HELP! I'm no mechanic... Clutch & Brake problem??

[hgt_20v]

Went to start my car this afternoon for the first time since sunday and when I pushed the clutch pedal down it was very spongey, and could not select gear with the engine running.

So had a look under the pedals and discovered that the car has a hydraulic clutch (news to me!)
So I checked the brake fluid level and it was seriously low. Topped it back up and pumped the clutch pedal for about 2 mins and now i've got a normal clutch pedal back again.

Am I right in thinking that the brake fluid is also shared by the clutch?

is there any reason why it's used the fluid in the resevoir? when I put the wheels on the other day I did notice that the rear pads are right down and need urgently replacing, could that be why there is lack of fluid up front?

As luck would have it i'm fitting new brakes this week (with the help of a mechanic freind) and will be doing the front and rear discs & pads. Should this cure it? There is no signs of leaks anywhere that I can see on the floor under the car anywhere, near the reservoir under the engine bay, and on the calipers anywhere.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers

 

[Lee]

Sounds like a failed clutch slave cylinder

 

[hgt_20v]

Hi Lee,
Can I ask how you come to that conclusion? And if so is it a big and expensive job?

Thanks

 

[Lee]

Its never happened to me but i have read it so many times on here, if you do a search you will get loads of stuff on it. I dont think it is expensive, about £40 for a new slave cylinder normally, not sure if HGT is any different

 

[Sven]

The slave cylinder goes after the rubber seal on it goes and in comes the dirt.
The new tensioner is around 30 and its easy to change, but the bleading of the system is needed.

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[tommy l]

I had my clutch slave cylinder replaced today, it only cost me $24=vat from local motor factors!

Look under your battery tray to see if any fluid has spilled anywhere!

 

[ade]

mine too was replaced today by fiat foxfield in wigan. cost me £25. parts and labour cover from AA ensured i only pay the excess
my clutch went exactly the same way as discussed earlier in this thread.

hope u get sorted soon

ade

 

[hgt_20v]

Thanks for all the replies guys...

Got back in the car tonight after work and it wouldn't go in gear again (not so bad this time) so pumped the clutch a few times and got it in reverse, then fine all the way home (only a mile away)
That may be that the reservoir is only just over 1/2 full as I ran out of fluid, but i'll take the time to wip the battery off tomorrow and look under the tray to see if there is any seeping at all.

Are they all the same for all bravo's?

Cheers,

 

[Tom]

It WILL be the slave cyl, no question about it.

 

[hgt20v]

Well finally cured the problem.

It was the slave cylinder as everyone suggested, and popped over to the local motor factors this morning to get a new one (£19.73 + vat)
Fitted it, bled the system up and it's better than ever!

Big thanks guys for pointing me in the right direction.

(God what a pain getting the battery tray off though! hardest part of the whole job)

Cheers,