Dreaded clutch slave cylinder!

[Danny172]

Hey all
I’ve convinced myself that my clutch slave cylinder is weeping, as my gearbox bell housing is wet with oil, but it seems clear oil, not red.
The clutch works ok, albeit the usual groaning sound when lifting and depressing the pedal..and a high bite point.
I’ve scared myself silly that this is an impossible job, that no garage wishes to tackle, as the bleeding is a nightmare!
I can get a febi item off eBay, and am quite handy with the spammers!
My question is
1 is this a job that can be tackled on the driveway using a jack, as I believe it’s perched on top of the gearbox bell housing?
2. Is the bleeding procedure that bad?
Thanks all

 

[t-tony]

You say the bite point is high which indicates a well worn clutch, also you say it’s noisy, again indicating a very well worn clutch pressure plate. It sounds very likely that the car is in need of a new clutch (and possibly, but not definitely, a DMF). How many miles has it done? It is also reasonably common for the release arm to be almost worn through from the push rod pressure and being corroded and dry.

Tony.

ps. Is your brake fluid low, or have you had to top it up recently? The clutch slave cylinder draws its fluid from the brake fluid reservoir

 

[BoxClever]

I had my clutch replaced recently and sounds very similar to your problem. A week after the clutch was fitted my car would not go into gear and this was the slave cylinder seals failing. Was about £150 all in for the part and fitting by my local indie so only an hour and a half labour I think.

 

[Pingu]

Bleeding the slave cylinder is not easy. I made a special tool to help, and I suck the fluid rather than pushing it.

It makes a massive difference to the finished result.

BTW, think yourself lucky that it's not the master cylinder that has failed. That is twice as hard to replace.

 

[Danny172]

Hi all thanks for the replies!
My clutch biting point is high, although not slipping or juddery.
I get the groan when pressing down or releasing the pedal…only when warmed up.
The funny thing is I haven’t had to top up my brake fluid level, although it was overfilled when I had the rear brakes done.
To be honest, I e not looked at the leak yet, it may well be the input shaft seal to the gearbox, but to me the oil seemed clear…but as you can imagine being so low to the ground it’s difficult to see

 

[t-tony]

Pressurising the clutch is when you will get the "groan" not when you're releasing it. If the fluid is clear it won't be gearbox oil.

Tony.

 

[Duncodin]

Does brake fluid still have that unmistakeable niff? Wipe it with a cloth and then smell it. Brake fluid doesn't smell like gearbox oil.