F-Body Europe

Sitting in traffic... push clutch pedal down and drop it into first gear. As I let up, the car dies and the clutch pedal drops to the floor.

I think slave cylinder instantly, but the technicians out at Friendly Chevrolet in Springfield, Illinois say otherwise. They say it is the slave cylinder and the entire clutch assembly. They are telling me it is $1100 for parts alone.

Frist question is how can I tell if they are trying to screw me over on the repair and charge me for a whole new clutch when all I need is a new slave cylinder - is there something I can look for to show that the clutch is dead too?


Second question is what parts should I upgrade to if both the slave cylinder and the clutch are actually in need of repair? I was thinking Z06 slave cylinder and Ram VDS clutch? If there is a special (ie - super cheap or extra dependable) place to buy it let me know as well.

I wish I could help, but go to ls1tech.com, and ask there. You will have an answer in no time!

I call BS $750 with a new flywheel. I am running the VDS PP with a ceramic clutch plate what year is it? I have the Part# at the house and ordered it through summit go with the McCloud slave though. This thing gets side stepped@ 4800 and does not slip. I will get those # if you

thanks for the help - it is a 1998 Camaro SS w/ 57,000 miles. i think that it is BS too, but i'm not sure how to go about prooving it. these are the part numbers i was given from the dealership-
12562765 clutch assembly
12570393 slave cylinder

The probability of your clutch AND slave cylinder going at exactly the same time are pretty slim. However, with 57000 on the clock and the general weakness of the clutch on these cars, perhaps their experience is that it's about due for renewal anyway so they're giving you a "might as well" price? As a lateral thinking point,perhaps it's the wear and increasing stiffness in the clutch arm and bearing that leads to the slave cylinder failing so spectacularly and it may therefore be a question of whether a replacement slave would fail again without replacing the clutch. Just a thought.

Here you go RAM -402 Pressure Plate Summit Price 149.95
RAM -6130 Clutch Disc(ask for ceramic)175.99
McCloud Slave got mine from Thunder 150.99
New flywheel get a 2000 or newer model for this setup(250?)
Stock Throw out bearing 56.95

I have been running this setup and it does not slip with 480Hapees @ the flywheel and Street ET with 4800RPM launches. BTW it too one week to get the stuff from the states.

You think you're really pushing 480 Bruce?? That is an impressive number..

480 @ the flyheel 430-440 RWHP Wonder how I know?

As it turns out, the dealer was trying to screw me over. I went out to take a look at the car today and when I got in, the clutch pedal was back in the upright position. I pushed it down and it came right back up so I went ahead and started the car. For a car that supposedly "has a completely blown clutch" and "definitely needs a new slave cylinder, and probably a new master cylinder" as well, it is shifting in and out of gears just fine. In fact, it is not malfunctioning at all.
I went inside and talked with the technician that had been diagnosing my car and he said that he played with the slave cylinder for a little while and bled the system and everything started working again. I didnt ask why the service manager was trying to shove $1100 worth of new parts down my throat right then, but I am going back tomrrow to a have a talk with him.
The car is being inspected by a transmissions only place here in town and we'll find out the results of their diagnosis tomorrow.
Thanks for all the help.

Glad to hear you (hopefully) got around the $1100 ...