996 Clutch - how's it supposed to feel?

hi guys, i'm getting ims/rms/new clutch done next week, and i wanted to find out in advance - what's the clutch supposed to feel like? my current 73k (prob original) clutch is pretty stiff, and most svc guys say that's normal for when it's nearing time to replace. recently, i tried another 996 w/ 40k miles and it was softer. however, when i was at the dealer yday, i checked out the a new 991 clutch - MAN, it was buttery soft - like a honda accord. can anyone advise what my new 996 will feel like when it's done? will it feel like the 40k 996, or like a new 991 clutch? thx in advance. Patrick

No matter what it feels like it should feel much softer than it did before the repair. It should start to bite closer to the floor than before as well.

On my 04 C4S the clutch is very light, took some getting used to but now I actually appreciate it. My 04 C2 is somewhat light, but definitely stiffer than the C4S - the C2 had a new clutch pack 5k miles ago and the C4S has about 17k miles on the clutch pack. C2 has 80k miles and the C4S 40k miles - but the C2 clutch has always had its feel since I bought it with 23k miles on it. The clutch engagement on both is at about mid point off the floor. So - I think you might expect a fairly light feel to the clutch pedal, provided the assist spring is still in place.

the clutch servo assist spring may be broken if your clutch feels excessively stiff.

Yeh a while back some berk removed his clutch assisting spring and called it the 'latest mod'. The sheep jumped on his idea but many found that by removing the assisting spring it interfered with the cruise control so they put it back. Why the berk should remove something that PORSCHE thought necessary in the first place, beats me to hell. OH I forgot, he thought he knew better than the PORSCHE designers. Where that effin wall again?

Berk?!?!

IMS ....porsche design ?

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While I probably agree with not removing the clutch assist, there are plenty of mods and upgrades worth doing that do involve reworking Stuttgart engineering... Porsche designers work to meet many design goals. Regulatory compliance, cost constraints, marketing concerns, potential buyers ranging from Hampton beach cruisers to track rats, etc. Every decision they make is not necessarily the 'best' for a particular owner.

hi all, just back from mechanic w/ ims/rms/new clutch. i will post brief update here on clutch feel, but the conclusion is that the clutch feelings is now DAY AND NIGHT!!! after having felt the 991 clutch and how nice and soft it felt, i was beginning to feel insecure. guess what - the new clutch feels JUST LIKE IT - buttery smooth, and as soft and gentle as on a honda i am soooo happy that i got it done, and kudos to alden and flintworks for getting the work completed properly and on time and explaining to me what work was done - 5 stars on yelp p.s. with 74k miles, alden showed me the old clutch - it was pretty warn down and he thought probably only 10% life left. Patrick

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This is especially true when it comes to a wear item, like a clutch, that is designed to be expendable in order to protect non-wear-items. Manufacturers over the past decades have expended considerable effort working to protect expensive drivetrain components that are covered by warranties at the expense of wear items (like clutch plates) that are NOT covered by the warranty. The clutches in many/most Asian imports, for example, use flow restrictors to limit how quickly the clutch can be engaged. This almost always results in excessive clutch wear when the car is driven aggressively, since the clutch is forced to slip instead of engaging solidly as the driver might prefer. Burning some of the clutch, for which the customer is on the hook, is preferable to the manufacturers than dumping unbuffered load into the drivetrain, breaking half-shafts and transmissions that are covered by today's unrealistically long warranties. Not every decision a mechanical engineer makes is in the interests of greatest possible performance or the best possible driving experience...

hi all, in case anybody wants more details, there's what i had done: new updated IMS retro fit from LN engineering kit, new rear main seal and engine case bolts, and new clutch kit/new flywheel bolt. i also got oil/filter change. in addition, the center drive shaft flex disk was torn and that was replaced at the same time. the car drives GREAT, especially the new/soft clutch. i should point out that i have nothing but positive things to say about my experience with flintworks and alden. he was very patient with me as i called him twice prior to coming in to ask lots of questions regarding ims/rms/clutch(to make sure that he had done LOTS of them already). in addition, when i showed up, he spent time to explain to me what was done and all the old parts. he explained that the rms was leaking slightly, but the ims actually looked ok(but it was still good insurance to get it done to pay $650 for parts vs $20k for new engine). flintworks price was very fair(10% off labor coupon on his website), and i'm glad i didn't go to dealer. bottom line, i'm very pleased with my experience and how my car is now. wishing everyone HAPPY DRIVING p.s. i also found out that my car's prior owner had installed short-shifter and i didn't even know it - cool. PL

Had my clutch replaced at 60k miles a few months ago. First time I started the car I almost put my foot through the floorboard it was so light. Didn't realize how stiff the old clutch was. Funny, but now that I'm used to it I can't remember the difference.

Hey everyone, I bought my first Porsche a few months ago, a black/black 2002 Targa with 78k miles on it. Its had a few owners, so I don't know if it's still on the original clutch, but I assumed it might have been replaced by 78k miles. After reading this thread, it sounds like a stiff clutch might be a sign of a failing clutch. The clutch on my Porsche is very stiff, to the point my leg/foot will hurt if I get stuck in traffic for extended periods. When I get back into my Subaru, the clutch is so light in comparison I practically slam it through the floor. I figured the stiff clutch was a performance thing with Porsches, but it sounds like it should be nice and light just like my Subaru. I had the 111 point inspection done by Porsche before buying the car, but they didn't mention the clutch. So my question to everyone: do I keep driving on the current clutch until it begins to really fail (i.e. excess slippage), or do I need to get it checked out? I also plan to do the IMS/RMS if I replace the clutch. Thanks, Chris

congrats on your targa. given all the stories about dealers, your story just reinforces that buying a used porsche from dealer doesn't guarantee anything(and neither do 111 inspections if done by the wrong person). that said, if you haven't done the ims/rms yet, it's only paying for the parts to get the new/soft clutch. therefore, you have to weight the time cost of money on $600 trying to squeeze out an extra year(and living with a hard/stiff clutch). after having it done, i can strongly encourage you to just get it over with(esp w/ ims/rms being cheap insurance). good luck and let us know how you feel after you get it done PL

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So because someone offered some insight on how to improve clutch feel, and others agreed they are considered sheep ? Thats what makes this forum great, the sharing of information that A) provides insight B) saves money C) allows owners to enhance the enjoyment of their cars at their discretion I personally appreciated that thread and having done the spring swap I can say I enjoy the improved feel...especially for less than $5 What would you call someone who, upon seeing the new 991 rear end decided the 996 should also say P O R S C H E ?

So the removed spring will cause the cruise control not to work? I just picked up a 996 that had the spring removed and the CC didn't want to work.

Imo000 - the spring returns the pedal to the top of its travel where it contacts a switch for the CC. If your spring is missing you can install the original or Home Depot spring..or locate the switch (#9 in the diagram on page one) and add some sort of extension so it contacts the pedal. I think some have had success with adding a small piece of tubing over the end

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bahhhhh PL

Every time I see a 991 that says PORSCHE across the rear, I laugh to myself. Like anyone needs to be told what kind of car a 911 is!?

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Had my car parked in front of the house the other day when a gang of youngsters ran up to my car. One boy yelled, "Check out the Lamborghini!". Another boy corrected him, "No, it's a Ferrari!". It was the little girl who told them, "No...it's a Porsche". She even pronounced it correctly!

That clutch pedal spring was installed for the skirt wearing customers. The release point of the clutch and the spring may not match up well and in the case of my '02 this made for some awkward and inconsistent shifting. With the spring removed my clutch action is greatly improved with only slightly increased pedal effort. I have had no CC issues as I shimmed the plunger on the clutch pedal stop with an adheisive backed felt funiture pad. Quick simple free upgrade