Clutch Master Cylinder failure?

[NOLA6]

Last night I was leaving a friend's house when my clutch failed. I started the car, put it in reverse and then my phone rang. I was sitting there with the clutch held down talking on the phone when the car started rolling backwards. I popped it out of gear and took my foot off the clutch. The clutch stayed down almost to the floor. Tried pumping it in the little bit of travel it had. Pumped the brakes which felt fine. Looked under the hood and saw no leakage from the top. Got back in the car and pulled the clutch pedal up with my foot. It stayed up. Started the car and was able to drive home.

Sound like a clutch master cylinder issue to y'all?

Car's an '84 633.

[dmac156]

Master or slave. I would replace both. Same thing happened on mine, I replaced everything including the hose that connects the master to the slave. Its not a bad job, and pretty inexpensive.

[NOLA6]

Thanks. Autohaus also shows a connector from the hose to the master cylinder. Worth getting too, I imagine.

[alpinacsi]

Also check the bracket for cracks.

[RSheiman]

I have not needed to replace my MC only the slave x2 , seems to happen around this time with the weather change, seals retract/crack. Check brake fluid level and for fluid under the car.

[alpinacsi]

Not sure what brand slave you are using but I have never experienced that kind of failure. The uro brand is junk and I have replaced many of them for others that have said they were new and having the same problem after a few months.

[RSheiman]

Only ATE but car was outside and I live in Boston. Also we are talking 22 year period here. My point was to check the slave first since it is an easy and cheap fix c/w the MC.

[NOLA6]

Won't get a chance to get under the car until the morning, but, Rob, I like the idea of just checking/changing the slave. Shopping cart has FTE brand in it now. Pelican Parts has a rating for brands and FTE scores high.

Thanks for the help y'all.

[JimPA]

My car had these exact symptoms but occurrences were infrequent. I replaced the slave but nothing changed. I continued driving the car for a couple of years. Pumping the clutch 10-15 times by hand through its full range of travel provided temporary relief. A new MC restored proper operation.

[rlkrlk]

Good to install the (a new) flex line on the master before bolting it in. Less fiddling under the hood that way.

My MC went out this year also. Rather a pain to access the securing bolts but after some colorful language it's do-able.

Get it ready for the Biloxi cars and coffee December 13th! ;-)

Cheers,

Ray

[NOLA6]

Sounds like a good deadline to work towards Ray!

[Looghis]

replacing an old MC and Slave would be a good bet. Replace the rubber line too. I think you can get a stainless braided one. FTE makes good stuff, i used an MC/Slave from them on my car.

[rlkrlk]

Sounds like a good deadline to work towards Ray!

Yep!

And I meant what Looghis said: braided flex line.

Steve is in the midst of a 5sp conversion on his E9. We're trying to push him to finish and drive up...

Cheers,

Ray

[NOLA6]

Well... It kept going fine, until it failed again -- this time in rush-hour traffic. I had the master, slave (need new terms) and the flex hose connecting them, so I changed out the slave and the hose, hoping for the best. Didn't help. Realized I needed the braided hose from the reservoir to the master (duh), so I ordered it from BMW. Came in the other day. Holy moly. I'm down to one bolt on the master. Got the hardline off in the engine compartment. Got the pedal disconnected. Got the rear bolt off the master. That front one, though. That one wins some four-letter words. I'll keep plugging away.

In the meantime, I finally replaced my left front strut and lower control arm. All new up front now. Had done thrust arms when I got the car, tie rods at some point and right strut and lowers a few months back.

It's nearly 10 p.m. The rain has stopped. I'm headed back to the driveway.

[rlkrlk]

I love it how the FSM simply says remove the bolts. I did this last year. It's no fun.

Cheers,

Ray

[NOLA6]

YYR Ray. Car is back on the road today. Other thing I noticed while bleeding the clutch was what was making the noise on turns: broken steering box bracket. More on that another time.

[rlkrlk]

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1963071-Steering-Box-mount-failure&highlight=mwrench+steering+box

;-)

Cheers,

[NOLA6]

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1963071-Steering-Box-mount-failure&highlight=mwrench+steering+box

;-)

Cheers,

Thanks. I actually bookmarked that thread yesterday morning and emailed Ed. Until I get the kit, if he still offers it, I made up a temporary solution. See post #39 http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1963071-Steering-Box-mount-failure&p=29152682#post29152682