is it the damn slave cylinder again?

[9ballprodigy]

so i noticed my clutch's grab point is getting closer and closer to the floor. the clutch resevoir is still kinda full tho. dark... but far from empty. i had botht he master and slave replaced when i changed out the clutch and flywheel about 1.5 years ago.

i just hope it's the slave cuz i did that fix with you guys before. but how do i know if the problem is the master? also, what are my chances that napa auto parts, mazda parts dept or checkers is open tomorrow? OEM or aftermarket or is it just a matter of price?

thanks.

[gtxhawaii]

Check that the clutch pedal to master cylinder push rod adjustment lock nut is tight. A rotating push rod will add free play and lower the pedal engagement point.
Make sure you have Some free play. If the adjustment goes out the tight way, the piston can't return enough to uncover the passage to the reservoir and the clutch stops being a 'self-adjusting' system. Any leak anywhere while the reservoir can't refill the system, the pedal will sink.
Then start the car, floor the clutch, put it in gear but hold the clutch on the floor. After a short while, if the car starts moving (the clutch is engaging), you have a leaking Master piston seal.

[9ballprodigy]

i didn't bother to take off the wheel right away... i know the way to diagnose a leaky slave is a rubber nipple filled with brake fluid but the problem is.... the rubber nipple is not there!!! how do i find out if it is leaky? have someone push on the clutch and see if something comes out??? either way... i found a slave at checkers for 12.99. a little too cheap??? i thought these problems were supposed to occur LESS often than the common cold!!!

[gtxhawaii]

The end of the slave will be wet and dripping if it's failing. The problem doesn't sound much like a slave though. Is there a slow lowering of fluid in the reservoir? If not, the slave isn't leaking.

[9ballprodigy]

I'll check the locking nut behind the clutch pedal to see if it came loose or something. There does seem to be a little more pedal play than I remember. I definately think the disengage point for the Clutch is a little too close to the floor. And the fluid is about level with the top indentation line of the reservoir.

[corytomo]

flush the fluid, and have someone look at the slave while pushing it. if you come to the miata meet on thursday, we can take a look and see if the slave is leaking, the master is leaking, or you just have bubbles in the fluid.

[9ballprodigy]

i had a look in the reservoir while my wife pushed on the clutch continuously.. no fluctuation in fluid level. i also had a look at the slave while she pushed on the clutch.. no wetness or anything leaking. so i'm guess i just have to adjust the locking nut or bleed the system. the fluid does look really dark... with tinges of bluish green.

[9ballprodigy]

after a couple of weeks of obseving the clutch resevoir fluid levels, I don't think that it's a leaky slave. I bled the clutch and everything is hunky dory. Grab point of pedal went back to being about level with dead pedal as opposed to being 2 inches from hitting the floor or where the pedal stops. It feels firmer too. Had no idea bleeding the clutch makes that big of a difference!

[driver]

Air bubbles iz compressible, das y ...