Megane R26 slave cylinder broken again

[Martin Watson]

anyone have any suggestions on this, my 2nd slave cylinder has failed after around 1000mls, first one lasted around the same, it failed on my first of 2 days at spa, so pretty pissed off with it now, i feel there has to be an underlying problem, i'm running an SMF and R clutch,and SRF fluid, i don't want to get it sorted for it to fail again, both slaves were genuine Renault.HELP
Ive been told that @Red21 may have some suggestions, any help would be much appreciated.

Bit of background on the car, i sold my mint R26.R as i didn't want to keep hammering something that nice on track 5 or 6 times a year, i bought a rather nice GW R26 from a lad on RS megane, its had a 250 turbo, decat, milltek, ktec induction kit, 630 injectors, SMF and .R clutch, AST 5100 suspension, fitted and setup at AST, carbon bonnet, ktec bolt in cage and a nice brake upgrade with 250 callipers,mapped by Paul, 300 & 300, it goes and handles just how i want it now, just need to get to the bottom of the slave cylinder problem, i'm waiting for it to be recovered from Belgium, its going straight to Mark Black so he can strip it and have a look, thats 2 slaves in less than 2000miles!

 

[Martin Watson]

If only! fluid is all gone, same as before. just spoken to Paul at RS Tuning, he reckons it could be the wrong clutch as he's seen it before, its going to him now to have a few other bits doing whilst its all apart.

 

[NJH]

Just my luck I also had slave cylinder problems this morning. Got in the car and couldn't get any gears. Talked to Paul @ Tech-1 later who just fitted the clutch and new slave last week and his advice was spot on. I got in the car this evening and wedged my foot under the peddle to try and lift it up, it went about 1/4" then sucked itself back up to the normal position. Pumping the peddle quickly brings back what feels to me like a normal clutch peddle so I took the car out for a drive, was OK but I noted it started feeling squidgy again after parking up. God what a PITA as I will be 1/2 day out of work tomorrow down at his garage to try and bleed it again and check it all over that something hasn't broken. Slave cylinders seem to be a right liability on these cars.

 

[Martin Watson]

I had the same when the last slave was changed, just kept pumping the pedal, it sorted itself out by the next day, hope yours is as easy as that:ab:

 

[NJH]

Mine was 80% OK after lifting the peddle, pumping it made it feel better but it seemed to get squidgy again after leaving for a bit. Paul bled it again today and got a bit more air out. It feels pretty much like a normal car clutch to me now, bite point pretty much in the middle of travel, nice feel and feedback. Feels better than the old one which is good.

 

[DaveL485]

You pedal pumpers, does the clutch line run close to the exhaust? I used to have issues with my bigger exhaust in the 21 boiling the fluid in the line and the clutch would hit the floor, requiring a good pump to bring it back to life. Since cured with a new line, rerouted away from exhaust.

 

[NJH]

There is a lot of heat under there but I think its just a rubbish design. Paul explained to me the bleeding procedure and it would be hard to come up with a more protracted rubbish way to bleed something as simple as a clutch slave cylinder. Didn't feel right again at lunchtime today but was better maybe after driving, perhaps now I just have this in my mind and the rubbish shopping trolley clutch action/feel is playing on my mind (in other words I don't think it felt much if any better before the clutch started slipping).

 

[Martin Watson]

update time, car finally got dropped off at RS tuning today, Paul has stripped it down and found the forks on the clutch plate are bent somehow, he thinks it may have been fitted wrong, its around 5mm out, which would explain why the slave keeps failing. he's on it now, and i'm going to get the rods swapped for a forged set while he's got it.
Just glad he's sussed the problem.

 

[andybond]

Glad you got a resolution !

 

[Martin Watson]

thanks for your help and input Andy

 

[DaveL485]

Wow...how on earth do they get bent?!

 

[Martin Watson]

Paul thinks it was fitted wrong way round and the turned back around, bent the forks, not by much, around 5mm, enough to keep buggering the slave.

 

[Martin Watson]

Just a quick update, picked it up from RS Tuning yesterday, the clutch pedal is much lighter now and the gearbox feels smoother, placebo? took the opportunity to get the rods changed and map tweak, 312 bhp/ 340ft/lbs, it does pull well now.
Paul said the difference in the clutch plates was really obvious when you put mine and the new one on a flat surface to compare, no need to measure.
cheers for all the input and help.

 

[andybond]

That car will fly with that much torque !

 

[RTS Motorsport]

Simply 'Rodjob' Martin? They are used to great effect in Evo's with Pistons being good for over 500bhp.

Whats the highest power, reliably, achieved with a rodjobbed engine?

Cheers guys

 

[andybond]

Simply 'Rodjob' Martin? They are used to great effect in Evo's with Pistons being good for over 500bhp.

Whats the highest power, reliably, achieved with a rodjobbed engine?

Cheers guys

Yeah , its a rod job. No pistons. I dont think anyone has pushed the standard pistons that hard , as the rods bent far too early !

 

[RTS Motorsport]

Whats the most someones pushed?

 

[andybond]

Whats the most someones pushed?

360ibft. Then rods bent !

 

[RTS Motorsport]

Sorry Andy, meant with forged rods with stock pistons

 

[andybond]

Sorry Andy, meant with forged rods with stock pistons

452 is the highest I have seen. Limited by turbo and inlet.

Its crackers expensive to tune the megs.

 

[Martin Watson]

yes mate, rod job, well pleased with how it goes now : )
:dn: