Found spring in drivers side footwell - what is it??

[Bruich10]

Originally Posted by WillH

Lighter replacement spring keeps cruise control working by insuring pedal returns to switch and removes side to side play. Heavy stock spring makes it more difficult to modulate clutch as it kills pedal feel.

The more I am thinking about the function of this spring - the more confused I get.
Let me describe how I think it is:
The spring is pre-loaded (meaning compressed) in the resting position - must be.
By pushing the pedal the spring gets more compressed and hence pushes back on your foot?! And when you let go of the pedal the spring makes sure that the pedal returns to rest position and touching the cruise control switch.
I am quite confident this is how it must work.
But I am far from sure.

My statement somewhere else in the thread that the pedal is hard to operate due to the spring being broken makes no sense at all. Must be due to something else....
I think my previous understanding of the spring function was to assist the foot - no now I get confused again

Heeelp!

[Geof3]

Originally Posted by Bruich10

The more I am thinking about the function of this spring - the more confused I get.
Let me describe how I think it is:
The spring is pre-loaded (meaning compressed) in the resting position - must be.
By pushing the pedal the spring gets more compressed and hence pushes back on your foot?! And when you let go of the pedal the spring makes sure that the pedal returns to rest position and touching the cruise control switch.
I am quite confident this is how it must work.
But I am far from sure.

My statement somewhere else in the thread that the pedal is hard to operate due to the spring being broken makes no sense at all. Must be due to something else....
I think my previous understanding of the spring function was to assist the foot - no now I get confused again

Heeelp!

No, it’s the other way around. Both ends of the spring are fixed and the spring expands as you press the clutch and essentially pulls the pedal back. With part of your spring on the floor, it is most likely the entire mechanism is broken (just plastic) and the whole thing may need to be replaced.

[Bruich10]

Originally Posted by Geof3

No, it’s the other way around. Both ends of the spring are fixed and the spring expands as you press the clutch and essentially pulls the pedal back. With part of your spring on the floor, it is most likely the entire mechanism is broken (just plastic) and the whole thing may need to be replaced.

Still confused but on a high level.
So that means my first assumption was right?
But then i do not see how it at the same time can assist the pedal to go back and meet the cc switch??

I wish i could see a drawing of the pedal assembly from the side so i could see exactly what point moves where around the axis of the pedal - the exploded view earlier in the thread is difficult to interpret.