Tiny vise grip saves the day and my sanity

[Beck180]

While replacing my brake master cylinder I had read on the forum it was a good idea to check the servo unit to see if any brake fluid had leaked into it. My turkey baster would not fit inside the servo unit hole so I decided to remove the whole unit just to make sure there was no fluid in it at all.

Removal of the unit is quite easy: four nuts and the pin/clip that attaches to the brake pedal linkage.

I checked the removed servo unit and it was clean, no fluid at all.

Reinstalling the servo unit is a whole other problem. Obviously the four bolts are pretty easy, but the pin and clip may have been one of the most challenging parts I have had to do on my car.

First off, the hole in the servo mount meant to give access to the pin/clip location is terribly small. Second, the clip is so strong that whenever I tried to install it, it would just push against the pin and never latch on.

The worst though was when I dropped the clip. After fiddling with the clip for 10 minutes or so, I dropped the clip in to the abyss which is the servo mount/pedal box area. I spent about 30 minutes hunting with a flash light, fingers and a magnet until I found it. I then did this FIVE TIMES over again. Each time dropping the clip and then removing the servo unit to search for the clip.

Finally, I get smart and realize my fingers just aren't strong/small enough to pull this off. I pull out my tiny vise grip and use it to spread the clip while using a screwdriver to hold the pin in place. On my first try, the clip goes on.

First I feel euphoria for completing the task.

Second, I feel frustrated that I didn't try the vise grip first.

Third, I feel happiness when I decided I had earned a victory beer.

[John_in_VA]

I love a happy ending, and a cold beer!

[M3M3]

that sounded like a two beer effort.

go get another one!!!!!

:-)

[BillWilliams]

That is the Bi itch clip.

KC Donahue found a brilliant alternative, a 320i shifter clip

http://www.bmw2002faq.com/component/option,com_forum/Itemid,0/page,viewtopic/t,287555/start,1/postdays,0/postorder,asc/highlight,/sid,48b59d06ffa8d6737b26973e898290fa/

[Beck180]

KC found a brillant alternative, a 320i shifter clip

Holy crap. I gotta save that link. Definitely going that route next time.

Thanks!

[jgerock]

I think William (TipTop) has shared his tip of using a bent piece of wire to hold the clip open for maneuvering into position.

[Brandon]

A small piece of string or dental floss looped around the clip where it bends will prevent you from loosing it in the depths of the pedal box when you eventually drop it. Loop the string through the clip and then tie around a nearby wire.

[gracer]

I use a large screwdriver shoved into the clip just far enouf to spread the clip. The screwdriver makes a great handle to gently place the clip over the pin. Then just remove the screwdriver. G

[OriginalOwner]

A C Clip or U Clip style would work just fine, and easy to install.

Cheers,

Carl

[Beck180]

A small piece of string or dental floss looped around the clip where it bends will prevent you from loosing it in the depths of the pedal box when you eventually drop it. Loop the string through the clip and then tie around a nearby wire.

Doing this would seriously have saved my sanity. Wish I had thought out of the box on this one.

[BillWilliams]

I used the screwdriver trick before I found KC's trick

[tjones02]

That clip becomes easier with time and experience. I think I've done over a hundred of them.

Beck, congrats on a job well done.

[Beck180]

Beck, congrats on a job well done.

Thanks Tom.

Did you see my other post about possibly ruining my new brake master cylinder?

http://www.bmw2002faq.com/component/option,com_forum/Itemid,50/page,viewtopic/t,377446/

Hopefully I'll get it fixed today. Really hoping I didn't mess up the hard brake line.

[tjones02]

Saw that, wishing you luck and keeping my fingers crosses that the threads are OK.