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Thread: Clutch problems; Master, slave or both?

  1. #1

    Default Clutch problems; Master, slave or both?

    What are the odds that both my clutch slave & master cylinder went bad? My clutch went out after this past weekend's SCCA event & I'm just wondering if I should replace both cylinders or just do the slave. My research indicates that most likely it's the slave cylinder but I don't want to have to bleed the system twice if I just do the slave & then find out the master was bad as well. Is there a way to test each cylinder to verify if 1 or both are bad?

  2. #2

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    Usually is it just the slave. Is the master leaking? It will leak at the seals between the plastic reservoir and the metal body. The seals can be replaced.
    M3 is always the answer.

  3. #3
    Team Cheap Bastard
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    Squeeze the rubber boot around the slave cylinder and see if fluid drips out. 93.8% of the time they are the culprit.

  4. #4

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    Quote Originally Posted by sammm View Post
    Squeeze the rubber boot around the slave cylinder and see if fluid drips out. 93.8% of the time they are the culprit.
    93.8% of the time? I'll take those odds. Thanks guys!

  5. #5

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    They are both cheap, i'd just knock em both out and call it a day. Easy as hell to replace too.
    92 Piss Yellow:1.6L GT2560 @ 11psi 196rwhp 700/450 Koni Race
    Ex NASA TTB #13
    NASA Camaro Mustang Challenge #013

  6. #6

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    treasure coast miata sells a really nice, complete clutch slave/master/line kit for $75. Can't be beat.
    Polished Turd Racing

    Mick wrote: "I think Jerrett is the best autocrosser I have ever seen naked."

  7. #7

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    Or if your a cheap bastard and the slaves bore is still good you can put a kit in the old slave for less than $5.00.

    Got one of these kits in my kids Miata because money doesn't grow on trees! (And O'Reilly's didn't have the complete slave cylinder in stock last time I needed one quick)

    http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...1353&ppt=C0015

  8. #8

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    I think I got a slave and master from vatozone 3 years ago for $30 total, I always prefer OEM but these are both going strong.
    92 Piss Yellow:1.6L GT2560 @ 11psi 196rwhp 700/450 Koni Race
    Ex NASA TTB #13
    NASA Camaro Mustang Challenge #013

  9. #9

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    Quote Originally Posted by mach1 View Post
    I think I got a slave and master from vatozone 3 years ago for $30 total, I always prefer OEM but these are both going strong.
    ...and limited lifetime warranty!
    1995 M Edition

  10. #10
    Mr Miata Solutions Rogue's Avatar
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    Always change them both.

  11. #11

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    Crap! Now it looks like I'm going to have to change both. I guess the 93.8% confidence in the bad slave cylinder was an over-estimation huh? Oh well.

  12. #12
    Team Cheap Bastard
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    ^Rogue knows what he's talking about! Having said that, I've had to swap plenty of slaves but never a master.

  13. #13
    Mr Miata Solutions Rogue's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by sammm View Post
    I've had to swap plenty of slaves but never a master.
    You don't keep Miata's long enough!

  14. #14

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    Quote Originally Posted by sammm View Post
    ^Rogue knows what he's talking about! Having said that, I've had to swap plenty of slaves but never a master.
    Same here plus I'm not worried about a customer bringing the car back since I'm the cheap ass customer.

  15. #15

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    I agree with both Sam and Rogue. Sort of agree with POS. The slave is usually the problem but sometimes it's the master. Another possibility is when you replace the leaking slave with one that builds proper pressure, a weak master can fail soon after. Clutch masters can also develop an internal leak where they don't lose fluid but also fail to build pressure. My recommendation, if you have no maintenance history, is to replace both as the parts are cheap. Rebuild kits are fine if you know the cylinder bore is not pitted but I'd replace it with a new one to be on the safe side.
    ...and across the line.

    1996 Mazda Miata - R-Package (Eve-L)
    2012 Mazda CX-9 - Grand Touring (Dory)




  16. #16
    Team Cheap Bastard
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rogue View Post
    You don't keep Miata's long enough!
    I knew that was coming!

  17. #17

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    Quote Originally Posted by Rogue View Post
    You don't keep Miata's long enough!
    Quote Originally Posted by sammm View Post
    I knew that was coming!
    Sam changes Miatas like he changes underwear.
    ...and across the line.

    1996 Mazda Miata - R-Package (Eve-L)
    2012 Mazda CX-9 - Grand Touring (Dory)




  18. #18

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    Well I plan on keeping this Miata for the foreseeable future so I guess I'll go ahead & replace both. Now to see if I can get my wife to come out in the garage & pump the clutch for me while I bleed it.

    Yeah right, like that'll happen.

  19. #19

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    Wouldn't you know it, I went to the parts store to pick up a slave & master cylinder to discover they couldn't find the master cylinder the computer said they had in stock. So I thought maybe the parts gods were telling me I only needed the slave cylinder. I replaced it & bled the system for half an hour with no success. I noticed with the cap off the master cylinder that when I let off the clutch bubbles would come up thru the fluid out the top of the master cylinder. I'm assuming this means I have a leak in the master so I'm going to pick up a master & replace it tonight. Hopefully that'll fix my clutch problem. The one thing I tried to avoid (having to bleed the system twice) is going to end up happening anyways.

  20. #20

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    Get a speed bleeder fitting for the slave and save yourself lots of frustration.
    "Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional." Haruki Murakami

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