jonnybgood

I adjusted my clutch this evening. The 8mm hex rod, with the 13mm nut, that goes into the master cylinder from the clutch pedal. It took about 4mm of adjustment to get it to the 3mm play required at the pedal. Prior to adjustment the pedal had about 30mm of play, at the pedal, that has developed over approximatly the past 3 months.

I am concerned that the master cylinder is wearing out. This car has 260k miles on it and I can't tell if this cylinder has been replaced previously. I have replaced the slave cylinder about 30k miles ago. I also replaced the rubber hose/metal tubing from the master cylinder to the slave cylinder recently. The clutch is newish with 60k on it since I had that done and should be in good condition. I checked the clearance at the slave cylinder as displayed in the FSM. It has an acceptable range of 18-34mm and mine was at 25mm.

So what is your experience? I am concerned that perhaps I should have one on hand in case it fails suddenly.

Thanks for your input.

Weston

When a clutch master cylinder is wearing out, you'll typically see it leaking fluid around the pedal, but not always (there are 2 seals and a boot that have to leak first). I would say just go to NAPA and get a rebuild kit for it. It's pretty easy to do, but you'll need a friend to help you bleed it afterwards.

jonnybgood

I checked for fluid and at this point there is no apparent leakage so that seems to be a good sign. thanks

KuHL 951

Jon,
You can look for a wet boot and leakage on the carpet near the penetration or just a soft pedal that doesn't leak. The rebuild kit is the way to go and as posted above it's only like $9 or something. I use a small brake cylinder hone to clean the bore before rebuild. I keep a spare rebuilt master and slave just in case one goes south on me. I actually found a 'rare' slave rebuild kit at NAPA using a VW part number but can't find the part # anywhere now. The failure mode is more pronounced in colder weather when the piston seal is stiff and doesn't conform to corrosion buildup in the bore. A Motive bleeder makes it a no-brainer when bleeding. Haven't heard from you in awhile but I'm glad to see you are still a 944 diehard.

Keithr726

Pedel will get stuck in and require you to pull it back out. Ask me how I know

billthe3

Same here. I was stranded on the side of a texas freeway less than 20mi after buying my car because of that (until I called the PO and he told me to just pop the pedal up).

993944S2

I had a similar situation with the pedal staying on the floor. However, now my clutch will not fully dis-engage when the pedal is on the floor. Same thing???

Don

billthe3

Yeah, sounds like it. I have never been able to figure out where my clutch disengauges because the pedal is so wierd.

Tom R.

Yep, happened on my turbo once in april. took it home and parked it. drove it a few times and it was fine. remembered it last friday and called paragon. ordered a master and slave and will have them put in when I have the car teched for the july DE.

If it happens once, you know it will happen again. not worth waiting till you are really stranded.

The kicker is i have a receipt for a new master about 7k miles ago. dont see slave on the receipt. it is an $81 part, not worth seeing if the old one is still good.

StoogeMoe

Yep, same experience for me. The clutch pedal would feel like I was pushing my foot into mud, and then sometimes stick when releasing. Some days it was fine, and then others it would do it all the time. I replaced the slave and the problem persisted. When I changed out the master, it went away.

Keithr726

I can't believe that yours continued to work for a while after it did it once. Once mine started it got worse over the weeks following.

billthe3

I was driving my car around for 6+ months after the first time my pedal went to the floor. It happened multiple times afterwards as well. The only reason I stopped driving it was because of the whole engine project.

Keithr726

Say, are you done yet?

KuHL 951

At the rate he's going I'll be done before Bill and I'm further behind than him and 3 times his age

He needs to get more sleep. Have you ever noticed he posts at like 2 am in the morning?

Keithr726

Dang, you've got everything in that garage! Engine stand, who needs one of those? I have a cooler that I can put it on.

Oh yes I've noticed that. Then again I shouldn't be saying that because I have posted at weird time. Have you noticed how much he posts? What a gossip queen!