cheap spares in UK?

[Allan Bruce]

Hi there,

I have a problem with the hydraulics in my S40 (97 - 1.8 manual) clutch. I
believe I have a leak, but the garage couldn't find one. They quoted me
£250 to fit new primary and master cylinders, or £130 for the parts alone.
I was wondering if anyone knew of a cheap retailer in the UK I could get
these parts for at a better price? Also, has anyone had any experience of
hydraulic clutch problems?

Thanks
Allan

 

[Stewart Hargrave]

I have a problem with the hydraulics in my S40 (97 - 1.8 manual) clutch. I
believe I have a leak, but the garage couldn't find one. They quoted me
£250 to fit new primary and master cylinders, or £130 for the parts alone.
I was wondering if anyone knew of a cheap retailer in the UK I could get
these parts for at a better price?

http://www.eurocarparts.com/
http://www.gsfcarparts.com/

These two places have many counter outlets around the country, and do
mail order. Looking at a recent catalogue, the prices for these items
do seem to have rocketed since I last bought one, and 130ukp may not
be so high after all. But any motor factor (look in yellow pages) will
carry them, so you may be able to get some at more sensible prices.

Also, has anyone had any experience of
hydraulic clutch problems?

What is the problem you are experiencing? The hydraulic system is
fairly simple, with a master cylinder operated by the pedal, a slave
cylinder at the gearbox end, and a length of pipe in between.

A leak should be obvious, and will result in the fluid level in the
reservoir going down noticeably. This will usually be as a result of
failing seals in either cylinder, which results in fluid seaping out
every time you us the clutch. It it's coming from the master cylinder,
this will often result in fluid soaking the carpet around the pedal.
You may need to peel back the rubber dust cover at the slave cylinder
- there shouldn't be any collected fluid inside.

If the fluid is very old, it will have absorbed moisture, and will be
dark in colour as a result. This can lead to a spongey feel, and will
eventually result in rust occurring in the cylinders (particularly the
slave cylinder) that will, in turn, damage the seals. If the cylinders
are still clean, you can probably get a seals kit for a fiver.
--

Stewart Hargrave


For email, replace 'SpamOnlyToHere' with my name

 

[Allan Bruce]

http://www.eurocarparts.com/
http://www.gsfcarparts.com/

These two places have many counter outlets around the country, and do
mail order. Looking at a recent catalogue, the prices for these items
do seem to have rocketed since I last bought one, and 130ukp may not
be so high after all. But any motor factor (look in yellow pages) will
carry them, so you may be able to get some at more sensible prices.


What is the problem you are experiencing? The hydraulic system is
fairly simple, with a master cylinder operated by the pedal, a slave
cylinder at the gearbox end, and a length of pipe in between.

A leak should be obvious, and will result in the fluid level in the
reservoir going down noticeably. This will usually be as a result of
failing seals in either cylinder, which results in fluid seaping out
every time you us the clutch. It it's coming from the master cylinder,
this will often result in fluid soaking the carpet around the pedal.
You may need to peel back the rubber dust cover at the slave cylinder
- there shouldn't be any collected fluid inside.

If the fluid is very old, it will have absorbed moisture, and will be
dark in colour as a result. This can lead to a spongey feel, and will
eventually result in rust occurring in the cylinders (particularly the
slave cylinder) that will, in turn, damage the seals. If the cylinders
are still clean, you can probably get a seals kit for a fiver.

The problem with the clutch started a couple of weeks ago when I found
myself stalling pulling off in first gear due to the bite point being
different. One morning I tried to start the car and pull off but couldnt
get into gear at all. After pumping the clutch pedal a couple of times
enough pressure built up for me to get into gear and pull off. This pumping
of the clutch made me believe it was the hydraulics that were the problem so
I checked my main reservoir for fluid and it seemed fine (even though the
clutch pipe takes its fluid from above the minimum!). Anyway, I bled the
clutch hydraulics and that solved the problem for a few days, then it went
back to its old tricks - requiring the clutch pedal to be pumped a few
times. I have re-bled the system so it is fine again for now, but this
temporary measure only lasted about 3-4 days the last time.
I took the car to my volvo garage and they said they could not find a leak.
Is it possible something else could cause this problem? As far as the leak
goes, I have noticed the bleed nipple beside the slave cylinder has a lot of
thread showing (about 10mm). Is it possible I have lost a seal here? or
perhaps cross-threaded the bleed nipple causing a leak?
The fluid that is in the main reservoir is very dirty, but the brakes feel
fine. Any more information on this would be greatly appreciated. This is
my first car, and I've only had it for 3 months :-(
Thanks
Allan

 

[Bonnet Lock]

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,

The problem with the clutch started a couple of weeks ago when I found
myself stalling pulling off in first gear due to the bite point being
different. One morning I tried to start the car and pull off but
couldnt
get into gear at all. After pumping the clutch pedal a couple of
times
enough pressure built up for me to get into gear and pull off. This
pumping
of the clutch made me believe it was the hydraulics that were the
problem so
I checked my main reservoir for fluid and it seemed fine

The leak which you have is an *internal* one. In other words, no fluid is
leaking to the outside world. When you depress the clutch pedal, this has
the effect of pushing a piston inside the master cylinder, which directs
fluid to the slave cylinder - operating another piston inside that which, in
turn, operates the clutch release lever.

Each of these pistons has a rubber (well, synthetic!) seal to keep the fluid
on the correct side of the piston. When these seals get tired, they allow
fluid to leak past the piston instead of going where it should.

The solution is to remove the master and slave cylinders, clean then out
thoroughly and fit new seals, re-install them and fill and bleed with new
fluid. Should only cost a few quid for the bits. You should *hopefully* be
able to get them from a brake and clutch specialist - or maybe from
Halfords.
[I've just consulted the Haynes manual for my V70 - and that says that
internal hydaulic components aren't available, and that you have to replace
the whole cylinders. I find that hard to believe! I've certainly bought
repair kits for other makes of car in the past.]

 

[Allan Bruce]

The leak which you have is an *internal* one. In other words, no fluid is

leaking to the outside world. When you depress the clutch pedal, this has
the effect of pushing a piston inside the master cylinder, which directs
fluid to the slave cylinder - operating another piston inside that which,
in
turn, operates the clutch release lever.

Each of these pistons has a rubber (well, synthetic!) seal to keep the
fluid
on the correct side of the piston. When these seals get tired, they allow
fluid to leak past the piston instead of going where it should.

The solution is to remove the master and slave cylinders, clean then out
thoroughly and fit new seals, re-install them and fill and bleed with new
fluid. Should only cost a few quid for the bits. You should *hopefully* be
able to get them from a brake and clutch specialist - or maybe from
Halfords.
[I've just consulted the Haynes manual for my V70 - and that says that
internal hydaulic components aren't available, and that you have to
replace
the whole cylinders. I find that hard to believe! I've certainly bought
repair kits for other makes of car in the past.]

Thanks, this sounds plausible however there is one piece of information that
may go against this theory, I'm not sure. When newly bled, the clutch pedal
has no free play, in other words there is pressure felt immediately on
depression (well within an inch anyway) which I assume is pressure from the
fluid. When the problem starts to show, there is more play on the pedal, I
can depress it approximately half way with no pressure at all, then the
pressure starts when I assume I am working against the fluid. If left (like
I did the first time) the pedal gets so bad that there is no pressure at all
unless I depress the clutch pedal several times which temporarily builds up
some pressure.
With this in mind, do you still think its an internal leak? I am new to
cars, used to be a cycle mechanic so I know some basics. My Haynes manual
is slowly becoming my best friend! As far as replacing the seals, my Haynes
manual says that the master cylinder is repairable, but the slave isn't. If
this is the case, then at least it cuts my cost in half, and the difficulty
is 2 spanners so it should be possible for me to do.
Many thanks for your help, it is very much appreciated.
Allan

 

[Bonnet Lock]

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,

Thanks, this sounds plausible however there is one piece of
information that
may go against this theory, I'm not sure. When newly bled, the
clutch pedal
has no free play, in other words there is pressure felt immediately on
depression (well within an inch anyway) which I assume is pressure
from the
fluid. When the problem starts to show, there is more play on the
pedal, I
can depress it approximately half way with no pressure at all, then
the
pressure starts when I assume I am working against the fluid. If
left (like
I did the first time) the pedal gets so bad that there is no pressure
at all unless I depress the clutch pedal several times which
temporarily builds up
some pressure.
With this in mind, do you still think its an internal leak? I am new
to
cars, used to be a cycle mechanic so I know some basics. My Haynes
manual
is slowly becoming my best friend! As far as replacing the seals, my
Haynes manual says that the master cylinder is repairable, but the
slave isn't. If
this is the case, then at least it cuts my cost in half, and the
difficulty
is 2 spanners so it should be possible for me to do.
Many thanks for your help, it is very much appreciated.
Allan

Yes, the symptons are consistent with a seal problem in the master cylinder.
The seal is usually a kind of cup washer - which opens out and pushes in one
direction, but collapses on the return stroke - allowing it to go back and
collect any fluid which had got behind it. This is why pumping works - and
probably why bleeding works, because this requires lots of pumping.

The problem is more likely to be in the master than in the slave. If you
can't get a repair kit for the slave, try just rebuilding the master, and
keep the existing slave. It may well fix it.

 

[Stewart Hargrave]

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,


The leak which you have is an *internal* one. In other words, no fluid is
leaking to the outside world.

I'd suggest that in this case, air is somehow getting drawn into the
system, and may be consistent with leaking seals, but check the
tightness of the bleed nipple and any unions.

The solution is to remove the master and slave cylinders, clean then out
thoroughly and fit new seals, re-install them and fill and bleed with new
fluid. Should only cost a few quid for the bits. You should *hopefully* be
able to get them from a brake and clutch specialist - or maybe from
Halfords.

I'd certainly have a look around for a seals kit. It's a while since I
had a car with a clutch, but time was when the hydraulic cylinders
were generic across a range of cars. But it was never really worth
changing the slave seals, because a new cylinder was only about a
tenner, and new seals would not necessarily solve the problem.

Master cylinders generally cost a bit more, but the though that a
clutch slave should cost around 60ukp is depressing. In fact I see
Euro Car Parts list one for an 850 at 85.50ukp plus tax. Blummin'
'eck, I hope that's gold plated. Maybe it's down to the steel
shortage.
--

Stewart Hargrave


For email, replace 'SpamOnlyToHere' with my name