Hello everyone,
My 2002 Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2L manual transmission has a very hard clutch pedal. It's not slipping but is just very hard to press. The gears engage very smoothly and there is no grinding sound. In fact the car is in superb condition. Only this hard to depress clutch. Does anyone have any advice on how i should proceed. Any help would be welcome.
Regards
Mud

Has the clutch always been hard to press? Do yu kno if the clutch was replaced previouslly?

There are a list of factors. I have had guys that want to put a more durable clutch in there petrol or diesel Tritons and Pajero's etc , . Over the stock these more sport and heavy duty clutch set ups there will be a differance in the clutch pedal. It will be alot firmer to press over wut the original was. The same thing with some aftermarket replacement clutches , the pressure plate is designed diffrently frum company to company and would in the clutch pedal feel depending on the pressure plate design.

In some rare cases , i have seen the clutch hydraulic hose "collapse" not break but internally it swells and cracks , similar to a brake hose , and it keeps pressure on one side. and makes it hard for pressure to pass thru. And this also would make the clutch pedal feel stiffer than normal .

Also if the clutch has been replaced and the clutch hydraulic line is out of position , or binded against its bracket going to teh transmission this can also cause a harder than normal clutch pedal.

Hi,
Thank you for your informative reply.
I am quite sure that the clutch has not been replaced with a 'better or more durable' aftermarket clutch.
The guys at the workshop say that I would need to replace the Clutch plate, pressure plate and clutch bearing. The car has done only 36,000 km. Also there seems to be a bit of feedback to the steering while I go slowly over a few bumps. At speeds its very stable. This is my first Pajero so am very confused. Also I did not get a user manual with the car so am still figuring out how some stuff works.
Any and all help would be very welcome

Well aside frum wut i said , the clutch doesnt have to be "better" , just sum aftermarket companies that make OEM replacement clutches make diffrent design on the pressure plate , to make it last longer , and in sum cases it makes the pedal feel a little diff than the original that it replaces.

Also it can be any of teh other symptoms previouslly listed, as in the hydraulic system.

Hi,
So you don't feel that changing the clutch plate, pressure plate and bearing will solve my problem? Also any tips on wheel alignment on this vehicle? Many Thanks.
regards
Mud

Its hard to say , has the clutch always felt this way?

As i said its a tough call , it can be in the hydraulic hose , and maybe not. Changing out the clutch could likely remedy the issue. Its really hard to say. When yu press the clutch , its hard to press, when yu release it the gear engages properly also?

The clutch can be also hard to press , if the throw out bearing is froze, seazed. It pushes on the forks of the pressure plate when yur pressing the clutch pedal.

Hi,
The clutch did feel hard since the day I bought the car.
Yes that's pretty much what the guy at the Garage had to say. He called it the return pressure bearing,said it had worn out, but said that the whole '3 part Kit' needed to be changed. This is an authorized mitsubishi dealership but here in Mumbai, India they don't have a very good reputation. I have ordered some books on my particular model and hope to get them soon. Hopefully that would give me a clear picture.
Also do you have the passwords for the Russian site that has the owners manuals. What's posted on the forum does not seem to work.

Greetings there in India, i have put a picture of a typical clutch system , it is frum a 1996 up Mitsubishi Diamante/Magna , but its not much different than yurs and is a basic illustration of the main parts.

Thanks for the diagram. Now I would at least know what they are fixing for me. I guess its those three parts.
regards
Aarish