master or slave?

KDXrider · 09-04-2008, 04:36 AM

hello,
i'm having a serious issue with my clutch and i just can't tell if it's the master or slave and i don't have the money to buy and replace both.

the best description of what it does is when i push the clutch pedal, sometimes it will not come back up, it will stay on the floor and i have to pry it up with my foot. other times it will come halfway up and still go into gear. it will also randomly "suck" itself down to the floor just while i'm driving. i've gotten to the point where i can tell by how much force i'm pushing in as to whether or not it's going to come back up or stay on the floor.

please help,
Kevin

ERAU944 · ERAU944's Garage

unfortunately it's very difficult to tell unless you have an obvious leak at one of the cylinders. if you need to, borrow the money and do them both at the same time - from what i understand most times the other cylinder fails shortly after the first, so it's a good idea to do both, and it'll save you the guessing game.

Techno Duck · Techno Duck's Garage

I agree with Mike.. i would stretch your budget a bit and do both at the same time. They do tend to fail pretty close to each other and you will save yourself the trouble of having to rebleed the clutch over again.

ballysdad · 09-04-2008, 05:36 AM

I have the EXACT same problem.. I pulled the slave cylinder last night see thread below "help please" for explanation.. The slave cylinder was shot but I did get both..

Skytrooper · Skytrooper's Garage

I just recently experienced the same situation on my 924 turbo. I had previously rebuilt the slave cylinder so I rebuilt the master and it fixed the problem. From my experience on the turbo and my 924S, if the pedal sucks to the floor on its own...it is usually the master cylinder. If the pedal springs to the floor quickly...it is usualy the slave cylinder.

In any case they should both be done at the same time. The rebuild kits are around 15-20 bucks online and if you can remove the master and slave cylinders from the car...then you shouldn't have any problem rebuilding the cylinders.

KDXrider · 09-04-2008, 09:14 AM

this is what i was afraid of

but i if it needs to be done, it needs to be done, thanks for all the help.

Kevin

ballysdad · 09-04-2008, 09:45 AM

Make sure you take your time removing the feed line from the slave cylinder. Soak for a few days if you have to..Very hard to get ..only 21 left in Germany and could take up to 3 weeks to get. Upper hoses are avaiable here on PP. GL. And if you weigh 280lbs like me just take the seat and steeringwheel off before you even attempt to get to the master under the dash takes 5 minutes and will save you over 2 hrs trying to figure out how you can get under there and work ..

flash968 · 09-04-2008, 10:08 AM

unfortunately changing only one component in an aged hydraulic system very frequently results in failure of a remaining component - it is always wisest to change them all - the parts cost less than the time to have them installed

Slam · 09-04-2008, 10:26 AM

I must be the one with horseshoes in dark places because I've replaced my slave four times and never touched the master. Make sure you change your brake fluid regularly because rancid fluid eats the seals on the cylinders. Changing the slave isn't as hard as some would have you believe, just keep a close eye on the level of your brake fluid while you're bleeding the system - don't let it fall below the pickup for the hose and brake lines.

flash968 · 09-04-2008, 10:55 AM

uh - replaced the slave 4 times? on the same car? sounds like something not going right there

hydraulic seals fail from the inside - if they are contaminated, they will contaminate the new parts - that sounds like it may be going on

Slam · 09-04-2008, 11:25 AM

I've had the car for about 15 years... I had shops do the first two and they failed within two years each time - maybe poor stock. Last one I did lasted about 5 years and I did one last summer.

flash968 · 09-04-2008, 01:52 PM

i doubt it was poor stock - more likely contaminants from the other components contaminated those new ones - happens all the time - in 30 years of doing this i have never had a new hydraulic component fail when i changed all of the rubber components in the system - not even british stuff

KDXrider · 09-04-2008, 02:20 PM

how long is the hose from the master to the slave?

flash968 · 09-04-2008, 02:57 PM

there should be a fairly short rubber section, and then a longer hard line, with a connection in between

p.s. - this hose is so prone to age failure that we had to design a stainless steel braided line to replace it for the 968

ballysdad · 09-04-2008, 05:19 PM

It's the lower hose when taking you slave cylinder out you have to be careful not as easy to get in a pinch