10 Gear change maximum

[Karlos]

Guys,

After 10 gear changes I'm all out of clutch fluid. Looking under the car the fluid is leaking from the bottom of the bell housing. I'm thinking its a seal in the slave cylinder. Am I right? Also, on my car - SR with a 302 and T5 box, I think it's an engine out job due to the positioning of the chasis crossmembers. Am I right?. This is too big a job for me so what ballpark figure should I be paying for this job?

Many thanks in anticipation,

Karl

[TINKA]

Karl, can you post a photo of the offending item as this should not be an engine out job just a simple removal of the slave cylinder and replace or fit new seals. Worth checking first is the clutch fluid pipe done up tight enough and is the bleed nipple done up properly.

Martin :tu :tu :tu :tu

[Robin427]

I changed the slave cylinder on my BMW and it is not a really difficult job. The BM is quite close to the ground so needs bit of jacking up. I think the new part was about 16 quid... It's cheaper than buying a new bottle of brake fluid every couple of days...


Robin

GD427 Euro in progress.
LS1/T56/P45
http://www.creffield.com/cobra/index.html

[kdavies3]

Do you have an external (conventional slave cylinder) or one of the internal (pain in the arse jobbies) fitted on the gearbox input shaft?
they are well known for leaking if overstroked in the slightest.
If conventional it's easy enough, if internal it's gearbox out. x(
http://www.woodoouk.eclipse.co.uk/Wales.gif

Kev Davies
Dax, 383ci Chevy Stroker, Tremec TKO
South Wales

[Karlos]

It must be an internal cylinder, I have looked everywhere else(forgive my lack of tech know-how). The fluid poors from a slight gap in the front of the bell-housing, no fluid loss from any pipes or anywhere else on the car - definatly coming from inside the gearbox. - Any estimates?

Karl

[Robin427]

My slave cylinder leaked and the fluid ran down inside the bell housing and dripped out of the bottom. I panicked when I saw this, but it wasn't actually all bad.

If you follow the clutch lines round to the bellhousing, you may find the slave cylinder. Mine was about 7 inches long and two round... held on with two bolts.

Just tried taking a picture underneath the BM, but can't really see it.

Robin

GD427 Euro in progress.
LS1/T56/P45
http://www.creffield.com/cobra/index.html

[Clarkson]

Karl,

I have a SR as well,you have a failed Mcleod Hydraulic bearing,you can buy a rebuild kit from real steal. It's easy to do and you don't have to remove your engine,you can get your gearbox out in 1 hour.Hope this helps.
David.

[tonyevans]

Karl Hi,
I have a Southern Roadcraft with a Borg Warner T5 bolted to a small block Chevy. Unfortunately I blew 5 gear on the box and had to send it away to be rebuilt. On receipt back I subsequently put it back into the car, (clutch OK). Upon driving the car it became apparant the spedo drive unit was not working and I could not engage 5th gear so out it came again. The T5 on mine has a Mcleod hydraulic clutch operating on the gearbox shaft, with banjo unions on the face of the gear box hidden inside the bellhousing.
Now being a person of dexterity and no access to a lift, I put the car on concrete blocks and removed the gearbox leaving the bellhousing in situ, as I didn't have the clearance to remove the bellhousing as well. The first time worked for me, the clutch operation was fine, however the second time I find myself in the same position as you with clutch fluid leaking from a disturbed banjo union inside the bellhousing. I suspect I knocked the banjo union whilst slotting the gearbox into the bellhousing, or the viton o ring seal on the bamnjo union has perished and with all the gearbox movement has given up the ghost. You really need a lift to do the job properly, which probably means a garage job, although the job from start to finish is no more than 4 hours work I would suspect with the right equipment.
I seem to recall that there are various types of seal kits available from "Real Steel", so get the serial number of the box before you contact them for a replacement kit. I will have to do the same.

After I finish rebuilding the IRS back end of mine, I will be contact Real Steel for a seal kit myself.

Regards
Tony Evans

[Clarkson]

Tony,

Why did you remove your gearbox from the bellhousing? I have the same set up as you and my gearbox came out in one peace. I did this a few times on my back due to the same problems of fluid leaking past the seals.

David.

[tonyevans]

There must be a reason why I took it out on its own, when I've rebuilt the back end, I will try to take the gearbox and bellhousing out as a single unit.