niggles but people still think the ibiza is a great car. Im the same, when I was having my pedal box issues I was honestly considering getting rid. But Im glad that I didnt now. Even though its only a 1.4 its a great car to drive and you can have so much fun.

damn right, i only have standard suspension on mk3 cupra alloys but i love the car and i love it when you get on a stretch of road and you just flow from corner to corner its great

 

[Jamie Boy]

Thanks for the advice folks. I fitted a new clutch cable today and it's made quite a difference. I wouldn't say that my clutch is feather-light now, but at least I won't need to wear the brick-shoes for driving any more, not for a while anyway. It's really cheered me (and my left leg) up. Now all I need to do is fix the rusting wheel arches, the scratched paint from drunken arseholes and sort out the crack in my pedal box which I found today and I'm laughing. Guess I'll be taking a couple of days off work to do all that very soon! I've posted a new thread looking for a bit of guidance with the pedal box so feel free to respond.
P.S. I didn't mention the broken driver's door lock, broken driver's side interior light switch door open thingy, broken rear-washer (not the pipe) and the two broken rear door lock buttons. I'll fix them in Julember!!!

 

[projectgingawar]

you could always convert to an o2a cable change box which has a hydraulic clutch?

 

[Jamie Boy]

Not sure what you mean. My set is an 02A. Maybe you're being too technical for a rank amateur like myself!