Clutch master cylinder

[ukflyboy]

Apologies for reviving an old thread, but thought it might be useful to have everything in the one...

Does anyone have any tips for removing the slave cylinder? Have the master cylinder all changed over and a new braided cable to link the two, but from what I can tell, the only way to get access to the bolts that hold it on to the bracket is underneath between the exhaust and the chassis; that route looks almost impossible! Is there an easier way which doesn't involve removing the exhaust? Can you remove the whole bracket it is on and do it that way?

Grateful for any assistance.

[phillpot]

ukflyboy said:

Can you remove the whole bracket it is on and do it that way?

From memory I think that is a viable option

[ukflyboy]

Ah, a bit more searching through google (the site search is better, but still a bit poo) and I found this...

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=13...

[markbigears]

Pete, you can indeed do the job without removing the exhaust. I remember well, one of the bolts that goes through the bracket is a right pain to undo, took lots of deep breaths and swearing, but eventually got the bar stall out. I replaced said bolts with cap end bolts to make the whole process easier next time. Good luck

Edited by markbigears on Wednesday 3rd May 18:19

[NiceCupOfTea]

Definitely don't need to remove the exhaust - 5 years since I did mine, but I remember it's not too bad, a bit fiddly, but once you're under the car it's fairly obvious. Just don't lose any bolts inside the bellhousing...

[ukflyboy]

Thanks for the input folks. Unfortunately I don't have access to a pit or ramp (not least because the car is in my garage and doesn't have a functional clutch system at present!) and from fiddling around underneath it by feel I don't see how I could get two spanners on it at the same time. I have an aftermarket exhaust on mine which may make things more awkward.

I can however get my arm down through the engine bay and access the top bolts and the bleed on the slave as well as the large mounting bolt on to the bellhousing. If there are no horror stories then I might look to remove the single main bracket mounting bolt and tackle it that way.

I've seen the warning about dropping bolts into the bellhousing in a few places now. Am I being retarded, or does that only apply if you have transmission dismantled? I can't see any bolts could get into the bellhousing while changing the slave with everything together?

[NiceCupOfTea]

You must have very long arms if you can get to it through the engine bay! If it helps I did it with the car on axle stands so it's not too bad. The clutch activation lever comes out from a hole in the side of the bellhousing IIRC, and the bolts can fall in if you're not careful!

[AutoAndy]

ukflyboy said:

Ah, a bit more searching through google (the site search is better, but still a bit poo) and I found this...

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=13...

As per this thread, you can put the car up on axle stands in your garage (I did) and undo the one bolt that holds the bracket on. This will then pull out with the cylinder still attached for you to remove in more space.

[MisterTee]

I managed to do mine from underneath using one axle stand. Was a bit fiddly, but managed fine.

Andy