With reference to this post: http://https://www.fiatforum.com/bravo-technical/135724-damn-pilot-bearing-i-think.html

I think this must have been an early warning that my clutch slave cylinder was in it's road to failure.

Drove down to the folks in Shoebury, on the Essex coast on Saturday. Went to move the car, as I was going to check my headlamp alignment against the garage doors, compared to the folks Punto's headlamps, (which has just passed it's MOT).

Anyway, clutch feels weird, and then I release, even though I've depressed the clutch, I'm still on biting point. Took the car out of gear, waited a moment, tried again, and the same scenario: initiallly feels fine, then the biting point gets lower and lower, and then I can't engage any gears.

Managed to park the car back up on the drive. Opened the bonnet to see a small trickle of fluid coming from the cylinder on top of the bell housing. (After looking at the Haynes manual, and this forum, I now know this is the slave cylinder).

Is this quite a common failure?

I'm considering doing this myself. The new part should arrive Tue/Wed this week at the folks house, they have a big drive, so that makes life easier.

I've checked the Fiatboo guide, which is very clear. Only one thing I really want to double check - I have a brake bleed kit. Essentially its a tube, with a non return valve on the end of it. For bleeding brakes, it makes the job a "one man" job, as you can pump the brake pedal to push fluid & air out, but when you release the brake pedal there is no return of the fluid & air back into the bleed nipple because of the one valve.

Would this be the same method for fitting a new slave cylinder, with this brake bleed kit? ie: I can attach the tube securely to the new slave cylinder on its bleed nipple, and pump away, checking from time to time on the progress until I see no bubbles in the fluid?

The alternative is for a mobile mech to do the dirty work, but tbh I think I'd prefer to do this myself, particularly if I can be thorough and do just as well with the job.

Yes the brake bleed kit will work for the slave cylinder bleeding as its the same principle as the brakes i have done it this way in the past with no problems so you should be ok

circolo said:

Is this quite a common failure?

Click to expand...

very common.

circolo said:

Only one thing I really want to double check - I have a brake bleed kit. Would this be the same method for fitting a new slave cylinder, with this brake bleed kit?

Click to expand...

yes, the bleed kit attaches to the slave cylinder bleed nipple, allowing you to bleed it without the help of a second person.


its an easy DIY job, i'm sure you'll manage.

Thanks for the replies again chaps.

Next question... is there any logic as to which (of the possible 3 types) slave cylinder is on my Bravo.

The situation is, I'm in London. The car is at the folks on the Essex coast, so I can't physically see which type of cylinder is the right one for my car.

I've been told by Desira, and a local motor factors that there are 3 listed types for the Bravo 1.2 80sx, 2001. One is known as a "push on push off", don't think it's that? The other two are described by their fixings differences. One has two bolts on the same side, the other has two bolts on opposite sides.

Although I looked at the leaking cylinder on Saturday afternoon I can't remember the exact details.

It's looking more likely that I'll have to arrange for a mobile mech to look at the cylinder, and then get the correct part ordered. As I really can't wait another week for the Bravo to be back on the road again.

I've been told Fiat were doing this with the last of the Bravos: mixing and matching other components. Grrr! Talk about making life difficult.

Could you not maybe ask your folks to have a look for you? your dad might be able to help, maybe even take a pic for you?

No chance!

Dad's not at all mechanical. And as for taking a digital photo....

It's kind of sorted, a mechanic is looking at the part tomorrow afternoon, should then get fixed on Wed afternoon or Thur morning. Would have preferred to fix myself, but needs must.

Is there a mileage scale of how long these units last, perhaps I should carry a spare in case of the next time....

Well dont know if there is a mileage scale as to how long they last cos mine (touch wood) has been on my car for 120000 miles and still going with no leaks. But then again (again touching wood) i think i have one of the best bravo's diue to the only common problem ive had was the wiper motor and the door handles perishing

usually you would order all the possible cylinders and then take your cylinder with you when you collect, allowing you to compare them all. if you cant remove your cylinder in preparation for collection then you buy all 3 and return the ones you dont need for a refund. if your motorfactor wont do this i suggest you try elsewhere.

Yup. That's something I could have done. But in the end, the logistics of this are pretty impossible, with the Car at the folks, 40 miles away, with no decent public transport to there location.

I *could* have got the 3 parts, and repaired on Saturday. But I have to do something on Saturday, so that's not possible.

I'm leaving it with the mobile mech to do. Sure it'll cost a little more, but nothing extortionate, and at least I *should* be able to pick up and drive away on Saturday.

bandido41 said:

Well dont know if there is a mileage scale as to how long they last cos mine (touch wood) has been on my car for 120000 miles and still going with no leaks. But then again (again touching wood) i think i have one of the best bravo's diue to the only common problem ive had was the wiper motor and the door handles perishing

Click to expand...

Mines much lower mileage, 38k. But the rear wiper and door handles are perfect. It was owned by a female owner before, who used it mainly for to and from taking her kids to school, and other local traffic. That's a fair amount of clutch use, I'd say.

It's funny, I'd have expected to see some very small leakage before the catastrophic failure of the unit...

if you examine the way the cylinder pushes against the clutch fork you can see how the piston could be pulled sideways if it had a small amount of play and was to catch on the fork. this is what happens when it fails, which is why it goes from no leak to big leak in one press of the clutch pedal. then you only have a few pumps of the pedal until you lose enough brake fluid to get air in the hydraulic system. you dont get much of a warning before you lose the clutch completely, on my bravo it went from perfect to nothing in 10 mins of heavy traffic.

Ah. That makes sense then.

I wonder why the Bravo is prone to this kind of failure? I've spoken to a number parts places today (really to try to narrow down which cylinder I have). And, Desira, buypartsby, and my local motor factors have all said the same thing, that the Bravo has a poor reputation for these to fail.

Anyway, seems the local motor factors to the folks, have ordered all three, and the mobil mech will replace the old for new, and get the other two back to the motor factors, this should all be done tomorrow.

Thanks for the help on this!