Clutch spring question

Last weekend I traded 996s with one of the guys in our group for about 20 miles of canyon driving. His clutch pedal was super light compared to mine. He also had a new clutch and the engagement happened sooner. Now the clutch in my C4S feels exactly like my previous C2. Does it sound like the helper spring had been removed from both my cars? I didn�t think anything of it until I drove the other guys car. I just figured the heavy clutch was normal. I think I even prefer it.

I would not call the clutch pedal in my C4S "heavy". About the same as my Type R so fairly light. It was like that before(at least before the pressure plate self destructed) and feels the same with the new clutch. To each his own. I would think a heavy clutch would be tiring in traffic, but we don't have that problem round here.

Heavy clutch feel on a 996= helper spring broke/weak/missing(intentional?) or the clutch disk has worn thin On a diaphragm type pressure plate the clamp pressure actually increases as the disk wears thinner (unless it has the newer 991 up ASA self adjusting pressure plate)

Ah thanks. That makes sense. The take up point on mine is pretty far up. No signs of slippage but it�ll be due soon (80k miles on it). I�d change it out now, only the engine is going to Jake this summer for a 4.0 upgrade. Comes with a new clutch so it�ll be good timing.

When I first purchased my 996.2 I had my clutch replaced Immediately as it felt heavy and worn (~55k on the clock). I then noticed the cruise was not working (forgot to catch that during my test drive). After investigating, the spring for clutch pedal was broke. I replaced it with an HD version (much cheaper option) as suggested somewhere (can�t remember which forum). Clutch pedal gained a slightly lighter feel and the cruise started working as the pedal was fully returning and engaging the switch. Long story short, if the clutch spring was broke or removed your cruise control would more than likely not work.

Cruise control works fine so it must be the clutch nearing the end of its life.

I bought a 996 Carrera 4 last year. I test drove 2 cars and they both had quite heavy clutches. Due to the fact, that I had driven around with automatic cars for the last 8 years or so, I did not gave that a lot of attention, thinking I just to not remember how the clutch needs to feel and a sports car needs to have a heavy clutch. Now that I have driven my car around for 1 year I absolutly love everything about it except the heavy clutch and the quite high engagement point of the clutch (engagement points is somewhere in the middle of the pedal throw, so even thougt I have quite a big foot I need to lift my heal). So I have started to look solutions for this "problem". I know that before I bought my car it had its clutch plate refreshed meaning the clutch plate has new friction plates and driving the car around the car really does not show any slipping of the clutch. I found some information from the forumis about this clutch booster spring and rushed to the garage hoping that my car has this spring removed or maybe broken. Looking under the dash I saw tottaly healthy spring there but just to be sure I still ordered a new clutch booster hopeing that ~140 000km have wore down the spring. I should get new spring next week and I will let you guys now if it makes any difference. If new booster spring does not help me get my clutch feel better what I should look next? Pressure plate?

The helper spring in my car "looked" OK from the outside, but once removed I could see that it was indeed broken. BIG difference in feel after replacement, had to re-learn how to drive my car!

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"There's your problem...!"

So I got my booster spring and had some time to replace it. The old spring was fine but new one feels a little better, but I can not be sure if this solved my "problem" untill I have taken my car for a drive (have to wait few more weeks). I wanted to try out what it is like to make a car video, so I tried to make one about replacing the clutch booster spring. Video is definitely not perfect but maybe it helps someone who wants to do the same job. Video can be find: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzMOVB52bDI&t=14s

I took my spring out and never replaced it. You get used to the heavier clutch, but it is also MUCH clearer to me when the clutch is biting. Much easier to drive and I am probably saving myself some clutch material.

I had the same problem with terrible clutch feel (at the point of engagement). I stalled the car more than any other car I've owned. I removed the spring, which wasn't broken, and replaced it with a weaker spring as seen on this thread: https://rennlist.com/forums /996-for...matically.html . Clutch is heavier, but feel is definitely better.

Finally got to drive my car after 5 months. I had tottaly forgotten how good this car drives, it still suprises me how 996 can be 20 years old - it drives better then my 2017 Seat Leon . New booster spring feels much better then the old one, clutch realese point is now much more predictable then before. Be safe and if possible go for a nice long drive.

I grew up driving VWs back in the 70s. I have always been quite good at driving a standard. At least I thought I was good until I bought my recent 2001 996 cab. It had just rec'd a new clutch at a porsche indy shop (RS Mortorwerx in Atlanta) 3k miles before I bought it. So, the clutch should be fine. After driving the car 2500 miles I still havent gotten the hang of this clutch. The problem seems to be that the engagement "path" is too long. As I slowly release the clutch, it starts to lightly bite but there's still a good 2 inches of upward clutch pedal movement that needs to happen before the engine and the clutch fully mate. During the first 7/8 of this very long engagement path (I dont know what else to call it), if I give it any throttle, the clutch slips and burns. If I dont give it some gas, the engine stalls. It's unnecessarily difficult balancing act every single time I start moving from a stop. Starting off on a hill with cars behind me is especially anxiety ridden. "ok, am I gonna stall it and look like a fool or am I gonna rev it too much (2k rpm) before it grabs 100% and burn the clutch?" I couldn't imagine ever drag race starting my 996 or trying to spin the rear tires for fun (revving it up and dumping the clutch). I feel like the clutch would start burning long before the tires broke traction. I had a porsche friend who owns a 996 manual trans drive the car today to see if there's something wrong with it. The first try, he stalled it! I wish there was a way to make my 996 clutch easier to drive with.

Yeah, it is a longer throw with the 2 inch window. Quite frankly I haven't thought much about it for a long time, but your comments caught my attention. It will eventually become second nature. I found it helps to get the heel of your foot on the ground and use the ankle when initially releasing it from a standstill. You can always remove the helper spring which will give it more upward push and by default, it will be an either "in or out" proposition. Definitely will speed up the clutchwork.

I replaced my helper spring and it made a big difference. I think they get tired and lose their effectiveness even if not usable broken. I also tried driving without the spring and did not prefer it. Some say it�s a better feel but I disagree. Just a harder pedal in my opinion.

Hi. That link is dead. My spring is broken, but I drove a stock 996 and the clutch was WAY TOO LIGHT and I had trouble finding the engagement point. I'd like to lighten my effort just a little. Can you post a link or info to where you bought the weaker spring, please please please? I can't seem to find info!

Use a clutch helper spring from a 996 Turbo. It's about 1/3 as strong as the spring found in every other 996 - the 996 Turbo has a power assisted clutch.

Thanks! Oh, interesting. I finally also found this, which people are using. I wonder which is stronger (i'd probably want the weaker one) Though I'm sure the turbo spring is costlier https://www.mcmaster.com/orders/ McMaster-Carr spring 9657K142

Hey all, I ordered the springs from McMaster. Clutch is soft now (will take some getting used to but its fine). Though, tech says that it feels like the clutch is grabbing high and is on its way out. I put in a new cluck (all OEM/SACHS) 4,000 miles ago, and don't track the car. I dunno..... Maybe I had a ****ty mechanic, or something about having a broken spring forever was helping to cause wear. In any event, I have 5 extra McMaster springs. If anyone wants one, PM me and I'll sell for $5 + let's say $5 shipping....