Why bother?

[mommicked]

I need to replace my leaking clutch slave cylinder on an 84 Toyota pickup. Rebuild kit is $13, complete bolt on cylinder is $11.99. What should I do????

 

[mscher]

Re: Why bother?

I'd just skip it and spend 24 grand on a new toyota. You won't even have to climb under it

 

[mommicked]

Re: Why bother?

I wonder why or how many rebuild kits they are selling This cylinder fits alot of Toyota cars and trucks.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Why bother?

Depends on the quality of the cylinder and rebuild kit. If they're equal quality, no question. But if the rebuild kit uses higher quality parts and will last more than $13/$11.99 (or 1.08) times as long as the cylinder, then the rebuild kit is the better buy if you intend to keep the truck for awhile.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Why bother?

If I recall correctly I rebuilt the cylinder in the late 80s and the kit was $4? but the whole replacement was $17 or more. Next time I just bought the whole cylinder because it was $5 more than the kit. I've had the truck since 85.

 

[Whoopbass]

Re: Why bother?

The slave cylinder leaked on a truck I used to have. I let the girlfriend borrow it and she knew about the leak. She checked the reservoir and I guess it needed fluid so she proceeded to top it off with transmission fluid. I was going to yell at her but it never did leak again after that.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Why bother?

For $700 you could switch to an auto trans

 

[j_martin]

Re: Why bother?

The slave cylinder leaked on a truck I used to have. I let the girlfriend borrow it and she knew about the leak. She checked the reservoir and I guess it needed fluid so she proceeded to top it off with transmission fluid. I was going to yell at her but it never did leak again after that.

One time my wife decided the brake master cylinder was the power steering and added transmission fluid. About a week later it leaked, and the van hit pretty hard too.

 

[ducerman]

Re: Why bother?

The OEM is a lot better quality than the replacment. Rebuild it if its original..

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Why bother?

One time my wife decided the brake master cylinder was the power steering and added transmission fluid. About a week later it leaked, and the van hit pretty hard too.

Same thing happened to me except it was a MONROE service center that did it do me! Ruined the brake system.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Why bother?

The replacement cylinder is cast iron and looks remanufactured, some scars on the outside, It doesnt say its reman, but im sure it is. It also claims to be better than OEM because it has a machined alum. piston instead of Toyotas factory plastic one. Anyhow it has been installed and seems to be working fine. I just dont understand why they would sell the kit, or who would buy it, if the whole cylinder is cheaper and obviously faster,easier to replace. The hard part was getting the wife to help me bleed it after trying unsucessfully w the old leaky one a couple days before! She only agreed when I told her I could get the old ugly truck out of the front yard if she could help bleed the new cylinder!

 

[Volphin]

Re: Why bother?

The replacement cylinder is cast iron and looks remanufactured, some scars on the outside, It doesnt say its reman, but im sure it is. It also claims to be better than OEM because it has a machined alum. piston instead of Toyotas factory plastic one. Anyhow it has been installed and seems to be working fine. I just dont understand why they would sell the kit, or who would buy it, if the whole cylinder is cheaper and obviously faster,easier to replace. The hard part was getting the wife to help me bleed it after trying unsucessfully w the old leaky one a couple days before! She only agreed when I told her I could get the old ugly truck out of the front yard if she could help bleed the new cylinder!

I bribe mine with dinner out. Works every time.

V

 

[NYBo]

Re: Why bother?

The slave cylinder leaked on a truck I used to have. I let the girlfriend borrow it and she knew about the leak. She checked the reservoir and I guess it needed fluid so she proceeded to top it off with transmission fluid. I was going to yell at her but it never did leak again after that.

That's because transmission fluid causes rubber seals to swell, which is usually a very bad thing in brake systems.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Why bother?

The replacement cylinder is cast iron and looks remanufactured, some scars on the outside, It doesnt say its reman, but im sure it is. It also claims to be better than OEM because it has a machined alum. piston instead of Toyotas factory plastic one. Anyhow it has been installed and seems to be working fine. I just dont understand why they would sell the kit, or who would buy it, if the whole cylinder is cheaper and obviously faster,easier to replace. The hard part was getting the wife to help me bleed it after trying unsucessfully w the old leaky one a couple days before! She only agreed when I told her I could get the old ugly truck out of the front yard if she could help bleed the new cylinder!

Because some unscrupulous repair shops can list the job as using a repair kit and then charging the book rate for doing the repair that way. Which is gonna take more hours to "rebuild" (i.e. dis-assemble, hone out the cylinder, re-assemble, etc.).
Bill it as if using the rebuild kit but install the new or re-man cylinder instead.
Cha-Ching.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Why bother?

Same thing happened to me except it was a MONROE service center that did it do me! Ruined the brake system.

Everything hydraulic had to be changed of course. Glad it wasn't an ABS system. Wheel cylinders, master cylinder, and calipers was expensive enough. Cleaned out the lines with 99% isopropanol with a brake fluid chaser.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Why bother?

The replacement cylinder is cast iron and looks remanufactured, some scars on the outside, It doesnt say its reman, but im sure it is. It also claims to be better than OEM because it has a machined alum. piston instead of Toyotas factory plastic one. Anyhow it has been installed and seems to be working fine. I just dont understand why they would sell the kit, or who would buy it, if the whole cylinder is cheaper and obviously faster,easier to replace. The hard part was getting the wife to help me bleed it after trying unsucessfully w the old leaky one a couple days before! She only agreed when I told her I could get the old ugly truck out of the front yard if she could help bleed the new cylinder!

If I remember correctly don't bother rebuilding it because that aluminum housing will get a deep wear groove on the lower side and will never seal even with a new kit and a honing.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Why bother?

puddle jumper you are correct, but thats the clutch master cylinder, not the slave. The slave cylinder housings have all been cast iron that I've purchased or rebuilt. just hone w emory cloth and clean w brake fluid and install new piston and boot. The master is cast alum. and will not last long if rebuilt this way even w hardly any visible wear or scratches on the inside. Been there done that:facepalm: