Clutch (?) Problem

[ambientFLIER]

Hey guys, I wanted to see if anyone knows what the problem is. When I am in gear, and go to push the clutch in to downshift, it will be really hard to push in, and only go in half way, and grind a bit. You have to really push it hard to get it all the way in. It does it maybe 50% of the time. It only does it when I try to downshift, not at higher-rpm upshifts. Does this sound like a clutch/pressure plate problem? How much would I be looking at for labor to replace it, around $500?

Thanks.

 

[coyfish]

hmmm . . . the clutch itself is grinding? not the shifter?

How would the clutch be hard when downshifting and normal when upshifting??

Do you mean when you push the clutch at like 1-2K rpm ?

 

[ambientFLIER]

I don't know, it only happens when downshifting, so I guess at lower rpm, 2000-2500, at least so far, anyway. I tend to upshift at about 3000-4000, and it doesn't do it.

When it happens, the pedal gets very hard to press, like it jams, and then you really have to force it down hard. Meanwhile, there's some kind of a grinding noise coming from the clutch area.

The clutch pedal also feels "grainy" in its travel even when it's working normally when I push it in.

I figured maybe it's the throw out bearing, or the pressure plate or something; I'm not a huge expert on clutches yet.

 

[coyfish]

Yeah sorry I cant help you. All I can say is that the clutch should always go in easily at any rpm.