Slave cylinder leaking, need help

[Dave Colangelo]

So i just bought my 944 and have only had it since last friday. It has been a great car and every thing was fine up until today. Yesterday I was driving the car no problem every thing was working ok. This afternoon I get in the car, hit the clutch and whomp it goes right to the floor and does not return. I freak out a bit but then remember it a Porsche and things do go wrong.

Any way I see there is a puddle of fluid on the ground, pop my hood to check every thing. Noticed the break fluid was at the min level. It took me a bit to figure out that it was the same fluid the clutch used. So I went out and got a big bottle of fluid and filled it back up. Pumped the clutch and pressure returned. Now my issues is, why was it leaking.

When I was pumping it I could see some fluid coming from the clutch inspection hole and dripping to the ground. I then took the car out for a drive and pulled in to a parking lot, pumped the clutch and it seemed to not be leaking any more.

Could it be the hose, could it be the slave cylinder do those go out often?
Could it be some thing else in the system?
What should I look for when I jack it up?
Most importantly, how hard is the slave cylinder to change?

Regards
Dave

[John_AZ]

Easy to change or even rebuild with a kit from NAPA if the bore is not pitted or scored.

Difficult for some to get the air out. Usually a bubble is in the end of the slave or the line somewhere. Many will suggest getting a $50 Motive European Power Brake Bleeder -Pelican.

The rubber hose from the slave to the hard line gets soft and should be replaced if necessary.

Get under the dash with your head and a flashlight and take a look at the rubber boots on the brake MC and the clutch MC. Pull the boots. Do you see any drips of fluid. If so.....time to replace the MC as well.

GL
John

[Dave Colangelo]

Can a break bleeder be used to bleed the clutch? I was not sure if it had a fitting on the slave cylinder or master to do so. That being said how hard is the master cylinder to replace as well as the line?

Regards
Dave

[Dantilla]

I just changed the slave cylinder in my 944S. Easy job.

Remove the starter, and there it is. I took mine out before buying the rebuild kit- Glad I did, as it was the housing itself that had a groove worn/rusted in it, and installing new rubber bits would have done nothing.

I used my power bleeder to pump new brake fluid. With the bleeder valve open, you want to depress the clutch pedal several times to get all the air out. I did it right on the second time around! Did it once, all the clutch action was too close to the floor, so then I read the book!

Pump the pedal several times, close the bleeder, and all should be well.

[Dave Colangelo]

Tonight will be the test, if the fluid leaks out again I will replace it. If I do it I have decided to replace the whole thing, I figured, considering the size and cost of the unit a rebuild would be mostly in vain. How hard is it to replace the line from the master to the salve, do i need to remove the master to do so?

Regards
Dave

[Grandad#3]

Hi Dave, Check out clark's-garage.com under Clutch.

http://www.clarks-garage.com/shop-manual/clutch-04.htm

Clutch Slave Cylinder Replacement

Cheers,
Larry

[Jrboulder]

I'd just reseal the slave and see what happens from there. The genuine Porsche slave cylinder reseal kit is like $20. A new OEM unit is like $80 so as long as the bore isn't pitted you can save $60 and learn a thing or two.

The seals last about 15 years but as long as moisture hasn't been in the system the metal parts can be used over and over again.

Jackson

[Dave Colangelo]

So its 2AM and im still up. So I decided to go have a look at the car and see if any thing had changed. Here is what I found,

Hit the clutch and it went to the floor and did not return. However there was pressure and it only took a few pumps to get it back to normal. This leads me to think it may have been an air bubble that had to be worked out.

Looked under the car, unfortunately it is parked in the same spot as it was before and the puddle is there from before thus I could not tell if there was new fluid. The area in and around the clutch inspection hole seemed dry and thats where it was leaking form before so that may be a good sign. Did not take the car for a drive but will tomorrow.

The fluid was still at the max line on the tank but it was over that before so I think a bit has leaked or air bubbles have floated up.

Checked inside under the master cylinder and there was no sign of any drips so I think the master is fine.

Checked the line that connects them, no sign of fluid at any of the joints and the rubber part is still hard so I assume its all good. The line does not look original although it may be.

Regards
Dave

[Cocacolakidd]

If the Clutch Master Cylinder is leaking it will show up under the carpet on the drivers side - pull the carpet back and check for leaks...

[Dave Colangelo]

I went back out this morning and there was still some pressure in the clutch. Enough to make it pop back on the first push so im happy for now. The fluid in the tank looks as if it is holding but that remains to be seen. I will watch it closely for the next few days and if any thing changes I will just replace he slave cylinder.

Regards
Dave

[89-944NA]

Dave, no matter if the clutch operates now, you have fluid under the car...you have to identify the problem, you should never seeing leaking fluid when you push the clutch (unless you are sloppy and spill it when filling the reservoir).

Find it, or become stranded with no clutch in 5th gear on some long dark scary winding road with a 5 mph curve ahead at midnight next to a cemetery with a serial murderer on the loose.

[John_AZ]

Originally Posted by 89-944NA

Find it, or become stranded with no clutch in 5th gear on some long dark scary winding road with a 5 mph curve ahead at midnight next to a cemetery with a serial murderer on the loose.

Or worse, the tow truck driver has never hauled a Porsche he could not damage. He may chain down the front end over the steering shaft & tie rod.

[Dave Colangelo]

What was interesting about the whole situation is that the car was completely dry, not a drop of any thing, then all of a sudden one night the whole reservoir is on the ground and I can see it coming from the trans. I filled it back up and now its holding fluid fine. It is all very bizarre. I think im going to replace the slave cylinder any way. Thanks for all the advise guys

Regards
Dave

[89-944NA]

Originally Posted by John_AZ

Or worse, the tow truck driver has never hauled a Porsche he could not damage. He may chain down the front end over the steering shaft & tie rod.

Or do like they did with the Barn Find 951 I sent to Maryland, and use chains across the a-arms....yup, broke the a-arm and lots of other stuff....go figure

[ernie9944]

Simple if you have fluid on the ground your slave is gone,don't matter how much of an air lock or bubbles size you got in the system fluid won't leak on the ground.So save yourself a lot of headache & change it,for now it's only acting up but will let go all at once leaving you stranded.Also pull the rubber boot on your master sometime if just leaking a little the fluid will get trap inside the boot & not leak on the carpet.

[Norm101469]

Ironically I have the exact same issues and just went out and filled my reseviour back up and viola clutch is back again lol but I will be replacing my master and slave cylinders VERY soon, it is too nice in upstate NY now to be without my Porsche

[CHICKS]

I'm sorry, but I'm going to say what everyone is thinking. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR CAR WITH LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. Come on, how retarded do you have to be? The way your reservoir is designed is when you lose brake fluid you'll lose the clutch first, so you CANT drive the car. **** like this is what scares me to death driving on the road with other people. Please PARK your car's till you figure out where your BRAKE fluid is going. Your car isn't going to magically fix a brake fluid LEAK because you top off the fluid.....

[Jrboulder]

Originally Posted by CHICKS

I'm sorry, but I'm going to say what everyone is thinking. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR CAR WITH LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. Come on, how retarded do you have to be? The way your reservoir is designed is when you lose brake fluid you'll lose the clutch first, so you CANT drive the car. **** like this is what scares me to death driving on the road with other people. Please PARK your car's till you figure out where your BRAKE fluid is going. Your car isn't going to magically fix a brake fluid LEAK because you top off the fluid.....

This

[Dave Colangelo]

Just so every one knows the car has not been driven with the exception of around the block to check things out. The leak is coming form the slave cylinder this I know and can see. However the leak has stopped for the time being. I am going to replace the slave cylinder as soon as the new one gets in. The master and line are fine so those will stay, I will then bleed the whole system and get every thing back in order. What tools will I need for this job.

Regards
Dave

[CHICKS]

I would buy this when you go to do it if you already dont have one: Pelican Parts - Product Information: PEL-0109

It will make your life soooooooo much easier.