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Continual clutch hydraulic problems!

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continual
1K views 15 replies 7 participants last post by  maxiboy wales 
#1 ·
Hi All,

I can't believe I am still having this issue. This is the state of my clutch system now:

3 piece kit - Brand new and in perfect working order.
Clutch slave - Brand new
Flexible clutch line and damper - Removed and replaced with braided stainless steel line
Clutch master - Brand new "Valeo" part.

The problem I am getting is that I am still getting air seeping into the hydraulics. I have no leaks and the issue seems to vary day by day. It is worse some days than others. From the way the pedal feels it is as if the air is coming in at the master as the pedal feels totally dead for the 1st inch or so.

Removing the damper and replacing the flexi line appeared to have fixed it but after 70 miles I felt it drawing in air and I was back to square 1, albeit the symptoms aren't quite as sever.

The most interesting thing though is that the pedal will progressivly get stiffer and stiffer untill I floor it in 2nd gear, pressing the clutch at over 4500rpm and suddenly it will completely lighten up (but is still "Squidgy").

Symtoms are as follows:
After a bleed, clutch operates perfectly, smooth with an even take up.
After approx 70-100 miles on a longer journey I will dip the clutch at some point and it will be like I have stood on a bag of peas. The pedal will feel very odd and mushy but only that one time.
From that point onwards my biting point is much lower, the clutch will struggle to engage 1st gear and I will have varying degrees of pedal weight. The gentler I drive the stiffer the clutch is and occasionally I wll feel the master cylinder twisting under the stain (I have observed this by looking under the dashboard). After this point clutch takeup is quite snatchy.
I will then bleed the clutch and the previosly fresh fluid will be noticably blackened.
After bleed, goes back to symptom 1.

My only thoughts are the fluid is getting heat damaged from the engine or that the brand new, and stupidly expensive Valeo plastic master cylinder is faulty. I have ordered a genuine OEM (and significantly cheaper!!) master cylinder but after this I am fresh out of Ideas. I honestly don't know what to do which is frustrating as apart from some minor niggles, the car is fully sorted!

Thanks :(
 
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#5 ·
Thanks all for the input so far.



It is a metal rod but the tube is plastic. When the pedal is at its stiffest, If I look at the cylinder while I push the pedal down by hand I can see it visably twisting under the load. The mounting nuts are tight.
 
#6 ·
Have had more minor but similar issues. but i put everything down to the aftermarket slave i fitted after the original had a major leak.
if i am on long journey and change down on slip road it can sometimes feel that clutch is too hard to press or my foot has gone to sleep. but then other times after fast drive clutch is very soft and also feels like it drags when you going through gears as if the clutch has not fully released and engaged so you can get momentary slip. i had fitted brand new oe valeo kit.
 
#8 ·
As far as I am aware, yes. It is visually identical to the old one.

I have now received my replacement master. I don't know if it is my imagination but this one feels more "Solid" that the one I fitted before. The new one is OEM and was £30 CHEAPER than the Valeo one I fitted. The valeo one was also grey and this new one is black.
 
#10 ·
hhmmm, i gonna have to order a new OE one from you Dan. i just not happy with the crappy aftermarket one i bought from TMS. Never felt right
When i remove i can measure, but that be long time i think
 
#12 ·
Hyptothetical question here, What would happen if a 156 GTA slave where to be fitted to a 147 GTA/ GT v6? Is it a larger or smaller bore?

Looked it up and yes, they are visually the same but the 156's slave is less than half the price of the 147/gt!!
 
#13 ·
Are you sure you're not looking at aftermarket cylinder prices?

Shop4Parts lists a 147 GTA slave as p/n 46835408, retail price £57.43+VAT, and a 156 GTA slave as p/n 71738468, retail price £67.55+VAT. However they don't offer a genuine slave for the 156 GTA on their site, only an aftermarket slave at £19.38+VAT. For the 147 GTA, they only offer genuine with no aftermarket versions available.
 
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