pontious

Hey guys,

I am having a problem, which from reading posts and the FSM I think is the throwout bearing. But I want to run it by everyone, and get opinions, because there is a slight twist at the end of the story..


When I push the clutch pedal to the floor and shift everything is just fine. If I am sitting in traffic with the pedal depressed for more than I would say 10 seconds I started to hear what I describe as a spinning metal clinky sound. Let that go for a few seconds, maybe 10 it gets much louder, more like a spinning clanking sound. It I don't put the car in neutral and release the clutch the gear (usually 1st of course) will engage and the car stalls (I am assuming it is engaging becase the car stalls).

Driving and normal shifting are fine and the nosie stop the second I let my foot off the pedal to either start moving or put the car in neutral.

1st interesting note: The car eats clutch (brake fluid). I prolly have to fill it from about halfway between min and max once every week or so. Since I don't see any leaking I assume it is the slave cylinder going bad. (yes I need to replace, but I figured if I could wait till the clutch goes out I would replace the master/slave and the clutch all at the same time. Because as far as I understand I need to remove the tranny to get to the slave anyway.

2nd, maybe the most interesting feature is that #1 has been going on for 6 months. The fluid has never gotten below min, I just always check. I realize this could be doing damange as the fluid is caustic, what damage I am not sure... anyway... When I first got the car, maybe a year ago I had this SAME EXACT problem, people directed me to the Throw out bearing and getting a new clutch while I am at it, since stuff is off. I would have done that but soon after the posting the problem TOTALLY STOPPED, and I have been on many other projects since.

Any ideas to why it stopped being "broke" before. Maybe a loose something or out-of-alignment-something-else?

I think i will prolly just do the clutch and slave/master cyls, I guess I just want an answer to the question before I start

While I am at it, any special tools I should have for doing the clutch? I know there is an alignment tool that helps, and I saw the mazdatrix sells some pilot bearing puller, but it is awful expensive, and I don't know if it is worth it.

EfiniGirl

t/o bearing symptom is typically a griding metal noise when you depress the clutch. it's caused by people 'riding' the clutch pedal... i.e. stepping on the clutch pedal to stay in neutral instead of shifting to neutral. prematurely wears out the t/o bearing.

it's not a big deal. iirc it messes up your pressure plate, but that gets replcaed when you do a full clutch job anyway. as far as i know it has no effect on gear engagement. i've been driving on a bad t/o bearing for more then a year now. no big deal. if anything it made me a better driver b/c i learned not to ride the clutch at all.

i would be more worried about the leaky clutch fluid. good luck!

RXciting

well if you start hearing the noise and it gets worse and worse till the car stalls if you have it in gear then either your master or slave clutch cylinder is leaking..

Frank

WAYNE88N/A

If you can find absolutely no external fluid leaks, look at the back of the master cylinder under the dash, at the back where the rod enters the plunger cup...

pontious

I guess I ride the clutch in traffic. I bet that is why I am having issues.

pontious

I will check this tonight.

Is this a typical place to look for leaking master cyl?

pontious

Ok, I took a look this morning. I think I know where all my fluid is going!!! I never noticed it before, and i would have until I lifted the mat that is up against the firewall, it is DRENCHED with fluid.

So, a few questions:

1. Repair or replace the master cyl.
2. The noise I was hearing, could this be because the cyl wasn't holding pressure and slowly letting out?
3. Is it possible that fixing this will keep me out of replaceing the clutch (right now)

I have seen some posts about also checking some rubber hose for leaks as well. Is there any thing else I need to check?

I am really hoping that fixer the master will do the trick, I would be VERY happy with not having to replace the clutch/bearings at this time

pontious

Ohh yeah, Is it goign to cause further damage to drive the car? I will not be slipping the clutch any more. I feel kinda dumb, as I didn't actually know that you were not supposed to just keep the pedal pressed in rather than goign to neutral...Kinda taught myslef when I was a kid, then never drove one again until I bought the RX-7 12 years later

pontious

I think I might just try to rebuild the master and see what happens. Advance Auto Parts has a rebuild kit for about 15 bucks. Is there any reason not to try and use one of these kits?

http://www.partsamerica.com/PartDeta...pe=235&PTSet=A


Will this kit have all the parts I need? Anyone with experience doing this?

Thanks.

hades1998

my brother has an 87 gxl and i own a 91.i have used these rebuild kits on both cars.and they do work.also you could check into a slave rebuild. you can take off the slave without removing the trans. also i have found that it is easier to get at the master if you have at least 18 inches of extenders,and a swivel and a 2 nd person to help .the rebuild isn't hard to do on either.....good luck hope this helps

pontious

Hmm, really. I thought I had to remove the tranny to get to the slave. I have never read the stuff in the FSM about the slave because I assumed I had to remove the tranny. maybe I need to read up a bit...

Thanks for the info BTW. I will be doign at least the master this weekend. I hoep this fixes my problems!!

pontious

Final update. Everything works now as it should, no more messy leaking master, also re-vuilt the slave cyl. and ordered a new Clutch hose...Thanks guys for the help!