Clutch woes.

[Winnie]

Hey guys, after some advice for my GQ TD42.
When AB an I drove Ellis track the other week my clutch started to stop working... By the end of the weekend I had no clutch whatsoever and drove home without it.
I have only gotten around to it today to have a look. I found a hose on the back of the vacuum pump on the alternator which was supposed to be blocked, the hose had broken and when you depressed the clutch pedal air was coming out from it.
A fair bit of oil has also come out from that hose and made a bit of a mess.

We fixed that with a new hose and started bleeding the clutch. Clutch was completely bled, no air coming out at all. The pedal would not hold pressure for more than 20 seconds and then had no feel to it at all. I could pump the clutch though so it would engage, but would slowly release.
We could not find anywhere at all that clutch fluid was leaking from, or air was getting in.
We pulled out the master cylinder but looks like it is not repairable, so can't open it up to check it.
Next was to pull off the slave cylinder and check.

Just wanting some advice on where to look next? Is there a way to test the slave and master cylinders?

[nissannewby]

Sounds like master cylinder. Put in gear with it running and leave the clutch in and see if it slowly starts to move forward.

[Winnie]

Sounds like master cylinder. Put in gear with it running and leave the clutch in and see if it slowly starts to move forward.

Yes it does start to move.
Also that was how I first noticed that the clutch was playing up, I was parked next to AB talking through the window with my foot on the clutch and I started moving forward...

[nissannewby]

Yes it does start to move.
Also that was how I first noticed that the clutch was playing up, I was parked next to AB talking through the window with my foot on the clutch and I started moving forward...

Yeah. Pretty sure it will be your master cylinder. Sound like its bypassing. You could check the adjustment on the pushrod but I think it might be time for a new one.

[Winnie]

Yeah. Pretty sure it will be your master cylinder. Sound like its bypassing. You could check the adjustment on the pushrod but I think it might be time for a new one.

Thanks Mat, pretty much what I was hoping to hear.
I will replace the master and slave cylinders at the same time.

[BigRAWesty]

Yea I'm with mat.. internal seal would be shot and bypassing..
Can be rebuilt but if the bore is shot then it's a waste of time..
$13 from memory for a seal kit.. which is stuff all..

[JME_GU]

If you change the master and slave cylinders it can be hard to get fluid through in order to bleed it. Consider buying a vacuum bleeder (they are pretty cheap) and it is a lot easier.

[Winnie]

If you change the master and slave cylinders it can be hard to get fluid through in order to bleed it. Consider buying a vacuum bleeder (they are pretty cheap) and it is a lot easier.

Cool, thanks for the tip. I'll give it a go with help from a mate and see how we go.
I've ordered new genuine parts from Patrolapart, was $200 inc postage.
Figured I might as well go genuine, the originals have lasted 22 years.

[mudski]

Cool, thanks for the tip. I'll give it a go with help from a mate and see how we go.
I've ordered new genuine parts from Patrolapart, was $200 inc postage.
Figured I might as well go genuine, the originals have lasted 22 years.

You can bench bleed the master cylinder which will make bleeding the rest a sinch.

While we are on the topic of clutch woes.
When i was travelling back from the south coast in Jan towing my camper. When I pulled into towns and I had to stop. I couldn't get 1st. The only way was to let the clutch out, push the lever to 1st and when its starts to grind, put the clutch back in. To be honest I was giving the car a bit of a hard time, but nothing it couldn't handle. Or well so I thought.

It hasn't done this since coming home, but I do get the odd jingling sound from the bellhousing area. Clutch in or out I get this sound, it only goes away if you start to move. But this sound i only get on the odd occasion.
Could the clutch just have been playing up because it maybe got too hot? Wouldn't be gearbox oil I think. I checked it and the colour is still good. Clutch is still under warranty but I have to pay for the remove and refit. But I don't really want to get the same clutch, CI 4Terrain. I'd have to buy something else. But the funds say otherwise. The funds are saying 4inch intake goddammit! Lol.

[Winnie]

You can bench bleed the master cylinder which will make bleeding the rest a sinch.

Thanks mate, do you mind explaining how?