DIY - Swap clutch slave cylinder and hydraulic line for improved feel and control

[stockysnail]

@Ultramaroon do I just go to Autozone and give them the Subaru part number or do I saw something else to them?

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by stockysnail

@Ultramaroon do I just go to Autozone and give them the Subaru part number or do I saw something else to them?

Ok ok.... I'll put it up front. Autozone P/N 900061

[stockysnail]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Ok ok.... I'll put it up front. Autozone P/N 900061

Much cheaper than from Subaru and their parts!

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by stockysnail

Much cheaper than from Subaru and their parts!

If you go with the NAPA one, the casting will have the same logo as the original. Pretty cool. Worth the extra 20 bucks? Meh..

[stockysnail]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

If you go with the NAPA one, the casting will have the same logo as the original. Pretty cool. Worth the extra 20 bucks? Meh..

Is the Napa part number the same as the Autozone or the Subaru?

Nevermind I see you put it in the first post.

[Jonesy86]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

If both parties aren't on the same page it's quite possible. I made a big deal about proper bleeding in the instructions specifically because of past struggles with a less motivated partner.

Erm... hope that less motivated partner wasn't me.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Jonesy86

Erm... hope that less motivated partner wasn't me.

Absolutely not!
You're already in the keeping-me-honest zone.

[Jmonty]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Much ado about the spring and pedal adjustment in other threads but, as you now see, it's not the root of the issue. Bring your car by my place if you like. We can do it together.

I may want to take you up on that offer?..

[stockysnail]

Did this tonight with @Ultramaroon and the clutch is better than ever now and I've done everything else but this is probably the best thing yet.

[rburrow87]

Well after being annoyed enough with the clutch to very seriously consider trading this car for something else, or money, I decided to try this slave cylinder swap. I was very hesitant to do this because I thought half the problem was because of the short clutch throw, and making it even shorter seemed like a horrible idea. But at $35 for the parts and fluid, I figured I might as well try it.

I went with the "wrong" slave cylinder that's pictured in the OP (was cheaper, only one anyone had in stock, and I was trying to impulse buy, dammit), except I rotated the clutch line to have it routed more like it was stock instead of the harder bend in the OP. It's crazy how easy it is to swap out, kind of like the oil filter in this thing compared to any other car.

Still need to drive more, but so far, it's a definite improvement. I already tried moving the grab point a long time ago, but that didn't really help much. Then in the last few months I pulled the clutch assist spring. That was a major improvement, but still not really right. I know it has already been said, but I think this slave cylinder is the final piece to the puzzle for this weirdo clutch. The pedal actually seems predictable and linear now, albeit with a shorter slip/grab range. But I'd rather it be linear and short than long and goofy or whatever. I haven't been able to shift this smoothly so consistently in this car.

Hopefully it continues to be this way and it's not just a honeymoon stage!

[Phantobe]

@Ultramaroon @ck-GT86

How exactly does the clutch line swap improve pedal feel? I haven't really looked at the stock line, wondering if its worth doing.

Just looks cleaner and lighter, wondering if the inner diameter is the same as the stock line.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by rburrow87

Hopefully it continues to be this way and it's not just a honeymoon stage!

Congrats & welcome to the grown-up clutch club! It really is stupid easy, isn't it? It is THE thing people are searching for in the other threads. I just wish there was a way I could convince more people to overcome their fear and apprehension.

So funny. I bought the wrong one on a whim too, hence the jacked up photos. It's fine. I'll change it after it wears out in 10 years.

Don't worry. You aren't imagining it.

[rburrow87]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Congrats & welcome to the grown-up clutch club! It really is stupid easy, isn't it? It is THE thing people are searching for in the other threads. I just wish there was a way I could convince more people to overcome their fear and apprehension.

So funny. I bought the wrong one on a whim too, hence the jacked up photos. It's fine. I'll change it after it wears out in 10 years.

Don't worry. You aren't imagining it.

Yep, still enjoying it after driving a bunch more today! No problems with feathering, or hill starts, even with the grab point higher than it should probably be.

It's much easier to drive and it's hard to understand exactly why. It just seems more linear and predictable now, as if this is the slave cylinder size everything was designed around. It seems strange that a larger slave, which you'd think would simply increase the pedal travel required, could throw it off so much. Must be some odd geometry somewhere. You could sort-of get used to the original one to an extent, but one drive in a different car (NA Miata in my case), and it was just painful going back.

This has pretty much saved the car. Now I can concentrate on important stuff like an OFT and E85 or something

[ck-GT86]

Originally Posted by Phantobe

@Ultramaroon @ck-GT86

How exactly does the clutch line swap improve pedal feel? I haven't really looked at the stock line, wondering if its worth doing.

Just looks cleaner and lighter, wondering if the inner diameter is the same as the stock line.

It's hard for me to gauge how different swapping the clutch line is because I did everything at once. Yeah, it cleans up the line quite a bit, but I'd say the amount of clutch fluid flowing through each end of the donut looking connector is about the same. I figured I'd change it out now rather than later since you have to disconnect the line. Kinda like the over-pipe, it's not a necessary upgrade, but you might as well since you're replacing the header.

.ck