Clutch cable

[kmckmc]

Hi,

For those members have replaced clutch cable:

Is the Isuzu Impulse RS clutch cable identical to the Elan's? This cable is about 1/4 of Lotus part price.


Please find below the link to an Isuzu Impulse RS clutch cable for Left Hand Drive Elan.

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/9124 ... bletf3.jpg


Please advise.

[Camalot]

This post is rather old (2006). My clutch cable just (9/27/08) busted above the adjuster, the pedal goes to floor w/o engaging clutch. I presume by now others have experienced Elan clutch cable failure. The transmission housing (not gears) is the same as Isuzu Stylus, Impulse, and Geo Storm. The aftermarket clutch cable is the same for all of these; GEO STORM (1990 - 1993), GEO STORM 2+2 (1990 - 1993), GEO STORM GSI (1990 - 1993), ISUZU IMPULSE 1990, ISUZU IMPULSE RS 1991, ISUZU IMPULSE XS (1991 - 1992), ISUZU STYLUS RS 1992. These and the posted JPG all look like the ELANs except for the adjuster. As earlier post these are 1/5th the price of Lotus part before S&H. Has anyone replaced Lotus Elan M100 Clutch Cable with Isuzu part?

[Doc Fizzix]

Hi,
Is the Isuzu Impulse RS clutch cable identical to the Elan's? This cable is about 1/4 of Lotus part price.

Micheal

I have wondered the same thing. The look identical and I think the length is the same but not 100% on that. I have a spare Lotus version cable and I will measure it, so now if we could have the length of the Isuzu cable measured we can then compare them a little better. My guess is that they are the same and can be use interchangeably

[kmckmc]

I have compared both the LHD Isuzu clutch cable and the LHD Lotus Elan M100 cable. THEY are NOT THE SAME. But, with some modification, I am sure the Isuzu one could be used on Elan m100.

[Doc Fizzix]

I have compared both the LHD Isuzu clutch cable and the LHD Lotus Elan M100 cable. THEY are NOT THE SAME. But, with some modification, I am sure the Isuzu one could be used on Elan m100.

What is the difference? If it is length, then it will not matter and they are basically the same

[Camalot]

Besides LHD and RHD versions, there are two generations for the ELAN.
Older B style RHD 115mm, LHD 129MM
New (Dec 90+) C style RHD 143MM, LHD 157MM.
New one is longer to accomodate mass damper.
The measurement is loose wire at clutch lever end, Pull boot back and measure from clutch lever T to where Boot was attached.
But I am interested in total length of Isuzu and Lotus once you measure the free end length.
Also which Isuzu vehicle/yr or part # do you have?

I have the Elan Service manual and it says disconnect clutch cable from clutch pedal, no other instructions. I looked up there and can not see where the cable attaches. Do you have to remove anything to get to it? Any instructions for disconnecting from pedal would be appreciated. The Clutch lever end is simple.

[ovi]

Besides LHD and RHD versions, there are two generations for the ELAN.
Older B style RHD 115mm, LHD 129MM
New (Dec 90+) C style RHD 143MM, LHD 157MM.
New one is longer to accomodate mass damper.
The measurement is loose wire at clutch lever end, Pull boot back and measure from clutch lever T to where Boot was attached.
But I am interested in total length of Isuzu and Lotus once you measure the free end length.
Also which Isuzu vehicle/yr or part # do you have?

I have the Elan Service manual and it says disconnect clutch cable from clutch pedal, no other instructions. I looked up there and can not see where the cable attaches. Do you have to remove anything to get to it? Any instructions for disconnecting from pedal would be appreciated. The Clutch lever end is simple.

Can anyone say how the cable should be replaced?
I must replace mine..

[ovi]

Besides LHD and RHD versions, there are two generations for the ELAN.
Older B style RHD 115mm, LHD 129MM
New (Dec 90+) C style RHD 143MM, LHD 157MM.
New one is longer to accomodate mass damper.
The measurement is loose wire at clutch lever end, Pull boot back and measure from clutch lever T to where Boot was attached.
But I am interested in total length of Isuzu and Lotus once you measure the free end length.
Also which Isuzu vehicle/yr or part # do you have?

I have the Elan Service manual and it says disconnect clutch cable from clutch pedal, no other instructions. I looked up there and can not see where the cable attaches. Do you have to remove anything to get to it? Any instructions for disconnecting from pedal would be appreciated. The Clutch lever end is simple.

Can anyone say how the cable should be replaced?
I must replace mine..

[Camalot]

Two years ago I asked about the Isuzu cable and didn't get a 100% response so I bought the factory cable. I think this was probably from original inventory as the plastic split exactly the same way. Only this time not in 17yrs and 45K miles, rather 2 yrs and < 3K miles. So I looked at the Isuzu cable and it has a steel adjuster instead of the plastic one and its aftermarket so probably manufactured recently. I measured it and it appeared to be the same length as my broken one. After I installed I determined its a little more than 1.5 inches too long, maybe more. It was completely installed so I decided to improvise. I found a steel cable loop connector and just didn't use the loop. It was 1.25 inches long and I just installed between the cable end fitting and the plate before the clutch level to shorten it. Without this even with the threads totally used and it loose in the bracket the cable was not tight enough. Other than that the cable which has a slightly different bend at the firewall works fine w/o modification. If you have another way to cut the cable and install a new termination nut before installing, you can easily shorten 1.25-1.5 inches. I really think more. P.S. my clutch feels much stiffer, didn't last time w/ Lotus cable. Curve at firewall is less severe should be smoother.

Also how to disconnect from the clutch cable ? Just disconnect level end to get slack, then rotate up 90 degrees and it pulls right off.

As for pulling through firewall ? once disconnected from pedal it just comes out, you sometimes have to giggle it a little to get it to align it. The Isuzu end needed a little filing to get it back through the hole.

Best of luck.
Any one else had short life when replacing w/ factory cable?
Any one else tried the Isuzu cable w/ different modification?

[superbad]

Can anyone say how the cable should be replaced?
I must replace mine..

It's an incredible pain in the ass. The pedal side is just a clevis that fits over a hook on the end of the pedal. If you wedge the pedal with something against the firewall, you can then push the cable through from the engine compartment and it will unhook from the pedal. On my car, the cable was routed through the little space between the master cylinder and brake reservoir. I have no idea how they even did that. Without removing the reservoir, there was no way to thread the fat end of the cable through there, so I had to cut it. I'm off to get an Isuzu replacement, and have the end re-swaged if needed. I have no idea how I'm going to rehook the clevis on the pedal, there is no way for me to get a hand up there without disassembling most of the dash.

EDIT: Got the Isuzu cable (Beck/Arnley). It is a much nicer piece than the OEM unit- coated cable, metal threaded adjuster end, made in Italy. Currently $12 on Rock Auto. The free length is 1.25-1.5" too long- I cut the end off and swaged a new stop on.