Sure, that's something to look for. I watched the video again and it seems like the lever pivots nicely, but that's hardly proof compared to firsthand look down into the bellhousing.

IIRC there's a spring clip of sorts that holds it onto the ball, and you want it to snap into that spring.

The other thing is how the inboard end of the fork is engaged onto the throw-out bearing. If that's not right the transmission has to come off but maybe you can see into the bellhousing to verify it.

 

 

 

Got the transmission off today, couldn’t find anything out of the ordinary other than a hex key i found chilling on the side of the pressure plate, i also found one cross threaded pressure plate bolt. The fork looks fine and the clip is still intact. I’m not putting this back until i’m 100% sure i know it’s good.

 

The friction disk has one side where the springs are raised higher. Which way are the raised side of the springs facing, the engine or transmission?

 

the transmission

 

i also wanna mention the spring on the clutch fork is a bit soft, i don’t think it has ever been replaced if they do need a replacement after a while but thought that might be a reason. should i buy a completely new fork and spring?

 

That spring in the throw-out fork doesn't have to be real strong. It only prevents the fork from coming out of place while you install the transmission. However, it does have to snap around the ball that you can see in the bellhousing. When you install the fork, does it lightly snap into place? Or is the spring somehow fouled up so the spring gets in the way of that ball & socket arrangement getting properly into place?

I would deal with the one bolt for the pressure plate, because it'll just work loose and cause trouble after you get some mileage on the clutch.

And I don't know the answer about which side of the disk is which. All I have is a 1998-2002 shop manual, and it doesn't really make it obvious which side is which. (besides being the wrong year) You have it this far apart, just take off the pressure plate and look for evidence of anything rubbing on the hub & springs of the clutch disk.

 

Look at this picture of the spring #8. It looks like it kinks away from the throw-out fork, where your photo looks like it is backwards and the kinks are down into the depression where the pivot ball (#7) goes.



When you install that fork, the spring has to snap around the pivot ball, and the spring ends up sitting in the thin "neck" of the pivot ball.

 

Also look at this picture of the clutch disk. If you have a stock disk, look at the grooves in the friction material. The grooves radiate out diagonally, not straight. That might show which way the disk is supposed to go.