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1985 'Bird update.. but clutch probs?

Well... went home and tested out the new 'bird. It has a manual choke... not sure yet why... but I need to use it to start the car... anyway.. the first mile or 2 is REALLY rough... doesn't want to move barely at all.. balking up a storm! But then it warms up and it really purrs... anyway.. I haven't taken the time to check the engine numbers yet... might have to wait for Christmas for that... but anyway... Drove it up to Sturgeon Bay (About 25 miles north of my parent's home) and was driving it back. Stopped at a stop sign and I heard a loud clunk and it died. I just though I snubbed and and proceded to try to restart it. The clutch pedal had NO resistance... went right to the floor.. and it wouldn't start... had to have it towed.. forced it out of 1st and jumped it.. and it fired right up.. but still no resistance on clutch. I am assuming like the linkage from the pedal broke or disconnected or something. WOuldn't let me get it back into gear. Had to push it up the driveway. Any thoughts as to what it is, what to look for, how to fix, etc? This whole manual transmission thing is fairly new to me.. I mean I have driven a few before and know how to drive them, just dont' know the mechanics involved. Thanks.

-Geno

1985 Blue Camaro 2.8L 4-speed auto w/T-tops 1988 Blue Firebird Formula 5.0L 4-speed auto w/T-tops 1985 Brown Firebird 5.7L 5-speed manual w/o T-tops
Reply to
KITTvsKARR
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You should have a hydrolic clutch in the car. Check the small master cylinder next to the brake vacuum booster, if it's empty then you have a broken line somewhere from the master cylinder to the fork.

...Ron

--

68' Camaro RS 88' Firebird Formula 00' Mustang GT Vert
Reply to
RSCamaro

Hey, well.. I had my dad look at the 'Bird this morning... he said the resoivoir was low, so he filled it up.. and yep, theres a big leak.

Jacked it up and he said the seals are shot. He described it at the cylinder that has the plunger that pushes the rod into the fork. Said those seals are shot. Said only 2 bolts and he can take that part off.

Wants to know what it would cost to rebuild one.. or to get one new.. or what.. but he said its the part that the resoivoir connects to in front of the fork. Said nothing is broken or disconnected that he saw. Any ideas?

Reply to
KITTvsKARR

Sounds like he's talking about the slave or clutch master cylinder.

Pretty cheap for most GM cars. Go to

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and look up the part #s. Take those to your local parts store.

Typical suppliers of these are the brake companies like Wagner and Raybestos (and Delco/Delco Moraine).

DO NOT buy the Durastop brake line from a dealer--it's just Raybestos product marked up! :)

Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 27k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 143k and still going....

Reply to
Bigjfig

Ok, so in your opinion, its the clutch slave cylinder... do I just replace that.. or do I replace the resoivoir, the line, etc? If one thing is bad, do other parts normally get replaced as well? I might be going home to look at it over Thanksgiving weekend.. right now I am just going on what my dad has told me. According to that site, the slave cylinder is about $45.00. Sound about right?

Reply to
KITTvsKARR

There is a proper tool? Dad said it looks like 2 bolts and it should come apart... again like I said, I am going by what he said.. I haven't seen it yet. Hopefuly going home next weekend to look at it/fix it. I have the shop manual for the '88 with the '88 on the mid part of the state.. that when I leave the sw part of the state(where I am now) to go to the ne part of the state where home is.. I can swing up there to pick it up if you think it will tell me what the procedure is. But if there is a special tool, I will need that.

-Geno

1985 Blue Camaro 2.8L w/T-tops (149k and going... getting worried) 1988 Blue Firebird Formula 5.0L w/T-tops 1985 Brown Firebird 5.7L w/5-Speed (No T-tops though) Still looking for an '82-'84 T/A w/T-tops or parts from one
Reply to
KITTvsKARR

Sounds about right. You may have to swap the reservoir over from the original, or it may come with a new one. Check with the parts store, ask them to pull the part out of the box and tell you for sure.

The line should be fine as is. Use the proper tool to remove it. Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 27k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 143k and still going....

Reply to
Bigjfig

The proper tool being for the fitting that holds the line in to the slave cylinder. It should be a roll pin. Charles

Reply to
Charles Bendig

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