What caused this to happen? Clutch disc problem.

[RoyBatty]

In the last month I had noticed the clutch was not properly disengaging with the pedal fully depressed.
I had also noticed that one time at the start of my morning commute that the pedal effort had increased and had a slight popping sound. I cycled the pedal a couple times and it loosened up and the popping sound went away....< shoulder shrug>
The problem came and went but never made the car undriveable.
Well last Wednesday on the commute home from work, it became nearly impossible to disengage the clutch. Even with the pedal fully depressed, the engine was dragging the car. So I had to resort to commuting in my car without a soul (93 Honda Civic).
I spent 2.5 hrs last night pulling the transmission and then the pressure plate and clutch disc and found this.

I have driven the car for almost 50,000 miles in the last 18 months and it was parked for 23 years before I acquired it.
So why did the spring wear it's retainer tab and pop out? And has anyone else experienced this? I found it interesting that the clutch disc friction material seemed to still have plenty of life.

[124JOE]

it look like something was rideing on the springs.but i dont know

look at you fire wall,if its cracked it can be welded with a washer over the crack

[So Cal Mark]

the spring-loaded hub absorbs the shock of engagement. "popping" the clutch will cause the springs/hub to fail. This is one area where our performance clutches are beefed up.

[majicwrench]

That sort of thing happens with clutches, like Mark said Popping clutch agravates issues. But I see that all the time on customers clutches, it just happens. New clutch, on the road again!
Keith

[manoa matt]

There were wear grooves in the friction face that are now gone, indicating the clutch disc is due for replacement. Also through the cyclical cycle of compression and extension the springs will loose some of their spring rate over time, which may have led to the spring popping out.

Also, as the friction face wears the pivot/thowout distance changes and must be taken up via the adjuster nut at the throwout arm. That is likely what led to the clutch not disengaging a month ago.

Time to replace the clutch, get the entire kit with the friction disc, cover plate, and throwout bearing. If you have the flywheel refaced you should also replace the pilot bearing in the end of the crank at the same time. Check the rear main oil seal while you are there.