Clutch, slave cylinder, both?

[chelfy]

Hey guys, I've got a 97 eclipse gst and yesterday it broke down on a road trip 1.5hrs from home! The clutch pedal started sticking to the floor, so I added some brake fluid to the resevoir but no luck, it just kept leaking out. The pedal has no resistance other than the spring that is connected to it. There was a fair amount of fluid leaking from the underside of the car.
I'm pretty sure the slave cylinder went out, is there any way to know if the clutch is bad as well? The last few month when I would drive the car, if I held it at wot it would often feel like it would momentarily slip, kinda like the feeling you have when the turbo kicks in, a little lag then a thrust. Maybe the slave cylinder or clutch, both?

 

[mattdev]

ya, i just got the same thing here. It shouldn't be your clutch. It is probably slipping because your hydraulics are what holds the clutch against the flywheel. If its leaking then it can't put the full pressure on the clutch, and it has less holding power. I'm changing my slave cylinder for the same problem, I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[cbassgsx]

The hydraulics disengage the clutch and the pressure plate has the clamping force. If your leaking fluid is it leaking from the pass wheel area or the front of the bumper area? I think its your line that is below the maf.
Chris

 

[mattdev]

My bad, not the flywheel. But it does hold A key to grab strength. If its leaking its like having the clutch not fully engaged, it may not slip all the time, but definately decreases holding force.

 

[chelfy]

UPDATE: Ok, shop claimed it was just a blown clutch line and replaced the line. About a 1/2hr from home the clutch stopped working again and is stuck to the floor. The resevoir is still full of fluid, but the same problem exists. The shop charged my $65 for a 1/2mi tow, $75 in parts for a clutch line, and 2hrs labor to replace a clutch line and bleed the system. Worst of all I the car isn't fixed! Can someone give me some advice, I feel i've been had by this shop!

 

[cbassgsx]

Have you looked at the pedal assy?This might help too
http://www.roadraceengineering.com/clutchandflywheeltech.htm

 

[chelfy]

Have you looked at the pedal assy?This might help too
http://www.roadraceengineering.com/clutchandflywheeltech.htm

thanks, i'll check it out.