Thread: Tech Tip - Series 3 clutch flexible hose

Hi All,
Quick tech tip I discovered this week.
Throw-out/release bearing for clutch was blown, so replaced. I put it all down to wading plug laziness (read, driving through salt-lake mud and not wanting to get out and put it in!).
On replacing the gearbox I tried the clutch operation and noticed the pedal coming up slower than I would have expected. I could hear a ‘hiss’ and suspected that my cheap slave cylinder was at fault after resting a few years. I pushed it in by hand, noticing it did indeed feel a bit tight. Rubber grease smears, bleeding, it seemed worse!
Then I thought I might have kinked a pipe replacing the box… nope.
Finally, I traced the “hiss” the the short flexible line near the master cylinder to the engine mounted pipe.
It had swollen inside, and, I believe, held the clutch release bearing against the diaphragm springs, adding to its demise. Replaced, clutch is great!

Good find ! I once had the rear axle flexible line stop letting any fluid though it. This held the rear brakes on. But I couldn't bleed the brakes so eventually removed the hose and found the problem. I now suggest changing the flexy hoses much more often.

Ian
Bittern