Help, Please help
Help, Please help
Author
Discussion

WorAl

Original Poster:

10,877 posts

218 months

Tuesday 30th June 2009
quotequote all
OK my clutch went in september last year and was told it was the Slave Cylinder. Had this replaced with what I was told was the upgraded part at a £££Cost.

last month the clutch went again, read a few posts on here and figured it should be the master cylinder (as slave has just been replaced). Topped it up with fluid and it lasted me approx 4 weeks till the clutch went soft when i was away this weekend. Filled up again and it got me home where i had to fill again.

I thought nothing of this until I have just moved the car today and there is a patch of fluid on the ground from where I would believe the Bell Housing is.

If the fluid is on the floor outside, could this still be the master cylinder?
If not, surely i should be able to expect the slave cylinder to last more than approx 4000 miles? am I right to assume this?

Cheers

SimonKD

1,387 posts

261 months

Tuesday 30th June 2009
quotequote all
100% sure it's your Slave Cylinder. Master cylinder leaks appear in the drivers footwell.

Regards
Simon

Edited by SimonKD on Tuesday 30th June 19:47

touching cloth

11,706 posts

269 months

Tuesday 30th June 2009
quotequote all
If it's under the car then it's going to be the slave - in my experience they are just a lottery. I had a new clutch about a month ago and now already have fluid loss and spongy pedal - can't see anything around the master/footwell so I think it's probably the slave again. frown

Best option is to take it back to who did the work, it's not really their fault just crappy seals, but within 12 months you might find they are willing to take it on the chin and redo the job FOC.

Nickccc

1,682 posts

278 months

Tuesday 30th June 2009
quotequote all
How many of you, that have experienced clutch slave failure still have the cats in place? I'm convinced the cats are too hot and too near the bell housing.
Me one failure though I do replace the seals when ever the gearbox or engine is out, which admittedly has been quite often for me.

JensenA

5,671 posts

260 months

Tuesday 30th June 2009
quotequote all
If the fluid is outside, and under the bell housing, then it has to be either the Slave, or the pipe connection to the slave. The Master will only leak inside the car. I'd expect the slave to last for well over 30k at least, never mind 4k!
Have you had the car standing for a few weeks? 2k miles ago I had the same symptoms as you. The car had been stood for 2 weeks, and I couldn't get it into gear. Checked and the clutch fluid was empty. I checked the master and it was dry, so the Slave was leaking! However I topped the fluid up, and it went again 1 week later. Topped it up again, and 2k miles later, l haven't lost a drop of fluid.

Ps - written on my phone, so probably a few mistakes above

morebeanz

3,283 posts

266 months

Tuesday 30th June 2009
quotequote all
touching cloth said:
If it's under the car then it's going to be the slave - in my experience they are just a lottery.
That may be true TC, but it is surely unacceptable. No other car suffers in the same way from such a basic issue.

SimonKD

1,387 posts

261 months

Tuesday 30th June 2009
quotequote all
Nickccc said:
I do replace the seals when ever the gearbox or engine is out, which admittedly has been quite often for me.
Not hijacking the thread, just to ask if you've got Her back yet Nick?
My email is simonkdyke@btinternet.com

Regards
Simon

FarmyardPants

4,379 posts

248 months

Wednesday 1st July 2009
quotequote all
touching cloth said:
If it's under the car then it's going to be the slave - in my experience they are just a lottery. I had a new clutch about a month ago and now already have fluid loss and spongy pedal - can't see anything around the master/footwell so I think it's probably the slave again. frown
I agree, it's not unheard of for them to last only a few months. I think it helps to replace the fluid at the first sign of trouble, or even preemptively - these days I ask the garage to change the clutch fluid whenever it goes somewhere for work, ie 2 or 3 times a year. stty though isn't it?



touching cloth

11,706 posts

269 months

Wednesday 1st July 2009
quotequote all
morebeanz said:
touching cloth said:
If it's under the car then it's going to be the slave - in my experience they are just a lottery.
That may be true TC, but it is surely unacceptable. No other car suffers in the same way from such a basic issue.
Indeed - far from acceptable. However with TVR (effectively) gone, the indies are really just working with what they have. It's not necessarily bad workmanship installing the seals/slave that has caused premature failure so I can see it from both sides of the coin.... having said all that I am hoping I don't have to pay out again just one month in.

P.S Nick - no cats here - perish the thought. nono

peteA

2,762 posts

264 months

Wednesday 1st July 2009
quotequote all
touching cloth said:
morebeanz said:
touching cloth said:
If it's under the car then it's going to be the slave - in my experience they are just a lottery.
That may be true TC, but it is surely unacceptable. No other car suffers in the same way from such a basic issue.
Indeed - far from acceptable. However with TVR (effectively) gone, the indies are really just working with what they have. It's not necessarily bad workmanship installing the seals/slave that has caused premature failure so I can see it from both sides of the coin.... having said all that I am hoping I don't have to pay out again just one month in.

P.S Nick - no cats here - perish the thought. nono
No Cats in my 98 4.2 and so far (touching wood) no problems...

Is there no mod that can be done...remote slave...modifying the bell housing...these sound stupid! What about a cable operated conversion or something?

Seems crazy these days to have such a weakness.

If its not the slave its the master, if its not the master its the fingers, etc

Steve_T

6,356 posts

302 months

Wednesday 1st July 2009
quotequote all
touching cloth said:
morebeanz said:
touching cloth said:
If it's under the car then it's going to be the slave - in my experience they are just a lottery.
That may be true TC, but it is surely unacceptable. No other car suffers in the same way from such a basic issue.
Indeed - far from acceptable. However with TVR (effectively) gone, the indies are really just working with what they have. It's not necessarily bad workmanship installing the seals/slave that has caused premature failure so I can see it from both sides of the coin.... having said all that I am hoping I don't have to pay out again just one month in.

P.S Nick - no cats here - perish the thought. nono
IMHO the quality of the seals is the issue. Brummie noted a while ago that his seals were twice the length they ought to be and I've seen the same on a failed slave a while back. I don't know if a remote slave ala griff and chim would improve the durability but it might at least reduce the cost to something a bit more reasonable!

FarmyardPants

4,379 posts

248 months

Wednesday 1st July 2009
quotequote all
Don't raceproved do uprated (chocolate free) seals and has anyone had those fail I wonder?

ridds

8,372 posts

274 months

Wednesday 1st July 2009
quotequote all
My seals went 2 years ago, I replaced them with new ones from APM and it hasn't missed a beat since.

If it's failed that quick IMHO then it's a fitting fault.

My seals lasted 8 years and 35k before they went. With new seals it should last that long again.

I did notice when rebuilding mine that the finish on the slave is shocking. Lots of sharp edges, that if not addressed before reassembly could easily knick an o-ring.

I'd take it back to whoever did the work, if you can.