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Is the Steeda Clutch Cable, Quadrant and Firewall Adjuster anygood?

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7.2K views 28 replies 8 participants last post by  fast1992lx  
#1 ·
Is the Steeda Clutch Cable, Quadrant or Firewall Adjuster any good? I heard the cable sucks and the quadrant rattles. What sucks about the cable? The clutch cable on my car is toast and I want to get a new one tomarrow. They have a Steeda and I think an FMS in stock. I really want a UPR but they dont have them in stock and I want to fix this because it's hard to shift.
 
#2 ·
I speak on my experience. No, I don't think they are any good.
If you are after a stock clutch pedal feel, the best setup I have found is the UPR 3 way hook which your are looking for.
Using this with a STOCK cable, and I repeat STOCK cable ONLY will yeild you the best luck.

Either shop around until you find someone who has a UPR in stock or wait it out.

JT
 
#4 ·
I should rephrase and say Steeda's original design. It gave a pedal feel which was way to hard and unconfortable to push in all the time.

Basically any of the quadrants which make a fairly drastic radius turn where the cable rides will give a hard pedal feel. The straigther you can pull the cable through the firewall the less resistance you will feel at the pedal.
The UPR design lets you setup pedal feel for your use with the 3 hookups.
I won't be the only one that tells you to use stock cable. Do a search. And yes they will take heavy abuse. I put powered graphite in all the new stock cables I install with the UPR quads.

JT
 
#5 ·
I just read alot of posts that say the stock cable is the way to go. I saw alot of people like the Steeda Double Hook Quadrant and Firewall Adjuster. My cable must be stretched really bad because I can barely push the pedal down and it's very hard to get into gears. I want something that isnt too hard to push down, the easier the pedal, the faster I can get it down and come off of it when I shift. There is alot of noise towards the front when you push the clutch down. I dont want one that engages right off the floor either, I am short and already have to sit up close.
 
#7 ·
My answer would be no, yes, and yes.

I have the Steeda dual-hook quad, firewall adjuster, and the stock cable. I had the Steeda cable for over a year too, but it is no good compared to the stocker. Pedal feel is much better (smoother and lighter) with the stock cable.

The greatest factor in how hard the clutch pedal is to press in is the friction in the cable itself. Mine has been smooth and light since I put the stock cable in. Before I installed it, I lubed it with white lithium spray grease. When I first installed it after I had been using the Steeda cable, I was amazed at how light and smooth if felt.

People have complained about the original Steeda firewall adjuster creeping out of adjustment over time, but I have never experienced this. I set it where I like it, and there it stays. I have seen people on Corral complain about having to adjust their cable every three months, but I am not really sure what the complaint is about. I have my hood open all the time anyway; if the clutch is out of adjustment (and for me, it never has been, once set), it takes ten seconds to fix it. It's not like you have to crawl around on your back like I did with my 72 Beetle.

For what it is worth, the new Steeda adjusters have a little allen set-screw to prevent it from backing off. I personally would not use that set-screw.

I would highly recommend the Steeda quad and adjuster. The cable... go with Ford. You can get the stock ones for about $40 online if you look around (if your existing stock one is no good). I got mine in a kit with a new clutch fork from Diversified Products Marketing. They shipped quickly, and I am pleased with their service.

Frank
 
#9 ·
The only ones you are liable to find locally other than at your Ford dealer are probably going to be Motormite, Pioneer, and other aftermarket cables. They're not worth it. I tried two Pioneer cables, and they were much worse than the Steeda.

Go to www.buyfordmotorsport.com and search for "linkage." It is called the clutch upgrade kit. $40, and it comes with a new clutch fork too.

Frank
 
#11 ·
I am puzzled. Why did you even ask if the Steeda cable is any good? All of us told you, from our own experience, to go with the stock cable, but you got the Steeda anyway...?

I have a Steeda cable right here, lying on my apartment's floor, because I just replaced it with the stock cable. The Steeda cable I have is not broken or worn out-- it just isn't as good as a stock cable. The money I spent on the Steeda was a waste.

You will hardly find any consensus on anything on Corral, but the superiority of the Ford cable is one thing that you will find that there is nearly total agreement on.

If any place you visit won't sell you what you want, don't just buy whatever they say (literally and figuratively). You are the customer; you have the choice, not the seller. Tell him to sell you what you want or you'll go get it elsewhere. I don't know why you would pay $166 for it when you can get it for a quarter of that with a free clutch fork for your next clutch job.

If you are anything like the rest of us, you will be going to the Ford unit eventually anyway. Maybe you will have better luck convincing the next guy that comes along than I did.

Frank
 
#12 ·
I didnt want to buy it, they had the Ford Clutch Cable Kit with Clutch Fork right there but he said no and wouldnt even sell it to me. He said the Steeda is whats in his car and it has been working good. I am probally going to end up going back and get the stock cable, he is the Mustang guy at the place and I was trying to get around him to one of the owners who I usually buy from but he was busy. The $166 was from the dealership, the cable there probally would have been $40-$50. With the adjustable cable, I can set adjust the clutch to where I want it, right? With the stock cable, if I dont like how the pedal, I wont be able to fix it, will I? Do I need a firewall adjuster with the stock cable if the cable isnt adjustable? I am so confused here.
 
#13 ·
Ok. With an adjustable cable, you only _need_ the quadrant. You will have to adjust it at the clutch fork under the car. It is a major pain in the butt that way. If you had the firewall adjuster and the Steeda cable, you could adjust it at the firewall or under the car (and it would be silly to do it under the car at that point).

In order to use the non-adjustable stock cable with the Steeda quadrant, you will need the firewall adjuster. It is not a matter so much of having the clutch how you like it... if there is too much freeplay in the pedal, you can have difficulty shifting, and if there is not enough freeplay, you'll never be able to get the cable on the quadrant and the clutch fork at the same time.

Don't plan on the stock cable being $40-50 at the dealer. It's going to be well into the three digits, more than likely. That is why I gave you the link for Diversified.

And please take my word on this. Don't let a counter clerk tell you he won't sell you something he has for sale. Get another counter guy or ask for the manager. If that does not work, don't let them do that to you-- walk out and go somewhere else. YOU are the customer, and if you want the clutch upgrade kit, dammit, you should have it.

Frank
 
#15 ·
I have had the Steeda cable, quadrant and firewall adjuster on a King Cobra clutch for 2 or 3 years and I have no complaints.
 
#17 ·
I never have to adjust it, since I put a dab of RTV on the threads of the adjuster to keep it from walking or vibrating around like it used to when I first installed it. Pedal effort is pretty much stock, I'd have a hard time quantifying a difference and if there is it's the clutch. It may not be as smooth as the stock cable, I feel some notchiness sometimes but it's never affected my clutch actuation capability or made the car any less fun to drive.
 
#19 ·
Nope. It's as-installed.
 
#21 ·
Not as far as I know. I bet the problem was a "self-adjusting" adjuster.
 
#22 ·
Steeda instructions tell you to use a dab of RTV like MFE did. That WILL cure adjustment creep. I used a bit too much and had to remove my adjuster just to break the damn thing loose. I have no complaints about my steeda quadrant/adjuster/adj. cable. I know the effort is higher than stock (I converted from an AOD so I have no direct comparison) because when I drive the newer cars I slam the clutch pedal to the floor, expecting it to take more effort. It's just what I'm used to and it doesn't bother me a bit (clutch is a D&D HD unit, don't remember which one)
 
#26 ·
Speeds8erM-1 said:
How much harder is it?
the pedal should, in NO way be harder than stock. the steeda quadrant follows the same exact curve as the stock quadrant and thats what determines stiffness.... i just put the steeda 2-hook quadrant and firewall adjuster on my car and it feels no different than it did with the stock quadrant. i also have the stock ford cable. im just glad i dont have to worry about the stock plastic thing failing....

take care,
adam