What the #!@$ happened?

Yesterday i was driving along shifting from 2nd to 3rd when all the sudden the clutch stopped working, I'm not exactly sure as to if it broke or wore out because there were no signs of major wear or slippage. Maybe something got loose with the clutch or a syncro was stripped. Basically when i hold down the clutch, it wont go into any gear, making that grinding syncro sound in every gear, that noise u hear when u make clutchless shifting. Its a stock 98 rs non turbo 2l. Is this a common thing to happen? O yeah and right after the clutch stopped working the engine started idling rough and the engine and tranny were vibrating alot more than usually, even in neutral (since thats the only way the engine runs). If you guys have any ideas as to what might be going on plz give me some advice. Thank you very much.

There is a lot of things that could have happened here. You could have bent your clutch fork, you could have toasted your TOB, you could have a problem with your hydrolic clutch system, or your clutch could just be shot. Start doing process of elimination. Check your clutch fluid, make sure its at the right level. Does your clutch pedal stick to the floor? Thats another sign of no clutch fluid. When you push the clutch in do you feel anything in the pedal?

If the motor and tranny are vibrating really bad I'm going to think you shattered the clutch and how its jammed up in there, possibly overlapping causing it to throw the flywheel balance off, there for making your motor/tranny vibrate bad.

thanks for the reply, I know that there is a normal amount of clutch fluid in and the clutch feels the same as it did when it drove and it's not sticking to the ground. what is TOB? what I really hope is that I didn't strip a syncro or gear or #$& my tranny, cuz taking off the motor and opening up the tranny probably costs a grip. Im hoping its just the clutch that needs to be replaced, whats the price for a new or used clutch and do you need to lift out the motor to change it? thanks alot guys.

Not going into ANY gear is almost garanteed to be the clutch. Wether its the hydraulics, fork, or anything else JAke mentioned, is up to you to find out. I wouldnt waste one penny on a used clutch, always go new. Do the TOB (Throw Out Bearing) as well. Motor stays in the car, drop the tranny to the floor. A full days work if you think you can do this yourself. ~500 labor to have a shop/dealer do it. Clutches start around 200 for cheapos, up to God knows what for race versions. You'll likely want something in between, but for a NT I wouldnt know where to start. Good luck.

Hey thanks for the reply man, there was one interesting fact I forgot to mention. When I turned off the engine and put it in gear the car would jot forward then goto idle without stalling then make a gear stripping sound. It did that in every gear, so I stopped doing that cuz obviously that would ruin the tranny. Whats interesting is that the car grinds in gear but doesn't move with clutch out. I know thats not good for the car but could shattering a clutch affect the tranny as well? Thanks again guys you rock.

something similar happend to me

my clutch disk basicly shatterd and fiberglass got caought up in my throw out barrins my whole clutch and throw out barrins were fucked lol

my master and slave cylinder were fine and so was the clutch fork its more then likely ur clutch that went out

We go way back, so I hope you don't mind if I point out that it's spelled "bearings." :D But yes, a banjaxed disc could do this, sometimes the inner and outer halves seperate.

Actually, on Chads old FWD, he hit a pothole and and knocked the donkey biscuits out of the clutch disc. A couple springs fell out. No clutch action at all, just as you describe in this thread. A pedal that "feels" normal would be consistent with this. Verify that the other parts work by having a friend step on the pedal (car off of course) while you are under there looking at the fork. If it moves a good inch or two and doesnt twist as it moves, I would just drop the tranny and put an eyeball on that clutch disc.