So, I'm driving down the street last night after work, and after a couple spirited 1-2 and 2-3 shifts, my clutch pedal was stuck in the out position....I couldn't push it back in at all. Then I pull over and notice that the rod had bent from me pushing on the pedal and no travel from the master cylinder. I then had it towed to the dealer, and that is where it sits right now. They are working on it as we speak and so far they say the master cylinder is shot.

Now, for a little background on my car....I had it converted from an auto to a MN6 by A&A Corvettes in Oxnard, and it has a brand new Textralia clutch. I just got over 500 miles on the clutch at the beginning of the week, hence the spirited 1-2 and 2-3 shifts. Now, during high rpm shifts, the transmission does not want to go into 2nd or 3rd very easily. I have a B&M shifter and thought that could be the culprit, but now I'm guessing from what happened last night, it could be the clutch.

So, my question is, has anyone blew up a stock master cylinder before? if so, how much was the repair? and what caused it? I'm wondering if it could be how the shop installed the linkages and master cylinder...maybe it wasn't perfectly in line and under hard acceleration things went hay-wire.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

well, now the dealer is saying they need to replace the master cylinder and pull the clutch assembly out to make sure nothing is wrong. They say the clutch could have been installed incorrectly, creating more pressure on the master cylinder. Does this sound right?

I'm about fed up with this car after the 6-speed conversion and I'm looking into a C6, and being done with these stupid problems.

 

I'm a little confused, Jeff, sorry. You had the car converted to an MN6 from an A4, and it was done by A&A Corvettes - so why would you take this back to the dealer? Andy runs one of, if not the best Corvette shop in the country. So why not take it back to Andy?

Secondly the dealer states that the clutch might have been installed wrong - why would it take 500 miles to show up?

The master cylinder was new - right? You installed a Textrailia clutch which is a high performance clutch - did you have a stock master cylinder installed or was it upgraded too? (I would think so.....)

I don't doubt your tale of woe - I just don't quite understand all of the facts....

 

The reason I did not take it back to Andy is that he is located 2 hours away and I do not like to make the trip that often and I'm not paying someone to take it there. Also, for reasons I do not want to get into here, he probably does not want to see my car ever again. I also have too many things going on right now and don't have the time or energy to work on it myself......and I'm kinda getting tired of working on it.

Second, the master cylinder came with the transmission that I bought (from a fellow forum member) that came out of a 2001 with 17K miles. I did not figure that this needed to be upgraded. Plenty of people on the forum here with Textralia and other aftermarket clutches with stock master cylinders.

Third, I have been taking it easy for the first 500 miles and did not get on it very hard. The only time it started acting up is when I did a couple 5000 rpm 1-2 shifts, and the last one (obviously) is what caused the master cylinder to lock.

I spoke with Andy today and he thinks he knows what happened...the coupler from master to the slave cylinder may have broke or came apart. Now, I just wonder why this happened and if I replace the master cylinder will this happen again.

 

I am in the midst of making the conversion from an a4 to MN6 just like you did.

There are several links in the CF forum about upgrading the clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder. The factory slave cylinder has smaller passages (fluid) to help relieve drive train stress.

The after market ones remove these bottlenecks and allow the fluid to flow unrestricted. This is esential with aftermarket performance clutches.

Additionally, the aftermarket clutches release higher, (not on the floor) and some of these clutches need floor stops so that you don't press the clutch in to far.

Your problem is relatively easy to remedy. Pick up an adjustable master cylinder assembly from cartek or mcleod. get a RAM clutch slave and an LAPD clutch bleeder extention.

I would talk to Andy and see what type of slave system, etc that was installed on your vette before proceeding. Most of all I would take the vette out of dealer and find a local tuner to the make repairs as the dealer is not familiar with these items.

The clucth master cyclinder is easy to remove, just remove the rod form the pedal inside, go out to the firewall, twist it and it will come right out.

 

Talking to Andy, he hasn't had very many stock master cylinders fail on customers, and he has installed plenty of aftermarket clutches. Also, Textralia claims that the stock master should work.

In addition, I am not going to start putting all of these aftermarket parts in my car. I'm gettting tired of wrenching on the thing. Right now I just want a nice fun car to drive.

If I'm going to have a factory master clyinder put in, did they upgrade them after '01? I thought I read that somewhere.

 

Maybe you should read this.

http://vetteweb.com/tech/vemp_0506_clutch/index.html


If you didn't want to wrench why did you go and change everything around and put a manual in it?

It takes time and patience to work out the kinks.

You used an aftermarket clutch and did not upgarde the affected components which is what caused your failure.

It doesn't cost but a few extra bucks to buy the improved components which would have been a wise investment given your current situation. If you want throw good money after bad that's your call.

I was just trying to point you in the right direction. You should do a search on CF of clutch problems.

Good Luck.

 

Thanks ajg1915,

I have since taken your advice and sent my car to Orange County Corvettes (top notch guys and excellent service ). My car is there right now, and I have decided to go with a new LS7 clutch assembly and all new LS6 hydraulics. I want to make sure everything is done right and is not rigged together. I will sell my Textralia to hopefully cover the cost of the new clutch. My Textralia only has 500 miles on it.

Hopefully this will take care of the problems and I won't be second guessing things. I have learned my lesson and will only used brand new parts from now on.

 

Hope that Orange County Corvette is able to cure all of your clutch woes and get you back out on the road.

I've had a few of my own short-cuts come back at me and bite me in the a$$, hence I have now started doing research prior to jumping into any more mods.

Tony