Technical slave cylinder or clutch?

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Technical slave cylinder or clutch?

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Mar 31, 2009
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Hi,

I don't know much about cars at all, hence my question. I put my clutch down yesterday, heard a noise and then it just went all the way down and wouldn't come back up. It lost all it's pressure basically. I thought it was a clutch cable due to how it felt but then I'm sure someone on here has said there isnt a clutch cable on a stilo (could be wrong though).

I manages to have a quick look at the car before leaving it and noticed what I think was the slave cylinder leaking and my brake fluid almost empty. I have taken a couple of photos but won't be able to do anything with the car until tomorrow as it's currently stuck in a car park about 5 miles away.

Any idea what it will be and will it be an easy fix or does it need a trip to the garage?

Thanks everyone!

PS sorry the pics aren't the best, took them with my phone, but hopefully you can make out the leak.
 

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As you say, pics aren't very clear, but if that's where the fluid is leaking from and the resevoir is almost empty, then it's likely to be the clutch slave cylinder leaking. It will need a new cylinder to cure it.

Bleeding it may get it working enough to drive the car home or to a garage if you don't have breakdown cover. There's a guide to bleeding the clutch cylinder here: https://www.fiatforum.com/stilo-guides/86395-bleeding-1-6-clutch-slave-cylinder.html The guide is for a 1.6 engine but the procedure is the same for your 1.4.
 
Thanks guys. Just been on the phone to my insurance and apparently I am covered to bring the car home or to the closest garage which I didn't realise. The car should be home later this afternoon. If it is the slave cylinder, would it be recommended for a professional to do this, or is it something I could have a go at doing?

Thanks again!
 
Been having a look around and I think I'm going to attempt it myself. The slave cylinder is around £35 and I have been quoted £125 to replace it, so I will try and save the money.

I've looked at the bleeding guide (Thanks Davren) and doesn't look too tricky. My question is when I have bled the fluid and replaced the slave cylinder, will I also need to bleed all the brakes?

Thanks.
 
My question is when I have bled the fluid and replaced the slave cylinder, will I also need to bleed all the brakes?

No.... as Shadey says, it's the same resevoir for the clutch and brakes, but the pipe from the resevoir that feeds the clutch is at a higher level on the side of the resevoir. It's a safety feature so that if fluid leaks from the clutch circuit, there will still be enough fluid in the resevoir and brake circuits for the brakes to work.

Picture below is from when I replaced my clutch and flywheel. I drained the fluid from the clutch to remove the gearbox, but you can still see fluid in the bottom of the resevoir below the level of the clutch feed pipe.
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Fantastic, thanks for that reply Davren. I still remember seeing some fluid in the brake reservoir too.

I will have a go at replacing it later today then when I get the car back. Been told it will be about 1pm.
 
Is that the push rod we can see in the third photo? Even if the seal has gone the piston should not pop out (has it?) If this is the case there may be a mechanical failure of the clutch actuator lever, thrust bearing or pressure plate. This will involve removing the gearbox.
 
I can't see any push rod... I think what you may be seeing is the reflection of the light on the fluid from the slave cylinder.

Here are a couple of pics I have just taken. Is there anything else I can photograph to identify the problem better?
 

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Has the piston come out of the cylinder. If it has it will be in the boot seen in the photo. I thought what looks like the push rod (connects piston to actuating lever) was the shiny rod below the rubber boot in the third photo.

OK. We posted at the same time. The new photos are clearer. You should be fine.
 
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I'm not familiar with the petrol engine slave cylinder layout but it looks to me as though the push-rod twixt slave cylinder and actuating arm has sheared at the actuating arm end and is now sitting vertically having torn through the dust boot. If this is the case then the slave cylinder maybe OK and a new push-rod is what is required.
 
I have taken off the rubber seal as much as I could and it looks like the pics below. Will the push rod be part of the slave cylinder? I cant seem to find a push rod on any parts websites.

The thing that has torn through the rubber can be moved around as shown in the pictures.
 

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Thanks mate. It has snapped.

Here is a pic of it now.

Anymore advise before I crack on with it tomorrow? Is it going to be as simple as fitting the part, filling up the brake fluid and bleeding from the slave cylinder or will I need to get some change together tonight for the swear jar?

Cheers.
 

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Now you've posted a better picture, it's clear that the push rod has broken and pierced through the rubber boot. The new cylinder will include a new push rod.

When you fit the new cylinder, clean the hollow in the metal arm and smear some grease into it, and the ball on the end of the push rod.

I've not heard of the push rod breaking before. Has the clutch pedal become harder to push down recently?
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