Today I finished the last couple of 'things' for the hpak duster so I can get it aligned and get it a new set of rubber...

My 32 year old overcenter spring pretty much was rusty and was not stretching like it should have so I pulled the clutch pedal,etc and worked a few things over and noticed a couple things...

The top fork rod is from Brewer's Performance and is for an A-body, the second one down is the OEM version that came with my '74 duster (since the original 1976 version had a notch worn into the eye), and the lower rod is from a 1980's Dodge Truck with a slant six an A-833OD...



I also had ordered a new overcenter spring, and the version they sent was a bit more heavy duty...after setting it up, the clutch returns perfectly and it's not any harder to push in the pedal than the light duty spring that was on there...



Here's a nice 'Uh-Oh'... Looks like some of the problems with clutch returns are due to a broken shaft bushing and lack of lubrication, the scored shaft was in the hpak duster, and the other pedal was out of my '74 duster and had 110K+ miles on it with granny use... so I replaced the pedal with the low miler...



Yep... the top ones are the worn versions from the '76, and the lowers are in better shape from the '74... I'll have to get a set of replacements 'just in case', I also took the time to put a slight film of lube on the shaft before reassembling (should've put a grease zerk in the sleeve for more lube later...)



The results are pretty nice, easy working pedal (especally after the fun of working the pedal back and forth to get the overcenter spring off, and if doing so don't forget to unhook the clutch interlock switch... it'll save you a headache)... and it returns right to the top of the sweep when you let off of it...

Got sometime? Pedal doesn't return as nicely... time to get in there and get it fixed...

cheers!

-D.Idiot

I'm bookmarking this one for in case I end up with a used pedal assembly...

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'74 Duster w/ HEI ignition, beat to snot suspension, A904, 8.25" 3.55 SG rear, still being tuned up and gets 17 MPG

Know how they always build a better idiot? That's me

Very helpful - I did the same yesterday. Thanks for the tutorial!

Just how did you get that spring off? You said working the pedal back and forth? I can't picture it.

The easy way was out of the car with the spare set from the '74 you can extend the clutch pedal past the point where the dash would impede things and pull it right off...

If under the dash, you pull the 'c' clip at the end, then while pushing/pulling back and forth you can pull the pedal toward the driver's side kick panel/ e-brake about 1-2" and that will move the clutch pedals travel limiter (a bent tab of metal) from out of it's spot so you can then pull the pedal 'up' toward the dash, remove spring and replace... then wiggle it back the other way...

-D.Idiot

Thanks for the info D-Idiot. That sounds fun. My clutch pedal is lazy to return, so I may be replacing spring before too long.

How do you know when to replace the spring? I picked up a pedal assembly from a low-mileage wreck so have no idea whether it is still good. New springs are $50 so don't want to order something I don't really need. Any ideas?

The sad part is there's not away to test it until you hook it all up and see if all jives... *skronk* *clunk* "What half way up!?!?!" Pull pedal back up with tip of toe *clunk*....

If you have a low miler, things should be OK (the 74 pedal set I have only had 113K on it... but it had started to 'skronk' but still return about the time I crated up the car...

-D.Idiot