Clutch grinding

[DazzyA]

Having problems engaging first gear and change from 1st to 2nd isn't great. Garage fitted new clutch and I have replaced master and slave cylinders and bleed slave twice. Is much worse when cold. I used Carlube Dot 5.1.

[magnumlove]

DazzyA, I know this won't help you much, but is it reasonably easy to fit new master and slave cylinders? Mine have both gone and I have been quoted just short of Ԛ£180 by my local garage to fit them. Considering the parts from GSF are under Ԛ£70 I might attempt it myself, but was wondering how hard they are to fit

[DazzyA]

pretty easy, the master is difficult to get to, bit like playing upside down twisted, but it's just a case of taking the feed pipe off(get a roasting tray or similar to catch the fluid) then a couple of bolts. The slave is much easier, just 2 bolts swap pipe over off the vehicle. The master took me about 2 hours and the slave about 30 mins. That was the first time I had done it, so have a go yourself mate. If you get a bentley manual(link on home page) it shows step by step, best 20 odd quid I've ever spent.
good luck.

[magnumlove]

Cheers for advice mate, will probally attempt it saturday. Good luck on sorting out your problem.

[NickE30]

On Monday morning I lost engagement into all my gears, and was stranded on the entrance to a roundabout. I hate treating cars badly, but had no choice but to slam it into 1st, on start up, and potter home with the hazards on. Very embarassing!

My gearbox has become a bit notchy over the last month or so, and I was reading the symptoms in the Bentley manual on Sunday night, so expecting my slave cylinder to give in any moment.

Luckily, I found a garage who replaced the slave cylinder yesterday, but warned me the master could go soon. I drove the car back from the garage last night and again this morning. Although generally ok, occassionally I go to depress the clutch, and there's just no pressure there - almost like the clutch is broken. I have to give it half a pump before depressing fully.

Could it be adjusted incorrectly?
or is this a sign of the master cylinder on its way out?

On an additional note, the mechanic told me he didn't replace the flexipipe that runs to the slave cylinder, but re-used the one from the old slave. Could this be the problem if the pipe is particularly fraded/worn?......

[DazzyA]

check the master for any leaks, mine was leaking pretty bad, also bleed the slave cylinder again(I did mine three times in all). I take it the mechanic would have centered the slave correctly, but might be worth taking it off and pushing the rod in with the cap of the fluid resevoir in cas there is still some air in there.
Might of course be the clutch, but the garage did mine so not sure what symptons would show.
good luck mate.

[Brianmoooore]

When I change a clutch master and slave cylinder, I find it very difficult to bleed in one go. Usually bleed it the best I can, then leave it for a day, and bleed it again.
Suspect the fluid gets lots of small bubbles in it, which collect together when left, and can then be bled out.

[NickE30]

Thanks for the advice guys. Just to update you, I reached round the back of the draiver's footwell panel (where the pedal arms are), and found my fingers covered in fluid. Guess it must be the master cylinder gone! as expected.

Kept an eye on my fluid resevoir before setting out on journeies yesterday and today, and its reduced damatically. Just hoping by topping up the resevoir and driving it to the garage tonight I won't be doing it any harm.

I've noticed the cap to the resevoir is cracked. Suspect this could be letting in air too, so I'm going to replace when I do the master cylinder.

[Brianmoooore]

If the cap didn't let in air, your clutch wouldn't work - but it shouldn't be cracked.