Date:         Mon, 6 Dec 1999 18:42:19 -0500
Reply-To:     "Keese, Brian W" <bkeese@INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Keese, Brian W" <bkeese@INDIANA.EDU>
Subject:      clutch cylinders
Content-Type: text/plain

Hello Listmembers,

First, thanks to everyone who contributes wisdom and knowledge to this
group.  I am yet another (mostly) silent benfactor.  I have had no luck
searching the archives on the following issue.  Please help.

I own an 84 Westy (all stock, 4 speed).  I have been driving it without
trouble for 18 months.  This morning, out of the blue, the clutch went out:
Pedal all the way to the floor with no resistance.  I checked the fluid
reservoir, empty.  I checked for leaks and found droplets of fluid dripping
from both the master and slave cylinders.  This strikes me as odd, for one
because it seemed to come from out of the blue, for two because there are
leaks at both cylinders.

Anyway, the solution seems to be to replace the cylinders.  Am I right?  I
am familiar with failures of the brake master cylinder where the brakes
still work but the pedal slowly moves to the floor:  Pump the brake and it
holds for another 5-10 seconds or longer.  But as far as my new situation
goes, I don't have any experience with this kind of catastrophic failure of
a hydraulic clutch system.  Anyone know what causes this?

My next question is this:  If I do need to replace the master cylinder, can
it be done without removing the whole pedal assembly?  I understand I would
need to remove the dash, etc to do this and I really don't want to.  Any
input will be greatly appreciated.

I no longer subscribe to the list, (can't handle all the activity) so please
repsond by p-mail.  Thanks a bunch,

Brian Keese
84 Westy "The Arc"
Bloomington, IN