Clutch slave cylinder line damaged threads?

[Drew99GT]

I'm in a major jam. Slave cylinder went out on my 94 Corolla; I got a new one and when I tried threading the compression fitting nut fitting back in, the threads got damaged on the nut that slides over the hydraulic line. The Toyota dealer said there are 3 in the country and they can't get a new line until Thursday.

There is a well know place in town that does hydraulic fittings; can they somehow put a new threaded nut on there? Can they cut the tip of the line off where the flare is, slide a new nut on, and re-flare it?

Thanks. My other option is a junk yard.

 

[Trav]

Take it easy this is no big shakes.
First you need to make sure you have a little slack and movement in the line so you can get the nut into the fitting nice and square.

No problem hacking a very short piece of line off (a few mm) and re flairing but you can probably straighten out the threads with a precision file.
Start at the undamaged end and work your way around it through the damaged threads to the end.

A mechanic can do this job in a few minutes either way if your not comfortable with it.

I can post a pic of how to do it if you need it.

 

[michaelluscher]

If you can't rethread, or get a replacement but flared on

Just wait for the new part from Toyota, check the part # online for a better price or availability

 

[Drew99GT]

Thanks Trav; I actually tried straightening out the threads and threading it into the old slave cylinder to see if it would work; no go. The threads are now mangled. Are there places that can reflare/fix fittings like this? for the cost of buying a kit, I could get a new line.

 

[Trav]

I think you can rent one from AA or AZ for free.
Take the old slave with you to match a new nut up IIRC Toyota uses a bubble flair on these but be sure to take the piece you cut off with you.

Use a small tubing cutter to cut the last 8-10mm off the line and use brake fluid on the flair when using the tool, it gives a cleaner flair.

 

[datech]

if you are lucky teflon plumbers tape might work

 

[Drew99GT]

How about this? This is probably worse than using compression fittings...

male flare to hose barb and use something like universal fuel hose? Or is the pressure in a hydraulic clutch line too high and it would just blow the line off even with a tight clamp???

 

[AdRock]

Get a small precision file as suggested above. It'll take some time but unless the threads are just gone now you can probably clean them up.

 

[Drew99GT]

The threads are done. Mince meat.

 

[Drew99GT]

OK, I used the small file on an old Swiss army knife and filed down the mangled threads and then repeatedly screwed and unscrewed the fitting into the old cylinder to sort of chase the threads; I cleaned it all up with break cleaner and tried the fitting on the new cylinder. SUCCESS.

 

[Trav]

Well done!

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: Trav
Well done!

Thanks for the idea!

I must say, the car drives like new. I think the slave cylinder had been going out ever since I bought the car and over the last month, it got to the point of being down right hard to drive. The clutch was acting like an on off switch and very notchy into 3rd gear. I pulled the boot off the old cylinder and fluid poured out.

Now it's buttery smooth when letting the pedal out and shifting. Glad I pulled that boot off because I'm sure it would have stranded me very soon.

 

[Drew99GT]

Just to confirm something about clutch master and slave cylinders; the boot that covers the piston rod is more or less a dust boot and not designed to hold fluid back, correct???

I checked the new slave cylinder after a week and there was a tiny bit of moisture/fluid inside the cylinder area past the piston, but fluid didn't pour out like the old/worn out cylinder. Like a small amount of fluid got past the piston.

Normal? Especially for a new cylinder that needs to break in?

Thanks!

 

[Trav]

Correct. The boot is a dust boot and does not seal the cylinder. I have seen them weep very slightly when new, its probably just a little of the assy lube they used.
Keep an eye on it, i doubt there is a problem.

 

[Drew99GT]

Thanks again Trav. I'll keep an eye on it. I appreciate the insight.