clutch adjustment

Post Wed Feb 02, 2005 5:33 pm

Hello I have recently bought a 325i, yesterday the it felt like the clutch isn't disengaging properly, as I have problems selecting gears, is there anyform of adjustment on for the clutch.

Also this morning the clutch pedal seem to be half way down compaired to the brake, does anyone know why this would be, could it be a hydralic problem, or the clutch itself.

Cheers,
Jason.

Post Wed Feb 02, 2005 5:46 pm

dogsdanglies wrote:Hello I have recently bought a 325i, yesterday the it felt like the clutch isn't disengaging properly, as I have problems selecting gears, is there anyform of adjustment on for the clutch.

Also this morning the clutch pedal seem to be half way down compaired to the brake, does anyone know why this would be, could it be a hydralic problem, or the clutch itself.

Cheers,
Jason.

I don't know what the problem could be but you can't adjust the clutch.

Maybe it's a knackered master or slave cylinder, lack of fluid??

Post Wed Feb 02, 2005 5:51 pm

Hi . I had the same problem with my 325 Sport . I traced the fault to the clutch slave cylinder to be leaking fluid past it seals . Are you constantly having to top up your clutch fluid level ? If so this is probably your problem . I dont think that the clutches are adjustable on this car but i could be wrong . Hope this helps .

Post Wed Feb 02, 2005 6:04 pm

Well I looked under the bonnet this morning but couldn't actually find the resvoir for the clutch, does it just come out of the brake reservoir? I really hope it is the slave cylinder, as that should be alot cheaper than a clutch which I can't really afford at the moment.

Post Wed Feb 02, 2005 8:00 pm

dogsdanglies wrote:Well I looked under the bonnet this morning but couldn't actually find the resvoir for the clutch, does it just come out of the brake reservoir? I really hope it is the slave cylinder, as that should be alot cheaper than a clutch which I can't really afford at the moment.

The clutch cylinder is the small resevoir on the drivers side of the car, you can't miss it.

Slave cylindere is about a tenner from GSF and 2 bolts to remove.

Post Wed Feb 02, 2005 8:23 pm

The clutch cylinder is the small resevoir on the drivers side of the car, you can't miss it.

thought that was just a resevoir? the Slave cylinder is the one by the gearbox correct? and the master cyclinder is behind the clutch pedal.

Is your drivers side footwell wet at all? if it is then it is the master cyclinder that has gone.

If you pump the pedal does it build up pressure?

If your car is left hand drive you wont have a seperate clutch resvoir, it will be the same as the bake.

Post Wed Feb 02, 2005 8:39 pm

I must admit this morning I didn't have a really good look as I was already late, and just had a brief check, must have missed it.

I did try and pump the pedal to build up pressure and this didn't really help. Just confused why the pedal is stuck half way down, if I try and pull it up with my toe, it wont budge, maybe the release bearing has got seized in a forward position? or maybe its the slave cylinder?

I may just take the slave out tomorrow night to see if thats the problem.

Post Wed Feb 02, 2005 8:56 pm

I may just take the slave out tomorrow night to see if thats the problem.

Not really much point just taking it out, probably wont be able to tell anything, besides if its dead its dead, you can't repair them. You will also have to bleed the system.

Check the flud first.. If its down or all gone honestly is best to replace the master and the slave at the same time, cause no doubt the other will fail pretty shortly after if you replace just one.

If the fluid is fine, then its some thing else....! but its best to look at the hydralics first.

I think you can actually adjust the pedal hight...but I doubt this is the problem

Post Wed Feb 02, 2005 9:06 pm

Dont I need the slave out to check if its leaking, I dont think the pedal height needs adjusting as it was fine two days ago.

Post Wed Feb 02, 2005 9:13 pm

you can tell if its leaking if the fluid is down!

If the fliud is down just top it up and pump the clutch, see if that helps. Then after a drive or so see if the fluid has gone down again, if it has you have a leek! best of replacing master and slave at the same time

Post Wed Feb 02, 2005 9:19 pm

Ok, I will try that then.

Post Wed Feb 02, 2005 11:16 pm

My master cylinder's dying

Is the cheaper one from GSF ok, or is it only gonna last 5 mins? It's Ãƒ”šÃ‚£23 vs Ãƒ”šÃ‚£45... & likewise the slave cyl. Are slaves all the same? Just GSF only list one for a 316!

& how much of a PITA is the job?

Post Wed Feb 02, 2005 11:34 pm

Ziggy wrote:My master cylinder's dying
Is the cheaper one from GSF ok, or is it only gonna last 5 mins? It's Ãƒ”šÃ‚£23 vs Ãƒ”šÃ‚£45... & likewise the slave cyl. Are slaves all the same? Just GSF only list one for a 316!

& how much of a PITA is the job?

Slave sylinders easy, it's bolted to the bell housing with 2 x 13mm nuts. All you have to do is undo these and the 11mm collar nut holding the hydraulic pipe on.

Master cylinder is a little more difficult but still not that bad, best to replace both at the same time. I've heard the GSF ones don't last long and they aren't that much from the dealer.

Post Wed Feb 02, 2005 11:48 pm

Or you can do what I did with my first 325 when the clutch cylinder was leaking........

I put hydraulic oil from a pallet pump truck into it,clutch was stiff as fook,but it stopped leaking and lasted 3 years without needing any top up!