Clutch slave cylinder inside gearbox?!

[MrBen]

Hello all. Just checking...is it true the clutch slave cylinder is inside the gearbox? If so, (Seat Alhambra 1.9 tdi 2004). My clutch is starting to intermittently not come back up too brightly. Could anyone provide a link with gearbox removal if it is the case its inside. Quite a big job I'm assuming
Thanks in advance

[johnnyroper]

Yes it is a CSC so gearbox off job to replace. Depending on mileage and history I would be inclined to replace clutch kit and flywheel while you are at it as last thing you want to do is have box off to do slave and an old DMF fail few months down the line.

Canââ,¬â,,¢t help with any guides as never done one on galaxy,sharan,Alhambra variants.

Has the clutch fluid been replaced recently? Might be worth trying a bleed before you tackle anything,likewise it could also be a master cylinder at fault.

[brianh]

We did it on the mk1 petrol, only real complication was needing an engine crane to support the engine as you drop the box down, can't lift the gearbox as the battery tray is obstructing it. No DMF on the petrol either so can't advise there. Mine was for a completely worn clutch plate but did the bearing at same time.

Not sure offhand if theres anything on the pedal end that might have an effect on your issue.

[MrBen]

Thanks for replys. No I haven't changed clutch fluid recently, I'm assuming the bleed nipple would be on the slave cylinder wouldn't it? If not, I could try changing fluid I suppose, see if that helps.

[brianh]

It's on the slave yes, but is accessed by the little rubber covered hole in top of gearbox.  Next to where pipe goes onto it. Can be used with gearbox still in place you don't have to access the slave cylinder to bleed it.

[MrBen]

Ok excellent thankyou Brian. I'm supposing it's a case of pumping the clutch pedal with opening and closing the nipple, the same as when you do brakes? Thankyou

[brianh]

Yes. If your doing the whole lot, then change the brakes and bleed them before the clutch.

[MrBen]

Ok thanks, does the brakes and clutch slave fluid come from the same reservoir? If so, then yes would make sense to bleed whole lot.

[johnnyroper]

Yes the clutch fluid is fed from the brake reservoir so best to do the lot.

[MrBen]

Thanks Johnny. Just an observation, but is the concealed slave cylinder unique to the CSC box? As I watched a YouTube vid and it appears that on that particular box the cylinder can be removed from outside box. Also would you know how I could check I definitely have a CSC gearbox? Cheers

It's at 16m 30s (if you would like to view that is)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3AZ8zrcR9ew

[brianh]

The slave cylinder surrounds the input shaft on the gearbox. Its the bit the tool is pointing at at 16:01 in your video.

See the replacement here (might have to enter your reg to see photos > https://www.eurocarparts.com/hydraulic-clutches )

The bit he is playing around with at 16:30 looks to be the bleed valve (the bit he says doesn't come with the new one and broke the clip on), its different to the mk1 type but looks to work in a similar way.

[SirDavidAlhambra]

So much knowledge here

Gearboxes and clutches are a bit beyond my own comfort zone although Iââ,¬â,,¢m sure itââ,¬â,,¢s much easier if u have a ramp

[MrBen]

Ah right I see now. So the slave cylinder is essentially a hydraulic thrust bearing? I will check bleed valve 1st to see if any obvious leak around that. Fluid level doesn't seem to have dropped, so that's a bit confusing. I will try bleeding system first see if that helps. Also like you said, could be master cylinder. Would I be right in thinking if there is no fluid level loss, it would be more likely to be master cylinder? And if fluid loss, more likely to be slave cylinder? Thanks Brian

[mike wilson]

The slave cylinder is, of course, in the bell housing not the gearbox.  Something to remember is that the boxes include the diff and, as such, are seriously heavy.  Quite significant injury is possible.

[brianh]

Yes thats correct. Its heavy as stated hence why we used an engine crane to assist with the job (though if I remember correctly that was mostly to support the engine, there is a proper method shown in the service manual that shows using a specific tool which goes between the wings to do that task, we then used a trolley jack under the gearbox to assist getting it seperated). Whilst its in the bell housing and outside the gearbox as such, you still need to split the gearbox/bell housing from the engine to actually get to it.

Its possible to do it off the ground and such without access to a lift provided you have 2 people to do it and enough space and time (it will take longer on the ground than on a lift)

If there is fluid loss, then the leaking fluid should give you a clue as to which end the problem is (location of leak would be your issue). But I'd doubt its leaking. I'd think the lower end more likely to be where your problem is but your probabbly going to have to investigate a bit yourself to find out for sure. You may find opening the bleed valve is enough to release the sealed fluid and allow the pedal to return.

Usual reason for swapping the fluid is to avoid corrosion in the bottom end (from water absorbed by the fluid), if its not been changed for an extended period you may have some at the bottom end causing your issue. I've known all manner of debris to come out of brake calipers if they are left with old fluid in them for a long time. The top end doesn't seem to suffer so much.

[barlidge]

I did the gearbox twice on my galaxy on my own. The first time the aircon system was empty so I took the front end of and simply removed the whole engine/box before splitting, the second time I took it off from underneath.  The former is without doubt easier and while it sounds like a lot of work its not really that much more.  Dropping it underneath is not too bad but it has to be rotated a bit to clear the subframe - not so bad coming out but a bit of a bugger going back in when doing it on your own.

Those slave cylinders can be a bit of a faff to bleed, so I would spend a bit of time trying that first.

[MrBen]

Thanks for all the info chaps, really appreciated. I will investigate further and let you know of the outcome. Cheers!