What is a Clutch Slave Cylinder?
A clutch slave cylinder, or CSC, is an integral part of the way a manual transmission system works. Without it, a driver would not be able to switch gears. It works by moving pressure plates to disengage the clutch from the engine of your car when you push in the clutch pedal.
How Long Do Clutch Slave Cylinders Last?
Determining how long a car’s clutch slave cylinder should last depends on a few factors:
- How often the car is given preventative maintenance and repairs
- How often one switches gears
- The amount of fluid levels in the car
Symptoms of a Bad Clutch Slave Cylinder
You will usually get a few warning signs to tell you that something is wrong with your CSC before things get really bad. If you notice any of these happening, it is crucial that you take your car in for repairs as soon as possible to avoid extensive damage.
- Inability to switch gears
- Low fluid level
- Leaking of brake fluid
- Clutch pedal goes all the way to the floor before working
- Clutch pedal feels loose
- Contaminated brake fluid
Now you know what to look for, but you need to know why your Porsche may be doing this to get a better understanding of just how bad the damage may be. Tell a mechanic what is going on, and they will be able to help faster based on your car’s symptoms.
Causes of a Faulty or Failing Clutch Slave Cylinder
There are a few things that could be going on under the hood that cause your CSC to malfunction. Diagnosing these will help you realize how urgent this problem really is.
- The seal is beginning to fail. This is what causes fluid and air leaks in your vehicle. This is a normal part of extended wear caused by changing gears, but it is still serious and should be fixed immediately. If it is not addressed as soon as possible, you could be unable to change gears entirely.
- Even general wear can run your clutch slave cylinder down. This is true of any auto part or really, any product you can buy. Old things break down kind of like people when they start to age. It is just a fact of life. Get the clutch slave cylinder replaced whenever your specific manufacturer recommends doing so.
- Contamination of any of the parts of the clutch slave cylinder will gum up the works and make it malfunction. It is necessary to get it occasionally cleaned to maintain performance. If debris or dirt gets in the brake fluid, it will slow down your CSC.
Seeing as how there are only a few causes that could junk up your CSC and cause it to fail, getting it replaced should not be too much of a hassle. The only issue is that Porsches are foreign cars, and not every auto shop is properly equipped to deal with something so delicate. In that case, where do you go to get your clutch slave cylinder replaced?
Where to Replace Your Clutch Slave Cylinder
Since not everyone can help you with your Porsche’s every issue, you need someone who specializes in your auto parts specifically to help you in a timely manner. Orange Motors does exactly that! We are trained and ready to repair and replace European car models and their parts with no holdup.
We want to ensure that you get the best quality care for your money; you paid a lot for your Porsche, and you do not need to spend a ton more just to keep it running smoothly because your mechanic keeps messing things up. Waiting and saving up money to fix it only makes your drive more dangerous every time you get behind the wheel. If you are located in the Orange, CA area, you should stop by and give us a chance to show you what we can do.
* Porsche 718 Cayman image credit goes to: DarthArt.
