How to Adjust a Clutch on Your Truck

There are two main clutch types that are used and each one has it’s own adjustment procedure. The most common today is the pull-type, on smaller and older trucks had push-type.

Let’s start with the push-type because more people are used to this procedure: Most push types work well at about an 1″ of free pedal, however, you should find the exact measurement from the manufacturer from a service manual.

Whatever your original adjustment is, say it is 1″ always adjust the clutch when your freeplay is cut in half, so when your down to 1/2″ of freeplay, adjust your clutch. Never wait till your pedal is hard and your experiencing shifting problems.

Push-type clutches can be adjusted by the linkage underneath the truck usually a few turns will make a big difference to your pedal. Most linkages will have to be made longer.

There is another push-type clutch that adjusts internally but will discuss that after the pull-type instructions.

Pull-type clutches don’t adjust the free pedal with the linkage. The linkage is a factory set and should not be touched. Pull types require an internal adjustment on the pressure plate, and gauges are used between the release bearing and the clutch brake and between the fork fingers and the release bearing.

There are many adjusters on pressure plates depending on the clutch type but the measurement is the same. The first step is to turn the adjuster clockwise until you have a 1/2″ between the release bearing and clutch brake when you have that you should also have a 1/8″ between the fingers and the release bearing.

If it’s a little tight which it shouldn’t cause you never touched the linkage right? But bushing and linkage wear can throw things off, but if it is, turn the bell-crank two turns and that should solve it.

If you have a pull-type clutch but have no brake then change your 1/2″ to 3/4″ that will make up for the brake, this is common on mid-sized trucks with synchronized transmissions.

Now that other push type is a Lipe version which uses spanner nuts inside one to lock and one to adjust. The measurements are the same as the pull-type 1/2″ and 1/8″ but you have to loosen the front nut first and turn the rear one counter-clockwise to bring the release bearing closer to the clutch brake until you have your half-inch, then lock the front nut.

Also, have your clutch adjusted at every other service interval or every 3 months, it’s a good practice to adjust often, did you know that more clutches get replaced because the adjusters are frozen?

A clutch job could easily be prevented by adjusting the clutch often. Especially on the easy-pedal clutch which is the most common these days.