Post mortem on '88 5kq Clutch M/C

[steveb@falcon.kla.com (Steven Buchholz)]

... got the clutch master cylinder done over the weekend.  Here's the 
Reader's Digest version of the festivities:

Turns out that Carlsen sold me the wrong M/C.  I should have known some-
thing was up when I noticed that the replacement had mounting studs (the 
one in the car is held in place by two allen head cap screws (6mm).  When 
I got the original out I found that this was the first of three differ-
ences.  The other two were that the actuating shaft was WAY too long, and 
the plastic piece that attaches the supply hose to the M/C is different.  
I was able to take the actuating shaft and supply adapter from the orig-
inal M/C and fit them to the replacement.  An appropriately sized drill 
bit was used to drill out the threads ... voila, I have a replacement 
M/C for a 1988 5000CSTQW!  (I think the replacement may have been for an
older car ... 4kQ, QTC?)

I did find that a rebuild kit was available for the M/C.  The kit that I 
have is distributed by Beck/Arnley Worldparts, and the part number is 
071-7379 if anyone else has need ... I found that the seal had broken on
the original ... no real surprise here.

It appears that when I have taken the car in to the dealer to have the 
brake fluid replaced and the brakes bled they did not appear to bleed the
clutch ... that fluid looked nasty!  I assumed that since I felt the brake
fluid needed to be changed that they would figure that the clutch could 
use the same ...

The biggest caveat for anyone else who is contemplating the same operation
is to get an allen wrench that can get at the rear screw that holds the M/C 
in.  The casting for the inlet prevents any chance of getting a standard 
tool in there.  I managed to get a ball tipped wrench (Bondhus, or equiv.)
in there and got the screw out, but the best solution is probably a standard
"L" shaped 6mm allen wrench that has the short end of the "L" cut down.  
If you've got the right tools and the right part, this really would have 
been an easy and quick job!

Thanks to all of you that offered info and suggestions!

Steve Buchholz
s_buchho@kla.com
San Jose, CA (USA)

PS 4 Scott - the clutch was making a quiet squeaking sound before the M/C
failed ... I don't know if it was a precursor to the event though.  Your 
problem may simply be that the throw-out bearing is squeaking as it slides 
on the sleeve.  Do you hear the noise more from under the hood or in the 
passenger compartment?