Broken Slave Cylinder? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

Turpentine · 12-08-2004, 06:14 PM

Ok, after searching the forums, I think I might have a broken slave cylinder, but I figure I'll see what you guys think before I go spend 30 - 40 bucks.

Here's the problem, about a week ago, I had to drive my car through the worst road ever. Horribly muddy, uneven, eroded, I heard rocks/dirt scrape the bottom of my car a few times. After that, my clutch pedal had almost no resistance until about halfway down, and then it engaged. With the pedal fully depressed and in gear, I only had to lift it about an inch for the car to start rolling and it also didn't shift as well.
My car also has a loud squeak now when I depress the clutch, which sounds like its coming from outside the car.
I bled the lines, seemed good for about a day, then same problem.
Did it again, same thing after a day.
Today I removed the damper box and went through a bottle and a half of fluid bleeding the lines. It seemed ok for one trip around the block, and now its doing the same thing. Almost no resistance until halfway down. Also, I pushed down the clutch while looking under the car. When it has almost no resistance, the slave barely moves, then near the end it goes out.

It seemed that everyone else who had a broken slave cylinder had their pedal stick to the floor, which mine doesn't do, but maybe if I drove it more it would (not driving it currently in fear of that).

Should i be buying a new slave cylinder, or do you guys think I may have some other problem (maybe I just didn't bleed well enough?)?
Thanks.

-Chad

Edit: Also, I didn't find any leaks and my reservoir was still at the normal level, but leaks might be hard to see now due to a lot of bleeding.

Prelude Guy · 12-08-2004, 07:40 PM

Hmmmm, this is a tough one.

You say your clutch fluid is fine....yet you have about half the resistance on the clutch pedal. That's what gets me. You also said that it makes a sound when you press in the clutch pedal. That si not characteristic of a bad master or slave cylinder.

It is very possible that your clutch slave cylinder is bad. It is something that very easily could've been hit with debris when you were driving on the bad road.

If it were me, I would get another slave cylinder. It should be easy to change and it doesn't hurt to change it anyway. Though, it is a good idea to change both the master and the slave together. Not sure if you want to do both. I change the master cylinder in my Prelude...and boy it was a pain in the azz.

I don't think bleeding the system will help. I think it is a bad slave cylinder. I would change it to see how it affects the clutch pedal pressure.

Let us know if this fixes it.

Good luck.

Andy

mistaanime · 12-08-2004, 08:01 PM

it probably is..the slave cylinder..im having that kinda problem..too but now the fluid juss goes empty ..i proabbly have a leak too so yea...i also needa bleed my pedal too heh..it's not like it use to be..

sepulchral · 12-08-2004, 09:30 PM

you probably need to bleed your slave cylinder more if its not leaking past the piston its fine, check the master cylinder

drift into a curb · 12-08-2004, 10:34 PM

Sounds like the slave cylinder. Mine went out and it lost pressure and gave the same exact signs your's did. Did you have to fill your master cylinder? If you did, should be a leak somewhere.
Check the boot on the slave (peel it back). If it's pouring fluid out, time to change the MC. It shouldn't cost more than 30 bucks for rebuilt, but OEM Nissan might be around 45 or so. Had to do mine yesterday and it went pretty quick. Also check your MC. Is the fluid clear? Or dark? If it's dark, you could have possibly blown the MC seals (possibly just old and due for a change)

Sr20Death · 12-09-2004, 01:34 PM

I would say its most likely the slave. When mine went out I had the same problem your having, and when the master went thats when the pedal stuck to the floor. You could also check behind your clutch pedal inside the car, when my master went out and it was seeping fluid into the car.

sepulchral · 12-09-2004, 03:29 PM

sounds like u have air in your hydraulics, bleed it

Turpentine · 12-09-2004, 06:37 PM

New slave cylinder installed, 11 bucks at Van's. Bled it and gave it a drive around the block pumping the clutch a lot, so far so good. The real test will be over the next few days.

sepulchral · 12-09-2004, 08:03 PM

gj................................................ ............

12-08-2004, 06:14 PM	#1
Turpentine Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 25 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Broken Slave Cylinder? Ok, after searching the forums, I think I might have a broken slave cylinder, but I figure I'll see what you guys think before I go spend 30 - 40 bucks. Here's the problem, about a week ago, I had to drive my car through the worst road ever. Horribly muddy, uneven, eroded, I heard rocks/dirt scrape the bottom of my car a few times. After that, my clutch pedal had almost no resistance until about halfway down, and then it engaged. With the pedal fully depressed and in gear, I only had to lift it about an inch for the car to start rolling and it also didn't shift as well. My car also has a loud squeak now when I depress the clutch, which sounds like its coming from outside the car. I bled the lines, seemed good for about a day, then same problem. Did it again, same thing after a day. Today I removed the damper box and went through a bottle and a half of fluid bleeding the lines. It seemed ok for one trip around the block, and now its doing the same thing. Almost no resistance until halfway down. Also, I pushed down the clutch while looking under the car. When it has almost no resistance, the slave barely moves, then near the end it goes out. It seemed that everyone else who had a broken slave cylinder had their pedal stick to the floor, which mine doesn't do, but maybe if I drove it more it would (not driving it currently in fear of that). Should i be buying a new slave cylinder, or do you guys think I may have some other problem (maybe I just didn't bleed well enough?)? Thanks. -Chad Edit: Also, I didn't find any leaks and my reservoir was still at the normal level, but leaks might be hard to see now due to a lot of bleeding.

12-08-2004, 08:01 PM	#3
mistaanime Nissanaholic! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Nine -1- Six Posts: 1,934 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	it probably is..the slave cylinder..im having that kinda problem..too but now the fluid juss goes empty ..i proabbly have a leak too so yea...i also needa bleed my pedal too heh..it's not like it use to be.. __________________ -Cherry Red 91 Silfourty-

12-08-2004, 10:34 PM	#5
drift into a curb Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Seoul, South Korea Posts: 2,870 Trader Rating: (5) Feedback Score: 5 reviews	Sounds like the slave cylinder. Mine went out and it lost pressure and gave the same exact signs your's did. Did you have to fill your master cylinder? If you did, should be a leak somewhere. Check the boot on the slave (peel it back). If it's pouring fluid out, time to change the MC. It shouldn't cost more than 30 bucks for rebuilt, but OEM Nissan might be around 45 or so. Had to do mine yesterday and it went pretty quick. Also check your MC. Is the fluid clear? Or dark? If it's dark, you could have possibly blown the MC seals (possibly just old and due for a change) __________________ Go big or go home!

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12-08-2004, 07:40 PM	#2
Prelude Guy Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Maryland Age: 44 Posts: 397 Trader Rating: (22) Feedback Score: 22 reviews	Hmmmm, this is a tough one. You say your clutch fluid is fine....yet you have about half the resistance on the clutch pedal. That's what gets me. You also said that it makes a sound when you press in the clutch pedal. That si not characteristic of a bad master or slave cylinder. It is very possible that your clutch slave cylinder is bad. It is something that very easily could've been hit with debris when you were driving on the bad road. If it were me, I would get another slave cylinder. It should be easy to change and it doesn't hurt to change it anyway. Though, it is a good idea to change both the master and the slave together. Not sure if you want to do both. I change the master cylinder in my Prelude...and boy it was a pain in the azz. I don't think bleeding the system will help. I think it is a bad slave cylinder. I would change it to see how it affects the clutch pedal pressure. Let us know if this fixes it. Good luck. Andy

12-08-2004, 09:30 PM	#4
sepulchral BANNED Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Midlothian. VA Posts: 2,050 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	you probably need to bleed your slave cylinder more if its not leaking past the piston its fine, check the master cylinder

12-09-2004, 01:34 PM	#6
Sr20Death Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: MD Posts: 13 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I would say its most likely the slave. When mine went out I had the same problem your having, and when the master went thats when the pedal stuck to the floor. You could also check behind your clutch pedal inside the car, when my master went out and it was seeping fluid into the car.

12-09-2004, 03:29 PM	#7
sepulchral BANNED Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Midlothian. VA Posts: 2,050 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	sounds like u have air in your hydraulics, bleed it

12-09-2004, 06:37 PM	#8
Turpentine Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 25 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	New slave cylinder installed, 11 bucks at Van's. Bled it and gave it a drive around the block pumping the clutch a lot, so far so good. The real test will be over the next few days.

12-09-2004, 08:03 PM	#9
sepulchral BANNED Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Midlothian. VA Posts: 2,050 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	gj................................................ ............