Clutch slave cylinder burst seal without warning.

[denis747]

Was driving the Ti today, everything was good, nice sunshine, driving

nicely and as I was approaching the lights I decided to downshift to third

gear, clutch down, gear crunched as I attempted to select it. I thought I

hadn't timed my left foot incorrectly, as I decided to step down again,

clutch pedal was down, oh dear. I bend down and brought it up using my

left hand, as the car was still in motion, step on the pedal, down it went

and remained there.

The traffic lights had changed red and I had to stop. Lights changed green

and I managed to select first gear with a tiny crunch, no clutch, pedal on the floor, engine was still running

and there was a kwickfit a few yards to my left and I rolled in there with my

hazard lights on and the car kangarood to a halt as no clutch and engine

stalled as I applied the brakes. My first

fear was that may be the clutch arm on the gearbox had snapped as this has

happened to a few Ti but I observed the arm and it was ok and the

slave was weeping hydraulic fluid. I went and asked the kwikfit guys for

some dot 4 brake fluid and they gave me some for free. The fluid just leaked straight out of the burst slave cylinder seal. I have no breakdown cover as I trust my cars so I had to go home with no clutch. The kwickfit guys were insisting it was the clutch disk , I told them no, it is the slave. However, they told me a nice trick which is to select second gear with engine off then start with starter motor. I did that, car kangarood a bit off course, a little pressure on the accelerator and I went on second gear . Sods law I had to pass a few traffic lights and one was red, I stopped, engine of course stalled. I started her on first gear this time, it started, then rev matched and managed to select second then third without clutch and withougt crunching, adrenaline brought the expertise I guess. I managed to guide her home. I have already removed the slave and will be collecting one for only £31 from unipart. http://www.unipartautomotive.co.uk/Hydraulics/Clutch-Hydraulics/Rover-600-Series-620-2.0-1997/Parts.aspx?SubGroup=HY~Hydraulics~CLUH-HY~Clutch+Hydraulics

Their website says £36 but I phoned the shop and they told me it will cost

me only £30. I get it tomorrow. Here is the Ti' knackered clutch slave,

took me only 15 minutes to remove.


Here is the clutch slave with burst seals.


This took me by surprise, it burst without warning, I check the fluids

weekly and the clutch fluid was ok. The morale of the story is to learn to

shift without using the clutch it may come useful one day. I am rather impressed that I managed to go up to third gear without crunching with no clutch even though it is a misery to have the clutch hyrdraulics go on you. Starting from a standstill at the lights I just switched off the engine, selected first, then used the starter motor. Car kangarooed but started, people thought I was a learner

Anybody who needs or might need a clutch slave cylinder for the Ti, get it from Unipart as they are selling it for only £30, I was surprised and asked on the phone if that price is for real and they said yes.

[Roverlike]

Well done Denis!!

[denis747]

Originally Posted by roverlike

Well done Denis!!

Thanks, good to learn from these experiences

[rov618i]

You could have always got home in reverse all the way!

[denis747]

Originally Posted by rov618i

You could have always got home in reverse all the way!

I was happy to get home and stall it, using the brakes, on my driveway I stalled as it is a tight curve to get into my drive and that speed is too slow for second gear, luckily the drive slopes downwards and i just rolled it to position.

[devon]

Well done, doubt if I would attempted it. Did you give the Kwikfit guys a tip ?

[denis747]

Originally Posted by devon

Well done, doubt if I would attempted it. Did you give the Kwikfit guys a tip ?

Thanks Gordon , I am planning to go give them something small, to thank them, after I have fixed it. It is good the rains have stopped.

[devon]

Originally Posted by denis747

Thanks Gordon , I am planning to go give them something small, to thank them, after I have fixed it. It is good the rains have stopped.

I was thinking more of .. OrganisedConfusion or my tyre place cheerful chappie always says .. Hello Bud.. - posted before Grant Nat started. (and no I haven't bet on them)

[denis747]

Originally Posted by devon

I was thinking more of .. OrganisedConfusion or my tyre place cheerful chappie always says .. Hello Bud.. - posted before Grant Nat started. (and no I haven't bet on them)

Yes I went to them, to say thanks for the brake fluid they helped me with yesterday and they asked what it was as, obviously, they saw the car coming in and reversing into the parking space. I told them it was just the slave cylinder and they asked how much that cost me. I said only £31.50 and that I fixed it myself.

Such a difficult system to bleed, the Ti clutch. I was pumping using my hands for ages and no resistance on the pedal whatsoever. I almost got scared that the master cylinder was bad, but it wasn't, just needed faster pumping. I then increased the frequency of my pumping strokes and after about 30 strokes the pedal started becoming firm. I noticed the gears are much more easy to select now especially second gear which used to be notchy when the old slave cylinder was there. I used a one man bleed system, very firm clutch pedal.