Subaru WRX Forum banner

'08 WRX: Clutch pedal is too heavy?

1 reading
25K views 45 replies 25 participants last post by  falkonsti  
#1 ·
I was under the driver's side dash hardwiring in my GPS and I saw that there is a big spring on the clutch pedal assembly that provides the resistance when you press the pedal down.

Now, I've owned a few manual transmission cars in the past (all with clutch cables, not hydraulic) and the pedals were all lighter than my WRX, and this is including a 5.0 Mustang with a clutch disc the size of a small pizza!

Anyone else with an 08/09 think the pedal effort is too high? I really can't believe that Subaru put such a high tension spring in there. Around town its fine, but after 30 minutes in traffic it starts to wear me out.

Other than that, I love my car!

:wiggles:
 
#6 ·
+1 for subie driver distinction, ive driven tc's, 350z's, and mustang gt's, and all of there clutches are noticeably lighter. going from the subie to those cars is a whole different world, but i like the feel of a heavy clutch. when driving the other cars it feels like im driving them with a video game racing wheel with a clutch pedal, haha
 
#8 ·
I was trying not to say anything... but agreed. Spending a summer driving a glass delivery truck with a 4-in-the-floor cured me of ever thinking a car has a stiff clutch.

In fairness, I haven't driven a bland-eye to know how stiff the newer clutches are, but an '02 stock clutch feels about average to me. The ACT street clutch that is currently in it is a bit stiffer, but nothing I didn't get used to in a few days.
 
#9 ·
I drove a tiburon and it felt like a toy. after getting home in my wrx my brother had me show him some rev match downshift and heel toe techniques and seriously it felt like there wasnt a clutch pedal even there, went right to the floor with about 1% muscle use and i hated how it felt. heavier clutch ftw seems to give more feedback.
 
#10 ·
I sat in a civic si and probably almost put my foot through the floor cause my leg is used to the stiff sti clutch. Even the difference between my 06 WRX and a 240 was huge. I wonder if my left leg is stronger then my right now. :tongue:

And yes 30 minutes of 0-20 stop and go traffic is absolute murder. But you get through it. At the end I start staying in gear as much as possible just to reduce the burn.
 
#15 ·
IDK how many miles you have on your 08,but everything in my car to include the clutch loosened up at around 10,000 miles. The clutch feels a little lighter now...
 
#20 ·
I think the WRX clutch has a nice weigh to it, just heavy enough but not too heavy. I missed the clutch weight when I got my Z, it's fairly soft. You get used to it either way though, light or heavy, and the WRX clutch is certainly not that bad compared to a lot of cars.
 
#24 ·
I understand that having a limp clutch pedal might feel like its taking away from the whole "driving" experience but to me it really doesn't. My sister had a Hyundai Elantra and you could breathe on the pedal to make it go down. I was still able to feather the clutch nicely in it. I have trouble feathering the clutch in my '08, but it could also be because I'm not used to a hydraulic line.

Being able to drive a car with a heavy clutch doesn't make you any manlier. All it means is that you have one strong leg.
 
#26 · (Edited)
Being able to drive a car with a heavy clutch doesn't make you any manlier. All it means is that you have one strong leg.
Someone's feeling threatened. :)

Some people will prefer a different feel to their clutch. That's about it. I think the main point being made was that the clutch in a WRX isn't really all that stiff in the big picture. :shrug:

Hell, my second car, and first with a clutch, a 1970 VW Beetle, had a noticeably harder clutch than just about anything I've driven over the last few years.
 
#28 ·
My only gripe about my WRX clutch is that it has always seemed to have a second engagement point. It doesn't engage smoothly and gradually, but has two "peaks". A new spring won't help that.
 
#30 ·
Owned an 08 and now an 06 sti, the 08's clutch didnt seem any heavier then my 06 sti. As for other cars, yea it certainly felt heavier then my girlfriends civic but that was a civic. Generally the wrx's clutch is gonna feel heavier then most non-performance cars. In my expeience civic's/accords/tc's have feather clutches compared to more high performance vehicles.
 
#35 ·
Well the 08 clutch is just as heavy as any other model year in my experience. The fact that yours **** on you has nothing to do with how heavy it was. The 08 just has a glass clutch(mine burnt up at 12,000 miles), hence why they beefed it up with the power increase on the 09's. So if stepping it up is an option for your pocketbook I'd highly consider it because you wont be getting your money's worth with the oem clutch by any means.
 
#36 · (Edited)
"Well the 08 clutch is just as heavy as any other model year in my experience. The fact that yours **** on you has nothing to do with how heavy it was. "

yes know this i wasnt reffering to that as the problem. was only agreeing on the side.

On the other side, i did mildly step it up. ordered the RAM HDX Performance series for slightly modified. that should better suite my lazy footy.
 
#39 ·
BS My clutch at 35k with 2.5 years on the clock was going to be covered, but I opted to upgrade because of the amount of power I have.

The dealership has a "good samaritan" policy (all subaru dealerships do. It's from Subaru of America) they rarely inform you of this though. If you don't have a long standing history of warranty claims, and you have been a good customer, AND you haven't beat the car to hell and back, then you may be able to get it by moaning and groaning a bit.

Honestly though, at 37000 miles, you must either drive like an ass hat, be new to clutch, or have extensive modifications (turbo upgrade or more) to have ruined your clutch already.
 
#40 ·
k now i know why people leave this site..:thumbdown too many *******s. i wasnt trying to start an argument oor be insulted. ass hat.. haha

umm im not a street queen, i drive my subie in the dirt and HARD. im lucky it lasted this long.

have fun talking ****.. ass hat..

DIRTYIMPREZA.COM come see some polite and knowledgeable drivers when you grow up
 
#41 ·
On a vehicle that ruitinely sees 50-90k miles on a stock clutch, it was pretty obvious that you are aggressive. I offered a suggestion to you, but unfortunately when you drive that hard in dirt none the less... The dealership will know, so it's pointless trying my option. You come here asking if you should upgrade your clutch? I think that may be the last of your worries. Start saving for a transmission.

Now I may have been a little forward, but in no way was I calling you names. And if you want to beat the living crap out of your car, be my guest... But when you bite the hand that feeds you, that's a problem. I offer you well informed information from a situation where I had a similar problem.. Only mine was caused by too much power. It's one thing to disregard my advice, but a whole different beast to insult me from the ground up. Please make your way back to your dirty forum and tell "all yo boys that you skooled some ass hat on clubwrx yo". I'm sure you'll probably get a slap on the back and a six pack for that one.

/rant