Clutch pedal is dead

1stndntlst · 03-19-2009, 03:58 PM

My 86 is in the body shop for some minor touch ups, been there for almost 2 weeks as I did say there was no rush to get the car back as the roads are still pretty dirty, so I get a call today from the body shop owner telling me that my clutch pedal is dead and that there is a leak. He said someone moved it around yesterday and over night something started leaking..I am going to the shop tomorrow to asses the situation. If there is anyone that could give me some advice as to where I should start looking for the problem I have, I thank you in advance. Hopefully its a leak in the line.
Any help is greatly appreciated and great thanks in advance....

Thanks,
1stndntlst

mikepellegrini · mikepellegrini's Garage

The line runs from the master cylinder down the driver's side of the engine (near the edge of the bellhhousing) to the slave cylinder. Try and see if there's evidence of a leak (it's gotta be one of the three - the line, the MC or the slave).

To get it home, you could add more fluid and bleed the system - which oughta work unless it was a catastropic failure.

flash968 · 03-19-2009, 04:12 PM

this seems to be happening with a different car every week - hydraulic seals are age sensitive items - you cant' change just one component in the system either - the others fail very soon after if you do

common failure culprits are:
high pressure line - evidenced by a bulge at pressure
slave cylinder - usually leaves a puddle on the ground
master cylinder - almost always evidenced by a wet bellows behind the cylinder

exitwound · exitwound's Garage

Master cylinder might also show leaking behind the pedal. If you see this, you can bet that's the problem. Changing the master out (or slave out) usually means you have to change the other too sooner or later.

1stndntlst · 03-19-2009, 04:51 PM

The guy said its leaking by the slave..So I should just pick up a new slave? He said there is no sign of wetness by the master..It's just mind boggling that stuff like this happens when in someone else's hands...

flash968 · 03-19-2009, 05:59 PM

if you haven't changed them in the last few years, change them all - they are only rated for a maximum of 8 years - anything beyond that is russian roulette - do not make the mistake of changing only one rubber component in a hydraulic system - you will regret it

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

It never fails - if someone JUST changes the slave and not the master (or vice-versa), the other will fail within a couple weeks. Do both of them, and the pressure line, while you're at it.

flash968 · 03-20-2009, 07:24 AM

yup - very frustrating - i cheaped out when i was young and new at this stuff - big mistake

also, if you don't have one, and are going to do the job yourself, get a motive power bleeder to do the job - best 45 bucks i ever spent

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

Yes - bleeding these things is a huge PITA.