C4 clutch master...My Discovery
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1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2013
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C4 clutch master...My Discovery
I've read&read old threads about clutch problems but here's a new wrinkle:
After replacing my 88's clutch master and slave twice I pulled out the piston assy of the most recently failed one. At the far end of the assy there's a plastic piece that fits into a divot machined in the rear of the bore. This plastic piece sits in the divot to center the piston assy in the bore. I shined a light in and found that the machined divot is 3/16" off-center. This forces the metal piston against the bore wall making one side of the piston shiny, one side of the bore shiny, and it's the reason your fluid turns dark after stroking the clutch pedal fully for ~10 times. Check the dark fluid...it hasn't absorbed water, it's full of millions of microscopic aluminum particles.
When you get a new master don't install it! Take it apart and look inside. If the divot is off-center you'll get ~3000 miles before it fails. There's a national parts chain that still has 55 of the defective ones in stock. Buyer beware!
I think I found the last Wagner in the USA. Opened it up and the divot is perfectly centered. Oh boy, something to do in the spring *sigh* I sure wish I had this info 2 years ago.
Hope this helps someone else.....
After replacing my 88's clutch master and slave twice I pulled out the piston assy of the most recently failed one. At the far end of the assy there's a plastic piece that fits into a divot machined in the rear of the bore. This plastic piece sits in the divot to center the piston assy in the bore. I shined a light in and found that the machined divot is 3/16" off-center. This forces the metal piston against the bore wall making one side of the piston shiny, one side of the bore shiny, and it's the reason your fluid turns dark after stroking the clutch pedal fully for ~10 times. Check the dark fluid...it hasn't absorbed water, it's full of millions of microscopic aluminum particles.
When you get a new master don't install it! Take it apart and look inside. If the divot is off-center you'll get ~3000 miles before it fails. There's a national parts chain that still has 55 of the defective ones in stock. Buyer beware!
I think I found the last Wagner in the USA. Opened it up and the divot is perfectly centered. Oh boy, something to do in the spring *sigh* I sure wish I had this info 2 years ago.
Hope this helps someone else.....
