Help with broken Clutch stuff.

[Tokyokev]

Hi all

I have just been on the phone to the garage - I was losing clutch fluid by the mega-litre and they have been investigating...they have told me that it is the 'Clutch Release Assembly' or another way to say it is 'Clutch Operating Assembly'? Anyway, I sent the japanese garage 4 pictures to help me understand what part it is that needs replacing as I have to order it from the UK. Below are descriptions of the pics i sent.

Pic 1 - Entire Clutch Kit/Plate etc
Pic 2 - Slave Cylinder
Pic 3- Master Cylinder
Pic 4 - Slave Cylinder Seals.

They now tell me that it is none of these parts? I do not know what they are talking about, and they are very far away, so can't even see for myself.

Does anyone have an idea? And would fluid be leaking from any other place? Confused.

Best

K

Edited by Tokyokev on Monday 13th November 08:57

[jensena]

There are 2 hydraulic comoonents that operate the clutch. The Master cylinder, which is operated with a direct mecahanical connection to the clutch pedal, and sits in the engine bay, above the clutch pedal and is covered by a black (usually) cover that is bonded in with a silicone sealant.
The other hydraulic component is the slave cylinder, this is located in the clutch housing, and is actuated by hydralic pressure transfered from the Master cylinder.
So the only components that can leak are the Master and the Slave cylinders.
If the Master is leaking, you will have clutch fluid in the drivers footwell, if its the Slave sylinder it will be leaking fron underneath the car onto the floor.

The Master Cylinder is easy, but fiddly to replace. The Slave cylinder is a more major job, splitting the Gear box and engine to gain access to it.

I would imagine thay are saying the Slave Cylinder is leaking, so this would need replacing. There is a good guide to doing that on the forum, it's not too bad a job for a well equipped garage.

An improved/upgraded Slave cylinder is available from Clever Trevor (Google Clever trevor TVR) for £260. A Complete clutch assembly including new Slave cylinder is £550 ish from the same place. And that is all you will need, there is nothing else.

Edited by jensena on Monday 13th November 13:48

[mad mark]

There is a very small possibility that it could just be one of the two hydraulic pipes that are leaking.
There is one that travels from the master to the slave cylinder, this enters the bellhousing at approx the 4'oclock position. The other is a bleed pipe that exits the bellhousing at the 12'oclock position.
They may have split or just come loose.

[Tokyokev]

Thanks guys.

I will have the garage check the pipes and also re-look at the Slave seals etc. I have no idea what they are talking about, maybe trying to pull the wool over my eyes.

Best

K

[mad mark]

Try and get them to give you a better description of what they think it is, or where they can and cant see fluid.

If they haven't pulled the Gearbox out yet, then if it is the slave there will/should be fluid either between the bellhousing and gearbox, or more likely there is a small drain hole at the bottom of the bellhousing fluid will be coming out of here.

I've got loads of pics if you want any posted or mailed.

[Tokyokev]

Thanks Mark
That's a great help, it's difficult as I don't speak Japanese, so the miscommunication is causing a few probs. I am goling to get myself over to the garage and look with my own eyes. The clutch has only done 7k so can't see how it could be anything like Slave or Clucth assembly - it was only losing fluid, so should only be a few things.

Thanks again, if I still can't get my point across, I will definately take your offer of photos.

Good night. I'm off to work now., it's 7,40am here.

K

[Tokyokev]

HI Mark and Jensena

thanks for your pointers...the garage have concluded that it is indeed buggered Slave seals. But new ones on their way to me from the UK as I type. so should be back to normal again soon.

Now have to scrub the dark damp spots off my garage floor from the litre of fluid I lost.

Best

K

[mad mark]

Hope it goes well

[jensena]

Tokyokev said:

HI Mark and Jensena

thanks for your pointers...the garage have concluded that it is indeed buggered Slave seals. But new ones on their way to me from the UK as I type. so should be back to normal again soon.

Now have to scrub the dark damp spots off my garage floor from the litre of fluid I lost.

Best

K

A word of caution - If the seals fail it is usally because of scoring inside the slave cylinder. As you are in Japan the mechanics there are probably used to Jap components that never go wrong! Unless the inside of the slave cylinder is totally perfect, new seals will soon fail, if it was my car I'd fit a new Slave cylinder while the car is apart. (I just did on mine)
Also remember that Madmarks clutch guide can be translated into Japanese on www.Babelfish.com

[mad mark]

jensena said:

Also remember that Madmarks clutch guide can be translated into Japanese on www.Babelfish.com

That would be funny to see

[Tokyokev]

mad mark said:

jensena said:

Also remember that Madmarks clutch guide can be translated into Japanese on www.Babelfish.com

That would be funny to see

When the mechanic spoke to me in very, very broken English, it took me about 5 mins to figure what the 'cratch cirunder' was.

Now that was funny.


K

PS: Thanks Mark for your email. I have indeed passed it onto the mechanic. Cheers for that.

[mad mark]

no worries Kev