High biting point?

Technical Area Engine, Transmission, Exhaust etc
2

 Hi all, this may be a silly question, but my clutch biting point seems to be getting high which sugests the clutch is worn but not sliping. I also looked at the clutch fluid and it’s well’ black! could this be a cuase of the high biting point or is it going to just the clutch?

Any ideas would be appreciated

Mike

3

 Evening Mike

I would personally fit a new slave cylinder first,with fresh fluid and bleed off,should take no longer than 20 to 30 mins at most?which is your cheapest option before splashing out for a new clutch,9 x out of 10 this as fixxed it for owners that have fell on my doors.

Regards

4

 Mike, Black clutch fluid would point to seals in either the clutch master or slave cylinder, like Wayne said this is the cheapest option, but I don’t think it will do much for the high bitting point on the clutch, the free play is taken up automatically by the fluid in the slave cylinder.

Pull the handbrake on hard put the car in 1st gear and try to move off without stalling the engine if the engine stalls I would say there is some life left in the clutch, if the engine races away the clutch is worn out.

Alan

5

I’ve taken Wayne’s advice on this recently and find myself to be on of the 9/10 owners for whom changing the slave cylinder has solved the problem. With black fluid is sounds like it needs doing either way and its definitely made a big difference to me. Took me 20 mins to replace mine and bleed the system so it’s definitely worth giving this a go before investing in a new clutch. 

6

 Thanks all for your help I’ll try the slave cylinder first and see what happens.

I did the handrake test yesterday and the car does stall so I guess i dont need to panic just yet but keep it in mind.

Many thanks again

Mike

7

I replaced a leaking slave cylinder last Autumn. I flushed out the clutch hydraulic system twice, refilled and bled. The clutch and cylinders have been fine since but the fluid is starting to turn black again. I guess some of the carbon is leeching out of the cylinder seals or the lining in the flexi hose but it doesn’t appear to have affected clutch operation yet.

8

 Hi all, well I replaced the slave cylinder and bled the system. I did this on saterday and the fluid is pretty much black again! I guess its the master then or the hose.

Mike