Help! Clutch problems

My clutch bit the dust. Well, my clutch slave cylinder actually bit the
dust. I'm having a heck of a time finding the the slave for sale. Finally
found a couple of them online (dealer wants $240 for some "kit"). The kits
online (to include both master and slave cylinders with hose) is about $130
shipped to my door. It's about $50 for just the slave. Why on earth can
online places get this but not the normal "parts stores" (i.e. Napa,
Autozone, OReilly, Advanced Auto, etc)?

Should I replace just the slave? Would the master now be bad too? I had
just gone over a curb into the grass (long story, don't ask) when the pedal
felt strange (I assumed it was my gears somewhere) then the clutch went to
the floor. I assumed I had blown the clutch or something. Looked under it
and fluid was flowing from the slave. Had a friend help me pull it and
found the shaft had actually shot into the clutch. He had to get a pair of
pliers to get it out.

Later I climbed into a buddy's TJ, and realized that slave must've been
going for some time. I couldn't even drive his. I couldn't control the
clutch -- it had too much spring to it! Mine hasn't had that spring
since... well, since I can remember.

Eric
99 TJ SE

Hi Eric,
I like to replace just the part needed, but I realize many parts
stores will only sell them as a sealed unit. Napa is absolutely the last
place I go for a part. I had good luck with Kragen, and Pep Boys, for a
couple.
You friend may have a Real pressure plate, like the Hot Rodder use,
seen at the bottom of: http://www.billhughes.com/clutch/
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O


Eric wrote:
>
> My clutch bit the dust. Well, my clutch slave cylinder actually bit the
> dust. I'm having a heck of a time finding the the slave for sale. Finally
> found a couple of them online (dealer wants $240 for some "kit"). The kits
> online (to include both master and slave cylinders with hose) is about $130
> shipped to my door. It's about $50 for just the slave. Why on earth can
> online places get this but not the normal "parts stores" (i.e. Napa,
> Autozone, OReilly, Advanced Auto, etc)?
>
> Should I replace just the slave? Would the master now be bad too? I had
> just gone over a curb into the grass (long story, don't ask) when the pedal
> felt strange (I assumed it was my gears somewhere) then the clutch went to
> the floor. I assumed I had blown the clutch or something. Looked under it
> and fluid was flowing from the slave. Had a friend help me pull it and
> found the shaft had actually shot into the clutch. He had to get a pair of
> pliers to get it out.
>
> Later I climbed into a buddy's TJ, and realized that slave must've been
> going for some time. I couldn't even drive his. I couldn't control the
> clutch -- it had too much spring to it! Mine hasn't had that spring
> since... well, since I can remember.
>
> Eric
> 99 TJ SE

Guess I'll give Pep Boys a shot tomorrow. Don't have Kragen here...

The places online that offer the slave itself are all the same part -- it's
made by Omix-Ada. NO ONE has a good photo of one, though. Wish I could see
it to make sure I was ordering the right part! This is my daily driver and
I really don't want to be out too long (but don't want to get ripped off by
the dealer either).

Really, I was just concerned about whether I should replace them both at the
same time (thinking one worn part leading to another). I figured you'd be
the first to reply. Was waiting for it. ;-) Thanks, Bill.

Eric
"L.W. ("ßill") Hughes III" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Eric,
> I like to replace just the part needed, but I realize many parts
> stores will only sell them as a sealed unit. Napa is absolutely the last
> place I go for a part. I had good luck with Kragen, and Pep Boys, for a
> couple.
> You friend may have a Real pressure plate, like the Hot Rodder use,
> seen at the bottom of: http://www.billhughes.com/clutch/
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
>
>
> Eric wrote:
>>
>> My clutch bit the dust. Well, my clutch slave cylinder actually bit the
>> dust. I'm having a heck of a time finding the the slave for sale.
>> Finally
>> found a couple of them online (dealer wants $240 for some "kit"). The
>> kits
>> online (to include both master and slave cylinders with hose) is about
>> $130
>> shipped to my door. It's about $50 for just the slave. Why on earth can
>> online places get this but not the normal "parts stores" (i.e. Napa,
>> Autozone, OReilly, Advanced Auto, etc)?
>>
>> Should I replace just the slave? Would the master now be bad too? I had
>> just gone over a curb into the grass (long story, don't ask) when the
>> pedal
>> felt strange (I assumed it was my gears somewhere) then the clutch went
>> to
>> the floor. I assumed I had blown the clutch or something. Looked under
>> it
>> and fluid was flowing from the slave. Had a friend help me pull it and
>> found the shaft had actually shot into the clutch. He had to get a pair
>> of
>> pliers to get it out.
>>
>> Later I climbed into a buddy's TJ, and realized that slave must've been
>> going for some time. I couldn't even drive his. I couldn't control the
>> clutch -- it had too much spring to it! Mine hasn't had that spring
>> since... well, since I can remember.
>>
>> Eric
>> 99 TJ SE

Hi Eric,
This drawing will give a rough idea of what it looks like, pushing
a fork that pivots on the other side of the bellhousing:
http://www.billhughes.com/clutchControl.jpg
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O


Eric wrote:
>
> Guess I'll give Pep Boys a shot tomorrow. Don't have Kragen here...
>
> The places online that offer the slave itself are all the same part -- it's
> made by Omix-Ada. NO ONE has a good photo of one, though. Wish I could see
> it to make sure I was ordering the right part! This is my daily driver and
> I really don't want to be out too long (but don't want to get ripped off by
> the dealer either).
>
> Really, I was just concerned about whether I should replace them both at the
> same time (thinking one worn part leading to another). I figured you'd be
> the first to reply. Was waiting for it. ;-) Thanks, Bill.

My wife found that photo online -- shows what I can see outside the housing.
I was trying to figure out what was inside, though.

I went ahead and ordered the slave cylinder. Regardless of any other
details, I'm going to need it. Besides, if the master is bad as well, there
are a few local shops with them in stock. No one seemed to have the slave,
though...

In theory, this should make my clutch "springy" (for lack of a more educated
way to put it), is that correct? For the last few weeks it has been rather
soft and since I installed the locker it has been catching a few gears here
and there (not really grinding, just not as smooth as normal).

Eric
"L.W. ("ßill") Hughes III" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Eric,
> This drawing will give a rough idea of what it looks like, pushing
> a fork that pivots on the other side of the bellhousing:
> http://www.billhughes.com/clutchControl.jpg
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
>
>
> Eric wrote:
>>
>> Guess I'll give Pep Boys a shot tomorrow. Don't have Kragen here...
>>
>> The places online that offer the slave itself are all the same part --
>> it's
>> made by Omix-Ada. NO ONE has a good photo of one, though. Wish I could
>> see
>> it to make sure I was ordering the right part! This is my daily driver
>> and
>> I really don't want to be out too long (but don't want to get ripped off
>> by
>> the dealer either).
>>
>> Really, I was just concerned about whether I should replace them both at
>> the
>> same time (thinking one worn part leading to another). I figured you'd
>> be
>> the first to reply. Was waiting for it. ;-) Thanks, Bill.

http://www.billhughes.com/TJclutchRelease.jpg
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O


Eric wrote:
>
> My wife found that photo online -- shows what I can see outside the housing.
> I was trying to figure out what was inside, though.
>
> I went ahead and ordered the slave cylinder. Regardless of any other
> details, I'm going to need it. Besides, if the master is bad as well, there
> are a few local shops with them in stock. No one seemed to have the slave,
> though...
>
> In theory, this should make my clutch "springy" (for lack of a more educated
> way to put it), is that correct? For the last few weeks it has been rather
> soft and since I installed the locker it has been catching a few gears here
> and there (not really grinding, just not as smooth as normal).
>
> Eric
> "L.W. ("ßill") Hughes III" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi Eric,
> > This drawing will give a rough idea of what it looks like, pushing
> > a fork that pivots on the other side of the bellhousing:
> > http://www.billhughes.com/clutchControl.jpg
> > God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> >
> >
> > Eric wrote:
> >>
> >> Guess I'll give Pep Boys a shot tomorrow. Don't have Kragen here...
> >>
> >> The places online that offer the slave itself are all the same part --
> >> it's
> >> made by Omix-Ada. NO ONE has a good photo of one, though. Wish I could
> >> see
> >> it to make sure I was ordering the right part! This is my daily driver
> >> and
> >> I really don't want to be out too long (but don't want to get ripped off
> >> by
> >> the dealer either).
> >>
> >> Really, I was just concerned about whether I should replace them both at
> >> the
> >> same time (thinking one worn part leading to another). I figured you'd
> >> be
> >> the first to reply. Was waiting for it. ;-) Thanks, Bill.

That helps! Questions now:

1. The release fork has a return spring. So if you press on the fork where
the slave normally would (as you can with a finger), should it... spring
back?

2. If it doesn't, what does that mean?

I can reach in there and push that in, and pull it back. No springy-ness
(wow, great grammer) at all.

Eric
"L.W. ("ßill") Hughes III" > wrote in message
...
> http://www.billhughes.com/TJclutchRelease.jpg
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
>
>
> Eric wrote:
>>
>> My wife found that photo online -- shows what I can see outside the
>> housing.
>> I was trying to figure out what was inside, though.
>>
>> I went ahead and ordered the slave cylinder. Regardless of any other
>> details, I'm going to need it. Besides, if the master is bad as well,
>> there
>> are a few local shops with them in stock. No one seemed to have the
>> slave,
>> though...
>>
>> In theory, this should make my clutch "springy" (for lack of a more
>> educated
>> way to put it), is that correct? For the last few weeks it has been
>> rather
>> soft and since I installed the locker it has been catching a few gears
>> here
>> and there (not really grinding, just not as smooth as normal).
>>
>> Eric
>> "L.W. ("ßill") Hughes III" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > Hi Eric,
>> > This drawing will give a rough idea of what it looks like, pushing
>> > a fork that pivots on the other side of the bellhousing:
>> > http://www.billhughes.com/clutchControl.jpg
>> > God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
>> >
>> >
>> > Eric wrote:
>> >>
>> >> Guess I'll give Pep Boys a shot tomorrow. Don't have Kragen here...
>> >>
>> >> The places online that offer the slave itself are all the same part --
>> >> it's
>> >> made by Omix-Ada. NO ONE has a good photo of one, though. Wish I
>> >> could
>> >> see
>> >> it to make sure I was ordering the right part! This is my daily
>> >> driver
>> >> and
>> >> I really don't want to be out too long (but don't want to get ripped
>> >> off
>> >> by
>> >> the dealer either).
>> >>
>> >> Really, I was just concerned about whether I should replace them both
>> >> at
>> >> the
>> >> same time (thinking one worn part leading to another). I figured
>> >> you'd
>> >> be
>> >> the first to reply. Was waiting for it. ;-) Thanks, Bill.

Hi Eric,
I wouldn't worry about it, the spring is probably more for holding
the fork on the ball. I think just the scuffing by the pressure plate
would be enough to kick out of the way. Like you don't have tons of
mechanical linkage to push like back like a Real Jeep:
http://www.billhughes.com/jeepClutchlinkage.jpg
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O


Eric wrote:
>
> That helps! Questions now:
>
> 1. The release fork has a return spring. So if you press on the fork where
> the slave normally would (as you can with a finger), should it... spring
> back?
>
> 2. If it doesn't, what does that mean?
>
> I can reach in there and push that in, and pull it back. No springy-ness
> (wow, great grammer) at all.
>
> Eric