[s-cars] Clutch Master Cylinder BTDT (sort of)

[Airbil at aol.com]

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[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
M-e-n
Okay so sooner or later all (IME) of 'your' clutch master cylinder shafts are
going to break badabing clutch to the floor.  So, when it happens steel
yourself, dont panic, DO NOT STOP.   Just keep driving to get home or to
where ever repair is to be made.  Power shift as best you can.  If car dies,
put in first gear start er up and keep moving.  Power shift.  You can practic
shifting now without the clutch while your clutch still works.  Get the hang
of it.  Downshifting is not possible so put in neutral and brake.  Perhps
some more knowledgeable lister could elaborate.  Phfew!
When you get to home or wherever,  look for leakage either under transmission
(failed slave cylinder) or drivers footwell (master cylinder.)  No hydraulic
fluid in either location means most likely the shaft of the master cylinder
is broken.  You'll need a new one.  duh..!  And here are some hopefully
helpful hints for this particular ailment.  -Master cylinder replacement-
$110 - $120 on line somewhere.
To replace; remove dash trim and an air duct in drivers footwell area.
Use caution as there are wires attached to the courtesy lite.
Drain (suck) hydraulic fluid from brake fluid resevoir, as this system is
shared with clutch.
Try a turkey baster or something.  Then..
Yup   lying upside down and backwards under the dash, (with a lot of rags, a
bowl and or funnel close at hand to catch hydraulic fluid) remove the master
cylinder.
*Wash off any fluid that comes in contact with skin immediately.  Not good
stuff.
Install new master cylinder.
Put front of car on jack stands, if you haven't already and loacte slave
cylinder- drivers side back of trans.    There's a bleeder valve that points
towards the drivers side, with a black rubber cover.
Attach a tube to this that will drain into a pan.  Loosen the bleeder valve.
(open it)
Fill resevoir with new fluid.
Attach cover to resevoir with an air valve that you can pressurize to 8-10
psi.  (Motive bleeder will work well)  Pressurize.
Close  bleeder valve on slave when H fluid runs clear through the tube.  You
may want to pump clutch several times during this process.  I'd say do this
for about a full minute or more.
Close bleeder valve.
Voila!
Test &verify.. You're done.  Put things back together.
Oh to much work you say?   Dealer wants to change master, slave and bleed
entire system, $980.
Yeah maybe this is the full service, but I'd say no.  You may have to bleed
entire brake/clutch hydraulic sytem.  I did not.
Our cost- $120 + Lets say 4 hours.     Thank you very much.  Take 860 bucks
and get something else.
Theres prolly some real pros that could add to this but it seems to have
woked fabulously for me and allowed me at least 4 beers in the process:)
Cheers'
Bill m  -Rocket Avant