Anyone know if there is any specific reason why my clutch slave cylinder has failed for the 2nd time.

Does the 1.9 TDI VW diesel have problems with slave cylinders ?

History:

Sachs uprated clutch fitted with new slave cylinder, 16 months and 20,000 miles later the slave cylinder blows.

Slave cylinder replaced (genuine VW), 15 months later and 14,000 miles its just blow again this evening.

Just bad luck or are they inherently unreliable ?

Thanks

p.s. bit fed up with it as not the nicest job in the world to do !

You say sachs uprated - by how much???

If its putting more pressure on clutch it will take more pressure to release it, more pressure a standard slave cylinder is not designed to take

The sachs clutch kit that I fitted is the normal one people use with the dual mass flywheel, it came with a new slave cylinder:

http://www.jabbaspor...SCK6SPDSACHSTDI

I've never heard of an uprated slave cylinder, do other people fit uprated ones when they upgrade the clutch ? If they do were do you get them from ?

If it's genuine VAG from a franchise dealer then breath a sigh of relief, the supplying dealer should foot the bill to replace the part if it fails under the 2 year warranty. Good luck with that though!

That's interesting, just been searching the net and thought I saw something about 2 year warranty, it was a genuine part from a VW dealer so a free replacement slave cylinder would be good as it cost £70.

Thanks for the info, I will get onto the place I brought it from tomorrow.

It's better than that, if the part fails they will replace it and cover removing AND refitting the part.

They only cover the cost of fitting if it the part was fitted by a franchised dealer, if the car has been modified you'd be very lucky to get them to honour a warranty like that though.

I have a very tough clutch but have had no slave cylinder issues at all. Not sure what issues / characteristics of a clutch can cause premature failure?

I've known people who've had genuine parts fitted by a 3rd party garage have them replaced FOC inc labour to remove/re-fit. The dealer asked for an invoice and warned that if it was found to be fitting related failure or caused by another part failure not under warranty then the customer would be liable for the labour or diagnostic, VAG covered it without any protest (water pump failure). Granted in this case we're talking about a non standard clutch so it's a little different.

Tbh I can't see why a clutch being stiff would cause any more wear to a slave cylinder, they are quite tough little things, the amount it pushes is purely a product of how much hydraulic pressure is applied to it by the master cylinder, you are more likely to bend the plate that levers against the release bearing,

to the op. Is it leaking? Or is something else?

I have the same clutch, and I think my release bearing has gone pop too. Coming off in first gear it likes to 'pounce/jump' even when releasing the clutch really slow! Not sure what your experiencing? Think ill have my DMF done together.

The clutch pedal just went to the floor, on checking the brake/clutch fluid is low, took the under tray off and there is brake fluid dripping out from between the gearbox and engine, under tray has also got loads of brake fluid on it.

Did an oil change 2 weeks ago and the under tray was clean and no sign of leaks.

This is exactly what happened before when the slave cylinder blew its seals.

Tbh I can't see why a clutch being stiff would cause any more wear to a slave cylinder, they are quite tough little things, the amount it pushes is purely a product of how much hydraulic pressure is applied to it by the master cylinder, you are more likely to bend the plate that levers against the release bearing,

to the op. Is it leaking? Or is something else?

When you fit the uprated clutch with standard-size cylinders, do you get a heavier pedal? If so, then you've got more loading on the seals at both ends.

That said, IME it's usual to blow the slave, then blow the master a few months later, rather than blow the slave again.

Well VW would not entertain any chance of warranty on the old slave cylinder, only interested if the parts were fitted by them and also the problem diagnosed and repaired by them, oh well worth a try.

So £78 spent and fitted it today, flipping hard work all on my own.

Old bearing soaked in brake fluid, might try to take it apart to see if there is anything obviously wrong when I recover from all the hard work today.

Not sure what to do if it blows again, I want to keep the VRS as I really like it but maybe I would have to think about getting shot of it, only other thing would be to replace the complete clutch !

KenONeill - this uprated clutch has a similar pedal feel to standard so don't think that there is any extra load on the slave cylinder.

Write to them asking them to put the refusal to honor parts warranty in writing along with the reason for refusal as you are considering raising this with the franchisor and ultimately small claims court. Expect a call with an offer of part payment as good will followed by a cheque for the full amount after further discussion unless they can prove it's a fitting issue or consequential failure caused by a modified part.

Edited 9 March, 201313 yr by Avalon