another leak!

[Voyager]

Working gigs off my new cobra. Was under the car last week cleaning up what I hope is the last of my oil leak (oil pressure gauge line). Noticed I have brake fluid seeping from the rubber grommet on the clutch slave. Still shifts good, but I have noticed the brake fluid reservoir slowly going down and maybe a touch of chatter releasing in first.

The high-end slave, line, and mounting bracket kit was purchased from a club cobra supporting vender and installed by a third party (local high performance shop). Have Tremec TKO 600 tranny, Pace Clutch, and Quicktime bellhousing.

Before replacing the slave, would like to ID the fault. Statically, what do you think?

Bad new slave?

Bad alignment?

Bad adjustment?

Crap happens?

Thanks,
Bob

[mikeforte]

Hi Bob,
What kind of slave cylinder is it? Is it internal or external slave? Any pictures so I could help diagnose the problem?

[Outwest34au]

If it is a standard type external slave and the bore is good or honeable you may get many more miles with just a kit in it. Rubbers cost not a lot.

[blykins]

What brand is it?

Sometimes things do happen....parts fail, even brand new ones.

Could you post some pictures of the setup and how it's installed so I can take a look?

[madmaxx]

search this site, i wrote the autozone partnumber somewhere, lifetime warranty cost $23.00 new. A little drip doesnt hurt anything, i have seen them drip when new and stop once get worn a little. The key is make sure slave is perpindicular to clutch arm, if that is not there you dont stand a chance.

[madmaxx]

I will also bring to your attention the POS wilwood two piece plastic slave cyldinder reservoir will eventually leak. The permanent solution is to remove, take apart, clean, apply seal-all to the bottom half and reassemble. It will never leak again. SeaL-All cost about $1.99 which is all you would want to invest in the POS plastic reservoir. They sell some nice billet one for about $150 but I like the plastic one, it is always a good talking point, LOL.

[Voyager]

Guys,

Thanks for the feedback. I’ll post some pictures and info later today when I can lift the Cobra up some. Right now the Miata is sitting on our jacks (installing a wide band, which requires pulling the supercharger to get at the header).

I think what is bugging me more is not the leak itself, but my decision to fix whatever comes up (short of catastrophic), instead of sending it back to the dealer/installer. I figure the best way to get to know my brand new car is to dive right in. Just didn’t realize it would be one thing after another.

Bob

[Voyager]

Madd Max,

I’ll find your earlier posting regarding the AutoZone slave. I’ll probably go that way. My challenge is I’m not sure what right looks like, so I’m relying on you guys. For example, noticed there is no nut on the end of the rod. I guess push vice pull.

Regarding the plastic clutch fluid reservoir, I did notice some moisture at the bottom of the reservoir when the car first arrived, but after wiping it up, it has remained dry. I will keep my eye on it.

However, I did notice that the fluid level has slowly gone down as I drove the car this past fall. Had wishful thoughts that it was because the pads were seating or some crap like that. Nope…I can see the fluid come out of the slave rubber covering when engaging the clutch.

Pictures to follow.

Bob

[Excaliber]

Fluid levels will also go down as the clutch wears and seats in as well as the brakes. So some drop in fluid is normal.

[madmaxx]

Slave is push, I chased a leak for awhile on the slave cylinder plastic reservoir, thought it was the cap, lowered the level, in the end it is where you see the hose clamp. If you call wilwood they tell you to heat the upper part in the resvoir in water than quickly assemble to lower so it form to it blah blah blah, give me a break. Use the seal all and be done. Nothing can compensate for a piss poor design.

I feel your pain with dealing with issues on your own if it is new chassis. In the end you will be much happier understanding it is your fault, anything that goes wrong is your fault, you are in fact a failure and it failed as a result of your actions, LOL!!!!!


The clutch reservoir would be the manufacturer of the chassis the slave cylinder leaking is the installer of engine and trans. Unless you have a catastrophic failure then you are better off dealing with any issues yourself and so far you have some very minor issues due to poor design. Make sure you check the tightness of all your fasteners, caliper mounting bolts, half shaft bolts, drive shaft bolts, motor mount bolts. Also with that KC408 you might have enough torque to roll the engine over and have the side pipe on the passenger side touch the bottom of the opening if they used the stock marshmallow mounts, if it does switch to the mounts from oltoff. This would only happen if you are doing burnouts etc. My theory is if it is going to break you might as well have fun between problems, LOL!!!!

[jhv48]

Simply replace the slave unit. Cost is about $14.00. Not worth the time to take it back to the installer. You can do it in your garage.

There are several threads about how to do the replacement. Do a search and they will walk you through the process. I had to remove mine at least three times since new chasing another problem.

When it comes time to bleed the new slave, just attach a piece of clear plastic tube to the bleeder valve and put the other end in a container. Then loosen the bleeder valve and let the fluid flow naturally from the reservoir to the cylinder. When no air comes from the tube, tighten the valve and you are done. No need to use two people to bleed it. It will bleed itself naturally.

Have fun, and there will be more things to do. It took me about 5000 miles and one year of driving to work out and fix alll the kinks. When you finally get tired of that front end wheel balance problem, let me know.

[Voyager]

Here are some pictures. Thoughts?

[Voyager]

Excalibur - good point. At first I thought the reason the level was going down was related to the fluid I found at the bottom of the reservoir when the car was delivered. Then I was hoping it was the bedding in process. But after going through about half a reservoir’s worth of fluid, I took a harder look at the slave. Problem was everything under the chassis is covered with oil due to the leaking oil pressure gauge tube, so the brake fluid wasn‘t readily apparent.

Madmaxx - Already had to swap out the OEM engine mounts for Olthoff mounts. 100% better.

[madmaxx]

The slave you will buy from autozone will have a pushrod with it, no need for the threaded rod and nuts, threaded rod works but looks like junk yard sheet.

Nice bracket, alignment appears ok, get new slave, let it wear in a little and good to go, if you bleed by just letting it run out bleeder make sure you remove the cap from the reservoir or it may hold a vacumm and nothing will come out.