Anyone familiar with what underside/gearbox look like?

[anonymous-user]

Didn't know how to word the question but in the photo below, taken underneath looking forward, is the small hole circled in red supposed to be there (I'm worried as it's not common for any hole to be there on purpose on a car!) - I found this whilst trying to sort another problem, the black oily substance is actually just a ton of wd40 sprayed liberally when trying to get my clutch slave off so isn't gearbox oil or similar.


I'm preparing myself for the worst, the bottom mounting bolt on the clutch slave has seized and the car has been laid up for 6 weeks whilst I try every method under the sun to free it, if the above picture shows that the hole isn't meant to be there and a new gearbox or similar is needed, I think my mx5 ownership experience could be very short lived!

[MX-5 Lazza]

Well the hole isn't meant to be there but if it's on the bell-housing (i.e. the clutch housing between the engine & gearbox) then it shouldn't be a problem.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks Lazza, it is indeed on the bellhousing, just down under where the clutch slave is fitted, if it's nothing to worry about I think I'll just get my old man to put a little bit of solder over it to keep the dust out, I assume it would be wise to plug the hole in any case?

In terms of my clutch slave, I'm now resigned to trying to rebuild it in-situ rather than replacing as I've exhausted all methods of seized bolt removal and 6 weeks on axle stands is quite enough!

[snotrag]

You know, i actually recall seeing a hole in that vicinity and wondering what it was... i'll look tonight.


As for the slave cylinder - i presume you've done all the tricks -

tightening the other bolt back up
Heat persuasion
Big long bar persuasion
Plus gas persuasion (better than WD40)
etc etc.

If so - a possiblt cheap fix for you could be to leave the slave cylinder in situ, and buy a rebuild kit, and do it it while its still attached?

[anonymous-user]

snotrag said:

You know, i actually recall seeing a hole in that vicinity and wondering what it was... i'll look tonight.


As for the slave cylinder - i presume you've done all the tricks -

tightening the other bolt back up
Heat persuasion
Big long bar persuasion
Plus gas persuasion (better than WD40)
etc etc.

If so - a possiblt cheap fix for you could be to leave the slave cylinder in situ, and buy a rebuild kit, and do it it while its still attached?

Cheers, wouldn't want to seal the hole up if it's meant to be there!

As for the slave, tried everything but plusgas as I can't find a motor factor in the area that sells it, apparently Halfords do a 'freeze and release' spray so I'm off to get some now. The bolt is pretty much knackered now, I've tried ring spanners, hex sockets, long bars, tightening it, vice grips, hammering on a socket that's too small - I think someone at the factory glued it on for a laugh!

Thought about a rebuild using the parts from the new slave cylinder I've bought, but it doesn't seem possible to retract the pin far enough to wiggle it back out from the retaining bracket, the only other thing I can think of now is getting an angle grinder underneath, grinding the actual slave off from underneath leaving the bolt protruding, then trying to undo the bolt by getting some better purchase on the shaft.

[bluetone]

Sorry to hear of your woes, no-one likes a seized screw/bolt.

Might one of these do the job?

[snotrag]

I think the problem with the lower bolt on the Slave cylinder is that its obscured. The top one you can get through the wheel arch, head on, but the bottom is obscured by the subframe, as such you can only get to it from the side, I.e. with a wrench, but probably not with an impact driver?