engine and drivetrain Clutch Master Cylinder Faq

[vwspeed03]

1970 2002...OK. the slave cylinder is done.. time for the master. Do I need to pull the pedal box for this? Ive been reading other posts and it sounds like I might. not sure tho. been through 4 different manuals but they all feature older/newer/different models.. but not mine If I pull the hydro lines and get the bolts off... I think I maybe answering my own question... the nuts are in the pedal box. gotta pull the carpet and plate to get to the nuts and clutch pedal connection right? anything else I may or may not need to consider? 

 

Thanks for any help!

[Mike Self]

If you can't find a FAQ on the board for this task, drop me an e-mail and I'll send you a copy of the column I wrote on the job.  It's pretty straightforward but there are a couple of little tricks that makes it easier....

 

cheers

mike

[Dabliz02]

i was able to do mine with the pedal box and engine installed.  Just need a second set of hands to start the bolt/ nut from the inside.  Hopefully you have the metal pipe that goes to the reservoir because i feel itll make it easier.  My car was an auto so the only pipe i can find from BMW was a plastic one and its hard to work with because it doesnt want to stay in the master cylinder's rubber grommet.

 

I would suggest sucking out some brake fluid from the reservoir until it is under the nipple for the master cylinder.  saves  clean up and possible paint damage when taking line off the master.

 

best of luck!

[Stevenc22]

Did mine without removing pedal box quite easily. Lots of getting in the car and under the car and putting a socket on the inside but then climbing on the underside to undo the bolt. But in the end it wasn't bad at all.

Edited May 17, 2013 by Stevenc22

[steve k.]

If you can't find a FAQ on the board for this task, drop me an e-mail and I'll send you a copy of the column I wrote on the job.  It's pretty straightforward but there are a couple of little tricks that makes it easier....

 

cheers

mike

Mike, would you like to publish it here or does it belong to Roundel?

Steve K.

[vwspeed03]

thanks for the tips! I think I just needed to do it... I thought it was gonna be a way bigger project than it really was. go motivation! Here are some pics for scared people like me.. you can do it!

 

 

 

here is the new master cylinder...the two bolts on the old one were so crusty that I could just take the nuts right off from the inside. (pic 3)

 

 

 

 

need to rip out the old crust carpet to get to the nuts.. carefull with the foamy cover.

 

 

 

here are the nuts... one above the rubber boot and one hiding underneath. tricky to put em back in. two people would have helped. but I can testify that a one man show can do it. long arms help.

 

 

now that I have the old carpet out I dont want to put it back in... anyone have a carpet kit??

 

Thanks all!

[Matthias Bonjour]

Bit late to the party, but I just replaced both of my clutch cylinders and I'm having a tough time connecting the line from the reservoir into the Master Cylinder. I tested it on the old cylinder and the line end (which is shaped like a cone/funnel) can be worked in. The rubber is in bad condition so it's easy on that one. I don't want to break or damage anything so some advice would be really helpful. Does the rubber seal come out?

[M3M3]

did you replace the master with another old master?  you should use new and new rubber grommet where line goes in.  lube line with brake fluid and twist in.

[Matthias Bonjour]

Thanks. That's what I thought.

[M3M3]

it is a pain to get the line in.  i have inserted the line in the master first, then bolted master to pedal box.  that way you can twist it in better.

[69NEWCLASSNH]

reviving this thread... I've got to put the fluid feed tube into the clutch master.  does the grommet need to come out first?  Does it just get pushed in there?  Had no problem putting the line going to the slave in, just don't know how to attack the feed tube.

[PaulTWinterton]

5 hours ago, 69NEWCLASSNH said:

does the grommet need to come out first?  Does it just get pushed in there?

 

This is one of the weirder engineering decisions by BMW, imho.   The grommet is the seal for that pipe. Because it's not a pressure line, the rubber grommet is adequate to  seal the inlet, although the pipe seems loosely connected.   I assume you have a new grommet.  I wouldn't trust a used one.  

 

With the grommet in the MC, the pipe is just pushed in there until it bottoms out. The connection is quite flexible until it is fitted at the reservoir.

 

I attached the (clean) pipe before installing the MC.  I did it on the bench to be certain it was seating properly.   Paranoid.  I hate brake fluid.

[jgerock]

Folks who are doing these repairs should also replace the bushings and springs in the pedal box.  While the stock bushings are ok, the bearing kit from Ireland Engineering is what I recommend using.  Rusty springs can break.  

[69NEWCLASSNH]

brand new mc with new grommet --  does the grommet need to come off and go around the pipe?  I pop it in and it pops out... really don't want to remove the MC again...

['76mintgrün'02]

nope, you put the tube into the grommet, with it in the master.

as mentioned, it is much easier on the bench, than it is under the car.

be careful pushing on the piece of hose that connects it to the reservoir.

the reservoir is thin and easy to kink.