Long clutch pedal travel?

[Fatboy8]

Is it just me or is the travel on the clutch pedal really long?

I'm six ft tall and in order to be able to depress the clutch all the way, I have to scoot the seat up quite a bit. But then, my right foot and leg are scrunched up.

Unless there is an adjustment, I'm gonna look into a spacer for the pedal to make it more balanced for my needs.

 

[marc77777]

I'm 6'1" and I find it ok. Maybe your left leg is shorter than your right.

 

[TDI_Timmy]

Also 6ft tall and sit with the seat set pretty far back. Don't have an issue either.

My wife is shorter than I am, she does move the seat up to reach all the pedals comfortably but is also no where near being scrunched.

Maybe you have seat set too high or too low? Seat back back too far? I notice that if my seat back is back too far that it makes engaging the clutch feel different.

 

[Fatboy8]

Both legs are the same length, but I could get one of those shoes for my left foot with a thicker sole to fix my problem!

I've tried close up, all the way back, seat up, down and everything in-between. Doesn't seem to matter, my clutch has a LONG travel.

Wife is shorter and she's noticed it too. We both grew up driving a clutch, so I doubt it's from lack of experience.

 

[mwayner69]

I wonder if the clutches just have a longer travel in the TDI's? I have 2 manual VWs and the clutch travel is different in each. My TDI is a DSG (per the wife's request) so I don't know if that is the reason. It may just be something you have to get used to though?

 

[TDI_Timmy]

I would say go to a dealer and hop in another 2011 Jetta TDI sedan and compare clutch travel to yours if you were so inclined.

I thought it felt the same as a New Beetle I used to drive, and my dad thought it was similar to his '79 Rabbit diesel.

I don't have enough knowledge to know - but - mwayner69 - does one car have a hydraulic setup and the other a cable setup? I wonder if that could be a difference. Or does VW only use hydraulic setups?

I also doubt it is from lack of experience - and I will give you that to press the clutch to the floor feels like 6-8 inches? I don't know the precise measurement. Same question goes for Fatboy8 - were your previous cars hydraulic, cable or linkage type?

 

[mwayner69]

I believe both of mine are hydraulic, but will have to check the Beetle to verify. I've only had it a year and haven't driven it a whole lot. I guess I should note that they both feel like they have similar amounts of travel, they just engage/disengage at different points in the travel. (does that even make sense?)

 

[TDI_Timmy]

I have a feeling the New Beetle is a hydraulic clutch. And yes, that made complete sense.

 

[dweisel]

09 Sedan clutch travel approx. 8 inches
09 JSW clutch travel approx.8 inches
03 Beetle clutch travel approx. 7.5 inches

Half an inch is going to make no difference.

 

[eatpasta]

the ONLY thing I didnt like about the Jetti TDI was the clutch. Super long throw and hardly any resistance at all.
Ive got an old Jeep with a heavy spring, and my Accord that got almost 300K on it is the worst clutch known to man.... so it felt really weird to me.

Love the car.

 

[TDI_Timmy]

Well -I guess it's closer to 8! I was close with at least one number and without a tape measure!

Actually, I think it is the hydraulic clutch that makes it less resistant. I put a hydraulic clutch on my Fairlane and it isn't very heavy feeling at all - in some respects is pretty close to the Jetta.

I think the clutch feels like a VW.

 

[AirmanTDI]

I'm a bit of a hobbit and haven't found it to be a problem..

 

[Fatboy8]

Checked my travel, from the front edge of the pedal completely forward to all the way in is 7 inches.

I would have said 12 inches when I started the thread!

I've owned and driven over a dozen manual tranny cars since turning 16, all cable operated. My first was a 1972 Pinto in 1987 and my last was a 1998 Mustang GT brand new. I don't remember any being like my Jetta.

Was hoping it wasn't just me, but guess it is so I'm gonna have to get used to it!

 

[Brian's96TDIPASSAT]

I find the same thing, if I position the seat to where I can push the clutch in all the way to the floor my right leg is kinda cramped and if I move the seat around, up down etc so my right leg is correct for me I have to stretch to press the clutch all the way. I'll figure a way around it. The pedals were way to close together on my 96 I just kinda tweeked the pedal to the left and it was just perfect