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Date:         Sat, 6 Sep 2014 14:45:47 -0400
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Clutch slave cyl. replacement: What could go wrong?
              Well.....Friday sort of.
Comments: To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <CAHTkEuK7Zdy3YsN8GFUkWDBBajDMoBwgxJCRDAxgRk8_K+NYrg@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

I've used a number of FTE cylinders including brake masters. Have not had an issue. One thing with brake and clutch cylinders is that there life expectancy can be spotty due to a number of factors outside of the cylinder itself. Often when I see a repeat clutch hydraulic issue there is another problem with the clutch pressure plate causing excessive pressure to be required for release. Keep in mind that the piston seal is just a rubber lip that also uses the pressure to open up and help make it seal. Some minute amount of fluid will make it to the outside. If not moisture and resulting rust will form and the seal will get torn up anyway. Vehicles that sit unused will tend to loos clutch and brake cylinders.

Dennis From Lake Pemaquid Maine Busses By the Buoy.

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Don Hanson Sent: Friday, September 5, 2014 6:17 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Re: Clutch slave cyl. replacement: What could go wrong? Well.....Friday sort of.

I was mistaken on the Slave Cylinder brand...It is "FTE" not ATE.... Suspicious, that similar name. The packaging and the font look almost identical to ATE's.... I bet some 3rd world bunch copied that and decided...nobody will know the difference...and I missed it. I have used ATE in the past with good service, they do make good parts. I change the BF in my vanagon each fall....it's a 'truck' and it doesn't see much high stress driving, just a lot of conservatively driven miles.

I changed the fluid in my racecar after each race weekend...brakes are the hardest-used system and the most useful for gaining track positions....any moisture at all in a racecar brake system is curtains for you lap times...it turns to steam and makes what is known as 'brake fade'....I don't know the expansion rate for water to steam, but it is BIG....so even a drop of water in the whole system turns to a LOT of steam and that gives a very squishy pedal...

Same deal in my sportbike, which I don't race but I do take to the racetrack for fun lapping days....Fresh brake fluid before every track visit...

For frequently changed brake fluids I use ATE Super Blue and ATE normal, back to back... so that the new fluid is a different color and you can see when you have bled out all the old fluid by the color change.

n Fri, Sep 5, 2014 at 2:53 PM, SDF ( aka ;jim lahey' - Scott ) < scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:

> I've used lots of those German ATE slaves. > I get mine from near you ..Halsey Import Parts in Portland. Scott is > my guy there. > I've had one go out after 6 yrs of service.....6 yrs..not bad. > > I think you mentioned some old brake fluid sitting around .. > I'm sure everyone knows that unless well-sealed BF absorbs moisture > out of the air. > > So does the BF sitting in the van's systems ..whether driven or not. > And not driving and exercising the rig for longish periods is not good for it. > I'd try changing the BF in the clutch system once a year, with decent > DOT > 3 brake fluid. >


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