Maybe it's the throwout bearing

[Charlie Sachs]

I have been asking around for opinions about why the clutch release action
is so stiff on my 98 Legacy. What else could bind in this mechanism with a
new cable? Charlie

 

[B. Mounsey]

If the car has had a clutch job, the shaft the release bearing slides on may
not have been lubed, which will cause heavy drag causing repeated cable
breakage and or heavy pedal.