clutch or slave cylinder? how to tell

[TCMdocs944]

Driving home from a long ride.

clutch pedal had been only coming up halfway for many months.


Clutched down and pedal stayed on the floor........



Changed master cylinder....no go..

Could this just be the slave or am I looking at something much more ominous?




Thanks...

Mark

.......(and a big Hiya to all you old guys )

[Eldorado]

did you bleed it properly?
was the master "new"? or "new to you" ?

could be slave..

[TCMdocs944]

improperly blead.

I am just trying to figure out if there is a definative way to tell without going through the slave and bleeding process. If the clutch is gone I will likely and unfortunately, sell the car.

[Eldorado]

if you didn't bleed it properly, i'd bet that's your problem.

[Dave L]

when one goes the other is ussually close to follow so you might as well do them both.

[Eldorado]

how can you test hydrolic pressure in something that you didn't bleed properly?
if you dont bleed, you have air in your system.
if you have air in your system, you dont have hydrolic pressure.
if you dont have hydrolic pressure, you dont have a working clutch.

[Razorback1980]

Well said Eldo....air compresses, fluid does not. So you drove it with half a clutch for while? Why wouldn't you just fix it properly a long time before it failed so it wouldn't completely fail on you. When the cluth only comes half way up, that's a warning sign from the Porsche Gods that is telling you that you should do some car maintenance. When it's kind enough to give a warning, it's probably best to listen.

[TCMdocs944]

For the same reason that I don't replace my tires when they are at half tread. Or fill my tank when it is half full.

Sign or no, the clutch is one of those parts that can be ridden till it dies.



Answer to my very simple question....


***If you remove the slave cylinder and look though the site window at the part it pressed on, this piece should have outward(toward slave) tension on it. No tension, clutch needs replacement.*****


For those that need the knowledge in the future.

[Eldorado]

you caused yourself a ton of grief.
just bleed the cylinders.. if you dont wanna listen to advice, dont ask questions.

EDIT:

that sounds bitter. i dont mean it to be.. i was just being very 'matter of fact'..

[kaffine krazed]

There aren't that many things the will cause the pedal to only come half way up the most common are bad master/slave cylinder, air in the hydraulic system.

Has the clutch been slipping? If it isn't then getting the hydraulics fixed should take care of your problem.

The problem with driving it with the clutch pedal only coming half way up is that the clutch may not fully release when you push the pedal so when you are stoped at a light with your foot on the clutch it will not be fully released causing it to slip and build up heat destroying the clutch.

[honorman]

Mark
I had the same problem, pedal half way for a few days then stayed on the floor ,it was the slave, got it replaced for $120.00 total, I had a good, honest repairman.

The man repairing it tried to get a rebuild kit but all parts houses were out. He said going new was about as cheap.
Ed

[theghosttanker]

make sure the pushrod is adjusted properly, where it attaches to the clutch pedal. The pedal should only move about .5 inches before you feel it push on the hydraulics. Just loosen the locknut near the clutch pedal and turn the pushrod to adjust it.