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That's better

A trip down to Goodwood on Friday in the pouring rain showed just how much better the new blades were working cf the old ones - a huge improvement!

My planned trip in KIMI 3 to JDM Combe last Saturday had to be abandoned. Reason? With the car cleaned to within an inch of it's life and fully packed, I started her up and engaged reverse, to be greeted with crunch. Darn, the clutch bite point had sunk to the floor. Suspecting the clutch slave, I had no time to fix it, so I transferred all the gear over to my RX-8 and took that instead!

I've just got around to taking a look and, as usual, a visual inspection of the slave in situ revealed nothing, but the arm travel was about half what it ought to be.

Slave unbolted and rubber boot removed, viola, failed slave seal!


Knowing how these slaves have a habit of failing, I had previously ordered not one, but two new slaves from RockAuto on previous orders!

So, job for later is to fit and bleed the new slave. I'll bench bleed the slave before fitting too.

Whilst I was removing the slave, I spotted this wire nearby, emerging from the loom that runs behind the beehive. Should it be connected anywhere?

Sensor right side picture

Looks like the water Temp sensor, sensor has a round bullet type connector that it would slip over.

Thanks guys, that was my first thought, but my water temp gauge is operating normally. I'll take another look and see if the temp sensor has got a wire attached though!

Great news, new clutch slave fitted and all is good! I used the "piston block" method to bleed the slave using a "G" clamp to keep the piston from moving. Worked a treat. I flushed the clean, but dark looking old fluid out completely. I now have a fancy electronic "pen" brake fluid tester on order from AliExpress - spotted it was £2.30 with free delivery if I ordered about £5 worth of gear. I have to wait a few weeks, but a useful addition to the toolkit!

Good job I had 2 slaves on the shelf. Both looked fine, but one had a coarser thread for the flexi-pipe, so no good. Other one was fine. Two different brands from Rock Auto!

Would be interested to have a pic of your temp sensor cable as mine looks the same colour as your disconnected wire,
As for rock auto would never buy from them again there Customer Service is terrible they sent me 2 front strut mounts one made in China one made in Thailand the Chinese one had adjusted camber and caster the other one did not! They had the same part number but completely different parts rubbish .

I haven't been happy with the strange feel to the brakes on KIMI 3 for a while. Bleeding made no difference and I'm sure the calipers and servo are OK, so I have collected a new master brake cylinder and a set of 5 HEL brake lines to fit, in an attempt to solve the problem.

I have made good progress with freeing all but one of the brake line fixings, the one going to the "T" on the rear axle, so I've doused that one with a 2nd dose of penetrant and will leave overnight. Having a flare spanner certainly helps!

One thing has got me puzzled though, see pics below. I have removed the clip on the passenger side strut mounted bracket, expecting the hose fixing to slide downwards and out, but it won't. Is it just a tight fit with a few years of corrosion, or am I missing a step to remove it from the bracket? It's loose, so I can jiggle/push the hose mount forwards so that the nut is clear of the "engagement" notches on the bracket, but no joy in sliding it down the cut-out in the bracket. Does it just need some gentle persuasion with a hammer

Hiya Casey,
I have just replaced the rear axle hose on mine with a nos one, the connection into the t-piece is sealed with a copper washer and I had to put it in the vice to undo it,
The front has a narrow slot and I think only the actual rubber hose fits through, so you need to pull it quite a way out and then down the slot.
Cheers Steve.

Thanks Steve

I've posted up a separate topic about the work I'm doing on my braided hoses replacement here: http://rx7fb.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=4798

very recently fitted Hel hoses all round ours, I seem to recall the fronts slide out the slot but had no problem. As the the rear, yes all were tight but I cut it all off and made new metal pipes too seeing as ours has been sat for 20 years or so.
The car has not been driven (see other posts!) as yet but even on the drive moving it in and out of workshop the brakes feel firmer with the new hoses.
As an interesting point my sadly now retired MOT man of over 30 years always had me press the brakes whilst the car was in the air!! not done nowadays.
I always inspect my brakes and hoses and if showing perishing replace.
One year he asked me to replace front flexis on a MK2 cortina lotus......I asked why and he demonstrated. When he stamped on the brakes and I looked from under they flexis could be seen pressuring up....flexing but not evenly, they were starting to bulge despite no obvious issues when unstressed.