clutch gone help

[madmick]

hi all happy xmas not for me though!!
came to a roundabout last night and the clutch pedal went sraight to the floor can anybody tell me if the gearbox needs to come out to replace the slave cylinder ?

[Mad Mark]

Sounds like the fingers have gone on your clutch.
Check your fluid first, but more than likely fingers.

[Jasper Gilder]

Gear box needs to be moved as the slave is in the bell housing. Get them to check the clutch while you're at it - any doubt - change it. Cost me about £500.00 when I had the slave done last year

[Moulder]

Jasper is right, the gearbox does need to come out. When my slave cylinder went it was repaired under warranty so no idea of cost, but they had it for a full day so £500 seems about right.

[jonbarrett]

I had the same problem, mine was a burst hydraulic hose. There are two hoses to look at, one from the master to slave cylinder and a bleed hose from the slave. Both run close to the exhaust. Both of mine had been rubbing against the exhaust manifold until one burst. Hope this helps.

[kojak]

Not sure whether it is the fingers. I suspect the seals to be honest. Can you see any oil near the pedals (master) or under the bellhousing (slave). As mentioned....if it is the slave, then yes it has to come out.

[Scrooloose]

Fingers manifests itself as not being able to get the car in gear with the engine running.

Sounds more like a hydraulic issue....

[Mr M]

I'm not sure the exact setup as I'm not a TVR mechanic, but I had a situation where the screw that holds the pedal to the rod going into the slave cylinder, became detached and resulted in the pedal not going down at all because of the loose rod hitting the floor first or as you have mentioned (I think) going straight down. Worth a punt.

[fatjon]

Slave cylinder is about £231.20 + VAT and a complete clutch (minus slave) is £305.50 + VAT from Clever Trevor. I think you will also get some money back on the old one. If your clutch has done more than 20,000 miles or so I would go for a new one even if it is just the slave cylinder. Most of the labour is taking it all apart and putting it back together so it's a possible false economy just replacing the slave cylinder if the clutch is near the end of its life. Expect to pay about £250 in labour for the job. It's by no means a specilaist TVR type of job. Any competent mechanic can do it and it's about 3 hours work including diagnosis, fitting, bleeding and testing.

Just done mine a couple of weeks back and on stripping down the clutch was ok (ish) but it was the slave that was past it's best and the pedal had gradually crept its way to the floor. I did both as a precaution as the clutch had done 32k miles anyway.

Jon

[madmick]

well just like to say thanks to all who replyed,just gone out for a tinker!took the master cylinder cover of to have a look and low and behold its empty!any way filled it back up and bled the system have a clutch again with no apparent leak!no doubt there must be a leak all beit it very tiny at mo but if it lasts for a while longer so be it as the clutch has now done 41,000 and i dont drive like a pussy!!reading threads this must be a reord? so i think it deserves a new clutch and cylinders!i will attempt the job myself as i have done all the work on it so far and its still going after 7 years of my tinkering!! you all have a happy new year and i will let you know how the clutch change goes when i finally have to bite the bullet

[fatjon]

40,000+ yup thats got to be near the record. Suggest you start sticking 20's in the piggy bank...
Glad it all worked out OK anyway.

[_Neal_]

40k has to be close to the record - I just had mine done (clutch and slave) at 37k and I understood that was a pretty decent time

[kojak]

_Neal_ said:

40k has to be close to the record - I just had mine done (clutch and slave) at 37k and I understood that was a pretty decent time

Not too sure. Simonsparrow's cerbera has done about 120K. Not sure how many clutches he's had in that time.

[madmick]

i know i said all was okish but its not ish!!! if i rest my foot on the pedal very lightly it goes to the floor,if i push it normally as if im going to change gear i have full pressure and pedal!! strange air maybe?

[FarmyardPants]

Sounds like the piston seals have failed, most likely the slave end. In the early stages the seal is only slightly compromised so slow pedal pressure will let the fluid past the seal whereas a quick prod doesn't allow enough time for much fluid to get through. In my experience it's likely to get worse very quickly so I would take it in to be fixed while it's still drivable (and have someone follow you )