Clutch Failure, what is this crap in my resevoir?

m3chhawk · 06-13-2014, 05:17 PM

Lost clutch pressure today. Had about 30 miles on the car today. Pulled in somewhere. Everything good. Come back out 30 minutes later to no clutch pressure at the top of the travel. Still shifts and limped her home.

Already have the Z Speed CSC and this is the same feeling as when my CMC failed during clutch install. Clutch is a Southbend Stage 3 daily.

Checked fluid level and what is all of this ****??

Fountainhead · 06-13-2014, 05:23 PM

That my friend, is clutch dust, and a small portion of your ORings that wear in Master and Slave cylinder. Mostly clutch dust. Kinda like asbestos or brake pad dust. Your clutch swishes against the flywheel everytime you shift or start off, rubbing the clutch plate surface off as dust. Then it gets on the shaft where the ORing of the CSC rubs up and down as you press/release the clutch pedal. Search for "Ranger Protocol" he'll explain it better than I can.

I would say based on your symptoms your Master Cylinder has failed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBbsy0LjUvE

1slow370 · 06-13-2014, 06:06 PM

yeah it looks like you have a chunk of the master piston seal in there. Seeing all these master cylinder threads makes me so happy I have an aftermarket one in my car.

m3chhawk · 06-13-2014, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1slow370

yeah it looks like you have a chunk of the master piston seal in there. Seeing all these master cylinder threads makes me so happy I have an aftermarket one in my car.

Where did you get an aftermarket one?? When I did my install there wasn't anything on the market.

phunk · 06-13-2014, 06:47 PM

When I first installed the Z speed CSC in my car I had a ton of gray sludge in the fluid, perhaps the same thing you have there. I had a nightmare of a time bleeding it out, it took several times. Just when I thought I got it all out, the pedal would start losing pressure and I would have to pump up the clutch every time to get any release. I cant remember exactly but I want to say it took me like a month of bleeding my clutch 1-2 times a week before it finally stopped and now I have gone a few years without any problems.

When I had the problem, I had assumed it was a reaction between the Motul fluid and stock fluid or something. I dont know... but its been fine for a few years now. Occasionally I will see a floater in the my clutch fluid that I will pull out.

m3chhawk · 06-13-2014, 07:29 PM

The entire system was flushed and bleed once with regular Nissan spec clutch fluid during the install because of the dead pedal problem. Then when they did a new CMC install I pulled the GTR fluid bulletin and they used GTR fluid so I imagine all the crap got pulled out at that time with the two flushes.

I've got about 3k miles unboosted and 2k boosted on this clutch so I imagine some of it is break in dust, etc..

I'm picking up a bottle of GTR fluid from a buddy tonight and I'll try the resevoir flush method.

1slow370 · 06-13-2014, 08:48 PM

U has pm

Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk

jwick · 06-24-2014, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1slow370

U has pm

Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk

So what is the CMC solution you have?

m3chhawk · 06-24-2014, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwick

So what is the CMC solution you have?

GTM Prototype. There still isn't a decent solution. Joe at ZSpeed was working on one for awhile. Not sure why a vendor hasn't stepped up here given that there are quite a few guys on their 3rd-5th CMC's. I'm soon to be on my 3rd

jwick · 06-24-2014, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m3chhawk

GTM Prototype. There still isn't a decent solution. Joe at ZSpeed was working on one for awhile. Not sure why a vendor hasn't stepped up here given that there are quite a few guys on their 3rd-5th CMC's. I'm soon to be on my 3rd

Should I fork over my money in hopes I'll get one?

JARblue · 06-24-2014, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwick

Should I fork over my money in hopes I'll get one?

Definitely an intelligent move

m3chhawk · 06-13-2014, 10:07 PM

No new fluid, but got the resevoir cleaned out and I don't think there was any o-ring material in there. All looked very flaky/carbony.

SavvyTraveler · 06-18-2014, 11:18 PM

OMG! This happen to me yesterday, the clutch petal but stuck and it wouldn't come back to the normal positions. I took it to my mechanic and they flushed out the fluid and put the fluid that they use in the GTR's. Now the petal is working fine.

m3chhawk · 06-20-2014, 10:19 PM

Finally got fluid today. Followed the reservoir swap method that Fountainhead posted (huge thanks for that btw). Filled up about half a solo up of black fluid. And it started building pressure again.

Took it for a 10 mile or so drive and pressure bleed off. Got it home and reservoir was black again. Flushed and pumped again and it seems good. Might be a long process, but I think the CMC is in good shape. If it doesn't clear up soon, I'll go ahead and do a full flush.

chii370 · 06-23-2014, 09:36 PM

god we must have the master and slave cylinder from a damn hugo. talk about severe inconsistency in quality control throughout the whole car. from top of the line to ebay second hand garbage all bolted together seemingly at random.

replacing that piece of 5hit as soon as I have the funds before it does damage somehow or leave me stranded. then leave the oem parts in a burning bag on nissans doorstep.

06-13-2014, 05:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
m3chhawk Track Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Kansas City Posts: 878 Drives: '11 370Z SPT 6MT BLK Rep Power: 25	Clutch Failure, what is this crap in my resevoir? Lost clutch pressure today. Had about 30 miles on the car today. Pulled in somewhere. Everything good. Come back out 30 minutes later to no clutch pressure at the top of the travel. Still shifts and limped her home. Already have the Z Speed CSC and this is the same feeling as when my CMC failed during clutch install. Clutch is a Southbend Stage 3 daily. Checked fluid level and what is all of this ****?? __________________ F.I. CF CBE \| Avant Garde M310 \| BC BR's \| ONEighty \| Status \| EvoR \| Stillen \| Whiteline \| B&M \| Bespoke Details Boosted Performance \| Precision Turbo \| Tial \| HKS \| Innovate Motorsports \| Bosch \| Treadstone \| Walbro \| UpRev \| Depo

06-13-2014, 05:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
Fountainhead Track Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: FL Posts: 834 Drives: 2019 Civic Type R Rep Power: 15	That my friend, is clutch dust, and a small portion of your ORings that wear in Master and Slave cylinder. Mostly clutch dust. Kinda like asbestos or brake pad dust. Your clutch swishes against the flywheel everytime you shift or start off, rubbing the clutch plate surface off as dust. Then it gets on the shaft where the ORing of the CSC rubs up and down as you press/release the clutch pedal. Search for "Ranger Protocol" he'll explain it better than I can. I would say based on your symptoms your Master Cylinder has failed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBbsy0LjUvE m3chhawk likes this. Last edited by Fountainhead; 06-13-2014 at 05:28 PM.

06-13-2014, 06:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
1slow370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: In the D Posts: 3,732 Drives: v8 74 260z ;) Rep Power: 7251	yeah it looks like you have a chunk of the master piston seal in there. Seeing all these master cylinder threads makes me so happy I have an aftermarket one in my car. __________________ ANSWER PRICE LIST Answers - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $0.75 Answers (requiring thought) - - - - $1.25 Answers (correct) - - - - - - - - - - $12.50

06-13-2014, 06:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
phunk A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chicago Posts: 3,669 Drives: 370 Rep Power: 974724	When I first installed the Z speed CSC in my car I had a ton of gray sludge in the fluid, perhaps the same thing you have there. I had a nightmare of a time bleeding it out, it took several times. Just when I thought I got it all out, the pedal would start losing pressure and I would have to pump up the clutch every time to get any release. I cant remember exactly but I want to say it took me like a month of bleeding my clutch 1-2 times a week before it finally stopped and now I have gone a few years without any problems. When I had the problem, I had assumed it was a reaction between the Motul fluid and stock fluid or something. I dont know... but its been fine for a few years now. Occasionally I will see a floater in the my clutch fluid that I will pull out. __________________ Charles @ CJ Motorsports : Website \| Facebook \| Instagram \| YouTube Home of the 9 second, stock longblock, stock drivetrain 6MT 370z. 9.91 @ 142mph

06-13-2014, 07:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
m3chhawk Track Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Kansas City Posts: 878 Drives: '11 370Z SPT 6MT BLK Rep Power: 25	The entire system was flushed and bleed once with regular Nissan spec clutch fluid during the install because of the dead pedal problem. Then when they did a new CMC install I pulled the GTR fluid bulletin and they used GTR fluid so I imagine all the crap got pulled out at that time with the two flushes. I've got about 3k miles unboosted and 2k boosted on this clutch so I imagine some of it is break in dust, etc.. I'm picking up a bottle of GTR fluid from a buddy tonight and I'll try the resevoir flush method. SavvyTraveler likes this. __________________ F.I. CF CBE \| Avant Garde M310 \| BC BR's \| ONEighty \| Status \| EvoR \| Stillen \| Whiteline \| B&M \| Bespoke Details Boosted Performance \| Precision Turbo \| Tial \| HKS \| Innovate Motorsports \| Bosch \| Treadstone \| Walbro \| UpRev \| Depo

06-13-2014, 08:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
1slow370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: In the D Posts: 3,732 Drives: v8 74 260z ;) Rep Power: 7251	U has pm Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk __________________ ANSWER PRICE LIST Answers - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $0.75 Answers (requiring thought) - - - - $1.25 Answers (correct) - - - - - - - - - - $12.50

06-13-2014, 10:07 PM	#12 (permalink)
m3chhawk Track Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Kansas City Posts: 878 Drives: '11 370Z SPT 6MT BLK Rep Power: 25	No new fluid, but got the resevoir cleaned out and I don't think there was any o-ring material in there. All looked very flaky/carbony. Fountainhead likes this. __________________ F.I. CF CBE \| Avant Garde M310 \| BC BR's \| ONEighty \| Status \| EvoR \| Stillen \| Whiteline \| B&M \| Bespoke Details Boosted Performance \| Precision Turbo \| Tial \| HKS \| Innovate Motorsports \| Bosch \| Treadstone \| Walbro \| UpRev \| Depo

06-18-2014, 11:18 PM	#13 (permalink)
SavvyTraveler Base Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Fountain valley ca Posts: 41 Drives: 370z 40th M6 #563 Rep Power: 12	OMG! This happen to me yesterday, the clutch petal but stuck and it wouldn't come back to the normal positions. I took it to my mechanic and they flushed out the fluid and put the fluid that they use in the GTR's. Now the petal is working fine. Initial Z and Fountainhead like this.

06-20-2014, 10:19 PM	#14 (permalink)
m3chhawk Track Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Kansas City Posts: 878 Drives: '11 370Z SPT 6MT BLK Rep Power: 25	Finally got fluid today. Followed the reservoir swap method that Fountainhead posted (huge thanks for that btw). Filled up about half a solo up of black fluid. And it started building pressure again. Took it for a 10 mile or so drive and pressure bleed off. Got it home and reservoir was black again. Flushed and pumped again and it seems good. Might be a long process, but I think the CMC is in good shape. If it doesn't clear up soon, I'll go ahead and do a full flush. Fountainhead likes this. __________________ F.I. CF CBE \| Avant Garde M310 \| BC BR's \| ONEighty \| Status \| EvoR \| Stillen \| Whiteline \| B&M \| Bespoke Details Boosted Performance \| Precision Turbo \| Tial \| HKS \| Innovate Motorsports \| Bosch \| Treadstone \| Walbro \| UpRev \| Depo

06-23-2014, 09:36 PM	#15 (permalink)
chii370 Track Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: . Posts: 642 Drives: . Rep Power: 16	god we must have the master and slave cylinder from a damn hugo. talk about severe inconsistency in quality control throughout the whole car. from top of the line to ebay second hand garbage all bolted together seemingly at random. replacing that piece of 5hit as soon as I have the funds before it does damage somehow or leave me stranded. then leave the oem parts in a burning bag on nissans doorstep. Initial Z likes this.

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