Pulled the car into the garage tonight and noticed fluid on the floor- hopped out and confirmed it was a clear oily substance. My reservoir under the hood also is wet around the lid. Clutch and steering work fine- but fear I may need a new slave or something.

I'm up for oil change and new pads in front as well- looks like it needs some spring living before Laguna Seca March 12th.

 

You didn't say where the fluid appears on the floor, but I am guessing that it's behind the LF wheel? These are the classic symptoms of failing clutch hydraulics. Time to replace the slave and accumulator, or get the GT2 conversion.

 

Yes location would have helped- yes behind left front wheel.

 

OK. The leak is coming from the PS reservoir on the firewall, under the plastic cover that you see with Pentosin on it. There is a drain hole underneath of that which lets it drip on the floor behind the LF wheel.

Accumulator is going south. There is a test, where you pump the clutch 25 times to see if it holds pressure. But you already know the answer. The slaves tend to leak eventually too, and they are in the same place (accumulator screws into slave). Might as well pay the labor once.

Another more permanent fix is to separate the PS system from the clutch system. Evoms has a kit for it with detailed instructions. This can be done with the motor in the car.

I had a slightly different permanent fix done, where I converted to a GT2 setup. Also uses ordinary hydraulic fluid. For this one, you have to change the clutch fork because it actuates from the opposite side compared to the original. Transmission has to be out for this one, which mine was for a clutch change.

GL,

Jon

 

How long can the car be driven like this if I drain off the extra fluid in the PS resevior? Might be a week or two before I can get it into a shop. I have my next track day mid march- assume this must be fixed before that right?

Thanks for the helpful insight- any idea on cost for swapping whole kit with OEM again?

 

I agree on the slave. My car did the same thing about a week after I got it, major buzz kill. I did the work myself, not going to lie, it's a PITA. I think I ended up paying $423 with shipping from this place http://www.autopartswarehouse.com. That was for just the slave.

 

Draining the fluid from the reservoir doesn't help (BTDT). You're depleting the reserve for power steering because the systems are linked. You're better off refilling the reservoir in the engine compartment and wiping up the excess when it leaks up front.

AutoAtlanta shows the slave at $525 and the accumulator at $145. As Wheelman says, it's a PITA to get to it. Figure 4 hours labor minimum, I'd guess.

Mine leaked for quite a while before it started getting hard to use the clutch. YMMV. I'd want it fixed before heading to the track. I always find that if there is something wrong with the car it takes my attention away from driving, and that's really not a good thing.

Jon

 

Swapped them both out, also did brake pads, oil change and headlight restor. The tech said it was definitely time for the repair. So I'm good to go and ready for Laguna next month!

 

Glad it worked out. Have fun!

Jon