Clutch Slave cylinder which brand?

[Van den Broke]

Rockauto lists five(!) different brands for this one application.
I imagine there's not really five factories pumping these things out.

Probably the most important piece in them is the rubber cup, and we have no idea of the difference in that part among the various brands.
For instance the German (supposedly) made one and the Chinese may buy the cups from the same source.

[E1]

Thank You very much, Mark. I paid a fair bit more than that but it still struck me as “not enough price” for something so critical.

Do you know the “generally most-reliable” slave out there? Zoltan listed some elsewhere, I’m all ears. Thanks.
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1984 Westfailure/2.1 Digijet/5.43 Ring & Pinion/Peloquin/D-rated BFG KO2s
AI has spoken to further illiteracy, to steal, to cheat, and to replace humans

"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere." — Colin Chapman

[crazyvwvanman]

That slave cylinder "brand" is only a $20-25 part at some parts places.
Can they really make a decent lasting part of that complexity that retails for $20?
I don't know. I prefer other brands but I'm not so sure about the quality of any of them anymore on any given part.


Mark

[E1]

We just received a new slave. The stock one functions but is clearly struggling to be consistent, so I bought a new one if needed.

Some above have posted that the Classic Line is sub-par. Mine’s marked as 1130500700.

Is this one okay so far as anyone knows? I’m happy to swap it for a better one if wise to do so, such tasks I like to do just once whenever possible.
_________________
1984 Westfailure/2.1 Digijet/5.43 Ring & Pinion/Peloquin/D-rated BFG KO2s
AI has spoken to further illiteracy, to steal, to cheat, and to replace humans

"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere." — Colin Chapman

[ZsZ]

In Spain there are at least 3 companies making repair kits.
ERT, Frenkit, Autofren Siensa.
You can buy even ATE or FTE branded boxes.
Not sure if they are sold in the US. I assume the JPG kits are made by one of thoes companies.
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Zoltan
1.9 MTdi 2wd Multivan (ex Caravelle)
Van since 2006, engine since 2008

[DanHoug]

[Nitramrebrab72]

If there is no damage or corrosion inside to the piston of cylinder and if you can find a high quality rebuild kit I would rebuild it as it is simple. If not the original fitted was TRW and they are quality .

[Van den Broke]

If that's true, it would seem that consumer protection legislation is really deteriorating.

I had the notion years ago that products had to have the country of origin marked on them.

I used to repair brake hydraulic cylinders by only changing the rubber cups, which I could get at one of the older auto parts or brake shops in town. Those cups wearing out are the usual cause of hydraulic cylinder failure. I hope that the new ones are made as well as the originals, or the US made replacements I used to get.

[Steve M.]

[Van den Broke]

I just received an order from California Import Parts that included a clutch enslaved cylinder as well as a rebuild kit.

I've yet to install either since the van is outside and weather is awful, but the parts are "Classic Line" brand, distributed by JP Group.
The packages say "Denmark", but it doesn't say "Made in Denmark".
The cylinder is painted black with silver (laser?) printing.

My plan is to swap the bad part out and then rebuild it if it is still good. I have found that cast iron brake cylinders tend to get pitted, whereas aluminum ones do not. So my old part may well be unusable.

Of course, with rare and expensive parts the pitted cores are often sleeved.

[kaeferman]

Sorry i should clarify my recent issue with fluid on the cab floor was a leak that developed from the clutch master and not the slave. The boot which seals the pushrod business end was wet and i assume the unit has failed somehow. when i get it disassembled i will confirm this.

On a side note regarding the slave cyl
Twice i have had vans that either would not shift correctly or couldn t be put into gear. Simply bleeding the slave of dark dirty fluid rectified the issue without replacing the part. Kind of weird
B
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83 Westfalia wbx “Idaho”
84 Tintop “Vanamos”
formerly
71 Squareback sold
70 Westfalia lost to fire by new owner
71 Super Beetle rolled/scrapped

[Steve M.]

Rock Auto

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/volkswagen,199...inder,2044
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This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.

[markswagen]

l buy FTE, and have had nothing but long lasting use out of them.
l've never had to replace one l have fitted for a customer
_________________
markswagen {mobile mechanic} san diego area all early VW's cared for.

619 201 0310

[kaeferman]

i had to chime in as my build from a few years ago just ended up with brake fluid on the cab floor, eating the paint and soaking the carpet, pad and all. Love that brake fluid

Anyway, i had bought an FTE in mid 2019 and its barely made it 5 years with light ussage as the van is not a daily driver
The res grommets seem to have leaked on me in the past on another van after super cold weather which is like this time too but no evidence of grommet leak this time. Rubber shrinkage happens
I wonder if anybody else had short life with FTE or am i just lucky? I saw a Sachs available but doesn t sound like its any better than FTE which VC is calling “german” - box says Germany but another sticker on the part says elsewhere..which i ve seen on Meyle parts sometimes
Guess i try another fte?
B
_________________
83 Westfalia wbx “Idaho”
84 Tintop “Vanamos”
formerly
71 Squareback sold
70 Westfalia lost to fire by new owner
71 Super Beetle rolled/scrapped

[ZsZ]

I would say there are max 3 factories making these cylinders.
The cheapest black ones with laser engraved partnrs. Like the Meyle, Febi, JPGroup, etc.
The "middle class" zinc coated with some cast markings. Probably made in italy but more likely also in china. Like Lpr, Sachs, Bosch, etc. I would say Ate ones are the same.
The "premium". Like FTE, TRW, Girling, Hella. Also probably in italy, but more likely somewhere in the east.

But of course the boxing brands buy bulk from different suppliers, so you find the good one in one box and you will find the bad in the other
Here you can see the catalog pics to compare. No guarantee if they look the same in the box :
https://www.niparts.com/s_637E62/03252527113.html
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Zoltan
1.9 MTdi 2wd Multivan (ex Caravelle)
Van since 2006, engine since 2008

[ALIKA T3]

[hdenter]

FTE on fleabay

https://www.ebay.com/itm/132935374243
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'79 triple white convertible bug
'84 sunroof vanagon
'85 weekender

[hdenter]

Here's one...

https://www.autohausaz.com/pn/12886564-JP-21320700...gJKRPD_BwE
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'79 triple white convertible bug
'84 sunroof vanagon
'85 weekender

[hdenter]

Are there rebuild kits out there? When I was a kid, my dad never bought a new master cylinder. He would do a quick hone in the bore and then replace all the rubber seals. Put it back together and throw it back in...

Hans
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'79 triple white convertible bug
'84 sunroof vanagon
'85 weekender

[BrownLoaf]

FTE if you can find one. They are out of stock at the usual online places but shops my have them on hand if there are any near you that work on Vanagons. Reference Automotive near my in Bellingham, WA had one in stock and were gracious enough to sell it to me. Also try Ken Willford at Vanagain as he may be able to order them.

I recently found that I had suffered shifting issues (grinding gears) since 2013 due to a slave cylinder that was too short. Then I replaced it in December with a new one and that one was even shorter, causing the transmission to not go into gear at all. Finally, the FTE solved the problem I didn't know existed.

Here's the thread on that:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...p;start=40
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83.5 Vanagon Riviera WBX 2.2 "Brown Loaf"
87 Vanagon Syncro Tin Top WBX 2.1 "Bubbles"