Grey Fluff in the clutch fluid

klm squared · 21st May 2007, 15:51

GREY FLUFF in the clutch fluid.

I have just bled my clutch after changing th Master Cylinder and as the "old "fluid came out it carried with it what looks like grey FLUFF in the liquid.
Bleeding the clutcg has not improved it but I wondered wht this substance might be........
Can anybody help at all please.
Thanks:SHOCKED:

pondweed · 21st May 2007, 16:28

perhaps you left the master cylinder cap off and rabbits got in?

its more probably fine threads of the plastic that makes up the inner lining of the master cylinder, which comes off as it wears. others have reported grey deposits, grains, greyish fluid and so on...

klm squared · 21st May 2007, 16:40

Would you say that another bleed would clear it out...
I still have no clutch.

MartinW · 21st May 2007, 19:00

One check you should make is to look under the gearbox - if fluid is coming out then it is bad news, it's the slave that is the problem and not the m/c, and as the slave is part of the clutch release bearing, this is a gearbox off job with a quoted 5hrs labour, and parts are not cheap. I paid £575, and I know of someone that paid £700.

klm squared · 22nd May 2007, 11:57

Thanks for the pointer Martin. I'll take a look again tonight to see if any fluid visible.
Did take a good look at it this morning though. Found an easy way to bleed the M/C.
Simply undo the two bolts that secure it and release it from the clutch pedal. Then fit an EASY bleed set that uses the air pressure from the tyres to blow it through. Blew out everything this morning. All the "FLUFF" came out and left it running till I got AIR out of the bleed nipple.
Then filled the fluid vessel from the easy bleed set. Confirmed it was airtight and opened the bleed nipple again.
Clean fluid all the way through and TADA........ I got a FULL clutch pedal.
Took me all of an hour.
Wee'll see how long this lasts......

Keith · 22nd May 2007, 16:37

What colour are your carpets?

klm squared · 22nd May 2007, 17:05

I think they call it Sandstone Beige??

Keith · 22nd May 2007, 18:34

Not that in there then!

klm squared · 22nd May 2007, 19:05

Nope........
not the dice in the windscreen either.

MartinW · 22nd May 2007, 19:41

Glad to hear it's sorted!

However, as said, they go in pairs as the new seals put more pressure on already worn seals. That said, the tell tale is probably a slight notchy feel to the pedal about mid-point of the travel.

See the new thread on QH clutch/slave products with life-time warranty for £15!

21st May 2007, 15:51	#1
klm squared Regular poster 75 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: North East Posts: 45 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Grey Fluff in the clutch fluid GREY FLUFF in the clutch fluid. I have just bled my clutch after changing th Master Cylinder and as the "old "fluid came out it carried with it what looks like grey FLUFF in the liquid. Bleeding the clutcg has not improved it but I wondered wht this substance might be........ Can anybody help at all please. Thanks:SHOCKED:

21st May 2007, 16:28	#2
pondweed This is my second home Waiter, Waiter! I seem to have a Roomster in my drive... Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sussex Posts: 3,268 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	perhaps you left the master cylinder cap off and rabbits got in? its more probably fine threads of the plastic that makes up the inner lining of the master cylinder, which comes off as it wears. others have reported grey deposits, grains, greyish fluid and so on...

21st May 2007, 16:40	#3
klm squared Regular poster 75 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: North East Posts: 45 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Would you say that another bleed would clear it out... I still have no clutch.

21st May 2007, 19:00	#4
MartinW Newbie MG TF LE500 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chester Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	One check you should make is to look under the gearbox - if fluid is coming out then it is bad news, it's the slave that is the problem and not the m/c, and as the slave is part of the clutch release bearing, this is a gearbox off job with a quoted 5hrs labour, and parts are not cheap. I paid £575, and I know of someone that paid £700.

22nd May 2007, 11:57	#5
klm squared Regular poster 75 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: North East Posts: 45 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the pointer Martin. I'll take a look again tonight to see if any fluid visible. Did take a good look at it this morning though. Found an easy way to bleed the M/C. Simply undo the two bolts that secure it and release it from the clutch pedal. Then fit an EASY bleed set that uses the air pressure from the tyres to blow it through. Blew out everything this morning. All the "FLUFF" came out and left it running till I got AIR out of the bleed nipple. Then filled the fluid vessel from the easy bleed set. Confirmed it was airtight and opened the bleed nipple again. Clean fluid all the way through and TADA........ I got a FULL clutch pedal. Took me all of an hour. Wee'll see how long this lasts......

22nd May 2007, 16:37	#6
Keith This is my second home ZT400 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ellesmere Posts: 5,948 Thanks: 0 Thanked 43 Times in 29 Posts	What colour are your carpets?

22nd May 2007, 17:05	#7
klm squared Regular poster 75 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: North East Posts: 45 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I think they call it Sandstone Beige??

22nd May 2007, 18:34	#8
Keith This is my second home ZT400 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ellesmere Posts: 5,948 Thanks: 0 Thanked 43 Times in 29 Posts	Not that in there then!

22nd May 2007, 19:05	#9
klm squared Regular poster 75 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: North East Posts: 45 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Nope........ not the dice in the windscreen either.

22nd May 2007, 19:41	#10
MartinW Newbie MG TF LE500 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chester Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Glad to hear it's sorted! However, as said, they go in pairs as the new seals put more pressure on already worn seals. That said, the tell tale is probably a slight notchy feel to the pedal about mid-point of the travel. See the new thread on QH clutch/slave products with life-time warranty for £15!