Drip from Clutch Master

Got the Bug · #1 (**permalink**) 07-07-2007, 07:08 PM

I was visiting my folks in Newport Beach for the 4th so my car was sitting for over a week. I got home tonight and noticed a drop of hydraulic fluid on the floor the size of a dime.

I isolated the drip to the bottom of the clutch hose coming out of the master. I tightened the hose clamp on the hose that's directly under the clutch master and thoroughly wiped everything down.

Hope that fixes the drip! Not sure if it's possible, but it would have been a nice touch if Superformance would have used a braded line vs. a rubber line for the clutch master.

Doug

lineslinger · #2 (**permalink**) 07-07-2007, 07:17 PM

So, if I understand, the hydraulic line that runs from the master cylinder to the slave cylinder is a rubber hose, that is held on to the outlet fitting with a hose clamp? Can you post a picture, usually that line is metal tubing or a compression fitting with copper, brass or stainless tubing.

Got the Bug · #3 (**permalink**) 07-07-2007, 07:50 PM

Correct. Rubber hose. Here's a pic:

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/s...=48063&cat=500

Velox · #4 (**permalink**) 07-07-2007, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

Correct. Rubber hose. Here's a pic:

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/s...=48063&cat=500

That's just the clutch reservoir, it is not the pressure line to the slave, that hose is just the fill tubing going TO the clutch master, not the pressure line going out from the master. That connection on the reservoir sometimes leaks, there is an o-ring fitting where the top square plastic reservoir fits into the lower round plastic portion that leads to the hose. I just replaced mine, no more leak

Velox · #5 (**permalink**) 07-07-2007, 08:40 PM

Here is the actual line coming from the clutch master to the clutch slave - mine is the original high pressure connection provided by SPF...

lineslinger · #6 (**permalink**) 07-07-2007, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Velox

That's just the clutch reservoir, it is not the pressure line to the slave, that hose is just the fill tubing going TO the clutch master, not the pressure line going out from the master. That connection on the reservoir sometimes leaks, there is an o-ring fitting where the top square plastic reservoir fits into the lower round plastic portion that leads to the hose. I just replaced mine, no more leak

You got it Velox, thats why I raised the question.

lineslinger · #7 (**permalink**) 07-07-2007, 08:47 PM

Got the Bug,
The reservoir assures that you don't run dry in your master cylinders for the brakes and clutch hydraulics, (unless you get a monster leak somewhere).
Your picture does help clarify the rubber hose question, good thing you did notice the leakage. A few drips from the reservoir is a lot less of a problem than one from your master cylinder. Good eyes.

Got the Bug · #8 (**permalink**) 07-07-2007, 08:57 PM

Thanks for the clarification regarding the master vs. reservoir guys! Bad description on my behalf.

Planning to take the car out tomorrow, so I'll keep an eye on it.

Doug

Got the Bug · #9 (**permalink**) 08-12-2007, 03:53 PM

I've tightened the hose clamp on the clutch resevoir as tight as I think it can be, but there still seems to be some residue under the resevoir after driving the car.

Don - You mentioned that you needed to replace the O-ring. Is the resevoir a standard off the shelf product is the O-ring a SPF part?

DOug

Velox · #10 (**permalink**) 08-12-2007, 04:45 PM

Doug, that is exactly what mine did. Was leaking and then when tightenend it went to a very slow drip then to just always keeping the reservoir wet. I tightened the clamp so far I thought the plastic might rupture

So what I did was replace the entire thing, it is Wilwood part number 260-7577 called "kit, reservoir, compact remote 4 oz." They are on eBay and all the usual suspects carry them. I got mine from Summit http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

I kept the old o-ring if you want it, but my concern is once they start leaking it could be a hairline crack most anywhere, so I opted just to change out the entire reservoir. The fun part is getting ahold of the bolts that go through the firewall and have lock nuts on the other side

Once changed, problem was solved for me

Got the Bug · #11 (**permalink**) 08-12-2007, 09:32 PM

Don - I tweaked the hose clamp a bit more and took the car for a drive today. I didn't see the residue that I've seen in the past. Guessing that I'll need to replace resevoir at some point.

Thanks again for the detailed response.

Doug

Got the Bug · #12 (**permalink**) 08-12-2007, 09:40 PM

Oops...Double post.

T E Lewis · #13 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007, 05:28 PM

Velox,

I've had my reservoir off a couple of times, and the two bolts that hold mine to the firewall are either tapped or they welded the nuts in place. Maybe this is an improvement as time goes on. I can only imagine getting the locknuts on the other side.

Velox · #14 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T E Lewis

Velox,

I've had my reservoir off a couple of times, and the two bolts that hold mine to the firewall are either tapped or they welded the nuts in place. Maybe this is an improvement as time goes on. I can only imagine getting the locknuts on the other side.

Man did I have fun

With various contortions and removing some gauges I finally got a tiny lock wrench on the nuts and then could undo the bolts from the firewall side... Getting them back together was great too

I remember thinking there has to be a better way to redo this, but by the time I got assembly done I thought twice and decided to leave it alone

Got the Bug · #15 (**permalink**) 09-14-2007, 09:19 PM

My clutch resevoir kept seaping, so Dynamic agree to send me a new one. They ended up sending the bottom portion of the unit (with a new o-ring).

I've got a couple of questions. Once I drain the fluid and install/refill the resevoir, will I need to bleed it? Dumb question...but can I just use a high quality brake fluid or do I need to use cluch hydraulic fluid?

Doug

Ibr8k4vetts · #16 (**permalink**) 09-14-2007, 10:03 PM

No need to bleed!

SantaFe66 · #17 (**permalink**) 09-14-2007, 11:22 PM

Just a suggestion......... Your reservoir is plastic and that double wire-like clamp that holds the reservoir to the bottom part is supposed to straddle the o-ring and shouldn't be over-tightened. If it is, it will distort or crack the plastic and it will leak there. Likewise, the hose clamp should not be over-tightened or it will distort the plastic and leak. It may leak at the wire clamp and the fluid runs down the bottom and looks like it is coming from the hose. This happened to me and I had to buy a complete new unit to fix the leak. If they sent a new bottom and o-ring and the reservoir isn't distorted and you didn't scrunch the hose clamp too tight, you should be OK. The o-ring will seal fine without over-tightening, likewise the hose clamp if it is positioned above the bulge in the plastic tube.

Paul

Velox · #18 (**permalink**) 09-15-2007, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

My clutch resevoir kept seaping, so Dynamic agree to send me a new one. They ended up sending the bottom portion of the unit (with a new o-ring).Doug

Doug, I'd advise changing everything including the top plastic piece. As SantaFe66 noted that plastic can distort with clamping, so that's why I got the complete kit from Summit and changed it all out, tightened the new setup very gently, no leaks since. BTW no need to bleed the system, the tubing from the bottom of the reservoir that goes over to the clutch master cylinder will maintain a fluid level in it (keep it pointing up when changing out the reservoir) and will be fine when you add new fluid to the new reservoir

Got the Bug · #19 (**permalink**) 09-15-2007, 06:41 PM

Thanks Don. After messing around with it for a while, I'm going to order the complete kit from Summit. BTW - does the kit come with a new clamp? They don't show it in picture.

Doug

Velox · #20 (**permalink**) 09-16-2007, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

Thanks Don. After messing around with it for a while, I'm going to order the complete kit from Summit. BTW - does the kit come with a new clamp? They don't show it in picture. Doug

Hi Doug, yes the kit I got from Summit had the clamp, o-ring, everything in the kit you would need