Diesel Clutch Hydraulics - Are They Still Problematic ?

[Sonic ZS]

As most members on here will know, the diesel (and possibly some petrol) versions of the 75/ZT seemed to gain a reputation for early failure of the plastic clutch slave cylinder following a replacement.

Now, not wishing to tempt fate with my own car - and it may just be my imagination, but there seems to be distinct lack of posts regarding this issue over the last few years ?

It could, of course, be that numbers are dropping as cars are being scrapped, or that as the models are getting older they are being used less so covering lower mileages ?

But can we now assume that the slave cylinder manufacturers have finally sorted the problems and the clutches are becoming suitably reliable again ??

I replaced my original Rover clutch about 3 years ago at 155k (surprisingly due to centre plate spline fracture, not hydraulic failure) and the new LuK Repset 3-piece kit has now covered about 20k, and touch wood, it's working perfectly.

So would be interested to hear other member's thoughts and experiences.....

[Lee T]

The problem with the slave is the two plastic tangs that hold the body parts together cut a groove around the lower body part allowing the top half to rotate, spinning the spring with it and that creates heat. My own slave ejected the top half with bearing, then the spring followed leaving the base held by the hydraulic pipes, as soon as I slid the gearbox back.
There is a How To on here somewhere, showing how to modify the slave to prevent this. It involved cutting two grooves in the upper body and placing a self rapper in the lower body through the groove allowing free travel of the slave but preventing the tangs doing their thing.

Lee.

[trikey]

What most folk forget to do is replace the guide tube, I've never had one fail early when the guide has been replaced.

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[MSS]

Originally Posted by trikey

What most folk forget to do is replace the guide tube, I've never had one fail early when the guide has been replaced.

Sent from my SM-S711B using Tapatalk

That , even to me an amateur, is pretty obvious. Which is why when my car came over to you for the clutch change Andy, it had a new guide tube and the sealing ring.

Since you replaced it the clutch has been light and operates perfectly!

[Sonic ZS]

Originally Posted by trikey

What most folk forget to do is replace the guide tube, I've never had one fail early when the guide has been replaced.

Sent from my SM-S711B using Tapatalk

Out of interest, what's the issue with the guide tube (and not changing it) ?

I checked mine carefully when changing the clutch and it luckily had nothing more than very slight polishing to the surface, so deemed it was good to reuse