Clutch MC and SC replacement

[kimokalihi]

I just ordered a new clutch master cylinder along with slave cylinder. I don't know which is bad and the part number for the seal kit for the MC is not coming up on 1stsubaruparts.com so I just ordered both and then I shouldn't have to worry about it anymore.

I've already removed and bypassed the clutch damper so that's out of the equation. What I'd like to know is if there's anything else I should replace like the hose or hard line? I had to bend the hard line to get enough length on the hose to reach the MC since it originally bolted up to the damper.

Replacing the MC is pretty easy right? Doesn't look like much to it. Disconnect the plunger from the arm, couple bolts holding it on and it comes right out, correct?

[Legacy777]

Only thing more you may be able to do is replace the flex line with a braided ss line, but that's not really necessary.

As for replacing the MC, one thing to note is the depth of the bracket that screws onto the rod going into the MC. I don't know if the new MC comes with this, or if you have to swap them. You just need to make a mental note of where the old one is compared to the new one.

[kimokalihi]

I'm not sure what you're talking about, got a pic?

[Legacy777]

This help?

http://www.surrealmirage.com/subaru/ima ... P_3258.JPG
http://www.surrealmirage.com/subaru/ima ... P_3260.JPG

[kimokalihi]

I think I see what you're talking about. The push rod is threaded on the end and that bracket threads onto it. I should take a marker and mark how far the bracket is down the threads. Thanks

On another note, do you think you got enough white lithium on those heater box mechanisms? lol

[BSOD2600]

When I replaced the MC with a refresh kit, I found I had to adjust the pushrod positioning... otherwise the pedal was behaving like it wasn't bled (even though I had done it 2x). FYI.

[Legacy777]

Yes, you've got it.

The lithium grease is ALL original from the factory. I haven't touched it

[kimokalihi]

But was it behaving like mine? It's sitting on the floor. It's not loose, it's being held down by the spring. But when you pull up on it at all it pops up all the way to the top from the spring as well. There's no middle ground. It's either all the way up or all the way down and isn't pumping any fluid. The slave cylinder plunger doesn't budge at all.

[kimokalihi]

That grease is all factory that's crazy. It looks like it's all over the place.

[Legacy777]

Kimo,

If the clutch master & slave are not bled or not working correctly, it will act as you've described. Until I got the adjustment all figured out and bled correctly it was acting pretty weirdly.

[kimokalihi]

Yeah it's probably fine but at least now I'll know for sure it's me that's the problem and not the seals.

[kimokalihi]

Where can I buy a replacement SS braided clutch cable that is long enough to go from the master cylinder to the slave cylinder and bypass the hard line? It's got to have a banjo on one end for the MC side and the threaded end on the slave cylinder side and it needs to be like 1.5 to 2X longer than the stock one so I can get rid of the hard line.

[kimokalihi]

Anybody know if any of the WRX/STI have a long enough clutch line with no hard line and the same connections on each end so I can order that year/model of SS braided line? I saw a 25.RS writeup on replacing it with stainless but they had a weird setup with banjos on both ends.

Is the hardline coming off the slave cylinder necessary? Or can I remove it and run an SS braided line straight from the MC to the SC?

I'm ready to install my new clutch MC and SC and I think I'm going to just use the 20 year old clutch line because I'm too impatient to wait for an answer to figure out which clutch line I can use. I want to drive it so bad!

[Legacy777]

I would recommend going the route I did. Check out the bottom of the transmission section of my parts list. I list the braided hose I used, along with the fittings and banjo bolts.

http://www.surrealmirage.com/subaru/swa ... ansmission

[kimokalihi]

You've got a different slave cylinder than I have. Yours has a banjo fitting like the master cylinder does but mine has that hard line threaded in right there with a threaded fitting about the same size as the bleeder screw.

I noticed you have a brake master cylinder brace. Did you notice any improvement in braking or pedal feel after installing that brace? How much was it and would you recommend it?

[SiCkSTi04]

I saw a 25.RS writeup on replacing it with stainless but they had a weird setup with banjos on both ends.

Can you provide this link please? I ended up by passing my damper and saw that my MC uses banjos on both ends so I used the SC banjo line straight to the MC. Works for now but want upgrade the clutch line. Do you have any pictures of the hard lines? I don't think MY92 SS MC/SC is the same as what you speak of.

[kimokalihi]

No the 90-91 is different from the 92-94. I believe the 91 has the hardline that goes to the hose and then to the master and 92-94 just has a hose all the way from the slave to the master or damper.

Here's the link to the how-to on upgrading the clutch hose.

http://www.scoobymods.com/stainless-ste ... tml?t=9168

[kimokalihi]

I tried bleeding the clutch system today out of the vehicle. That was a bad idea. I feel stupid now. I now need to know what kind of grease I need to use to put in the slave cylinder boot as it's all gone now...






I filled up the reservoir and then pumped the MC and the reservoir started to empty so I opened it back up and filled it again and started pumping and then I heard a hissing noise coming from the SC and realized it had pushed the plunger all the way out and was leaking brake fluid on the floor through the boot. I hadn't cracked the bleeder screw yet. I pulled the boot off and all the grease inside was mixed with brake fluid so I wiped it all out. Anybody know what kind of grease that is? Do I just stick a bunch in there and put the boot back on and call it good?

Next time I'll just bleed it on the car. Stupid.

[gijonas]

Yes there is enough grease left,don't sweat it.And on a side note,dont bother wasting your sweet racing fluid on the clutch hydraulics,your slave cylinder doesn't get 1000 degrees like a race car caliper does.

[kleinkid]

What's your middle name, BP? You got your own spill going on there!

Now is a good time to replace the bleeder nipple with a Speed Bleeder.

[kimokalihi]

I tried finding a damn speed bleeder yesterday! What a waste of time that shit was. Anybody know the size and thread pitch of it? I went to 2 autozones, 1 napa, cute rate and then I gave up. Got tired of driving all over town when every store stocks like 2 sizes of speed bleeders.

You sure there's enough grease in there? There's no grease left in the boot or the the end of the cylinder. I figured there wouldn't be any inside because of the brake fluid in there but maybe it's compatible with the brake fluid?

[gijonas]

Of the few that i have taken apart there was no grease at all

[kimokalihi]

Those were all used I'm assuming? Did I mention the old slave cylinder was completely rusted and froze up? So not only was the MC seals gone but the SC was toast too. I should stick it in some malt vinegar and see if I it'll remove all the rust!

[gijonas]

I should stick it in some malt vinegar and see if I it'll remove all the rust!

Word!

[Legacy777]

You've got a different slave cylinder than I have. Yours has a banjo fitting like the master cylinder does but mine has that hard line threaded in right there with a threaded fitting about the same size as the bleeder screw.

I noticed you have a brake master cylinder brace. Did you notice any improvement in braking or pedal feel after installing that brace? How much was it and would you recommend it?

Yeah, the 91 is different....It'd probably be easiest to get a later model SC if you wanted to run the SS braided line. Honestly though, I doubt you'd feel much difference between the rubber and SS braided line.


Regarding the brace, it seemed to help a little. I don't know if I'd say it was dramatic. Here's a post I made on Nasioc about the actual deflection differences before & after. If you have money burning a hole in your pocket, it's another toy to add, but if not, there's better places to spend your money than on this type of brace.

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthr ... ?p=4757386

"I put this in a couple weeks ago.

Without the brace my mc/booster moved about .0050"

With the brace my mc/booster moved about .0025"-.0027"

So it cut it in half. However my setup with the brace moved about the same as the WRX without the brace.

The impreza probably doesn't have quite as stiff firewall as the WRX....but it's probably a tad better then my car."