Clutch Fluid Change

[Sudesh]

Done the clutch fluid change today.

Started by jacking the car up and putting it on axel stands on all 4 corners to keep the car level.

I then removed the old clutch fluid from the reservoir by sucking it out with a sealey syringe

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/icongroup/NSXCLUTCHFLUID/DSC00331.jpg

With the fluid removed I noticed some dirt and crud at the bottom of the reservoir

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/icongroup/NSXCLUTCHFLUID/DSC00332.jpg

I cleaned out the reservoir using a cotton swab

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/icongroup/NSXCLUTCHFLUID/DSC00333.jpg


Dirt removed from the reservoir

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/icongroup/NSXCLUTCHFLUID/DSC00334.jpg

[Sudesh]

After removing all the dirt and crud I wiped the tank down with a microfiber cloth, nice and clean now.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/icongroup/NSXCLUTCHFLUID/DSC00335.jpg

Refill the resevoir with nice new fluid

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/icongroup/NSXCLUTCHFLUID/DSC00336.jpg

After filling I then attached the bleed bottle to the slave cylinder bleed nipple. I Attach an 8mm wrench first

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/icongroup/NSXCLUTCHFLUID/DSC00320.jpg

Then the bleed bottle and tubing

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/icongroup/NSXCLUTCHFLUID/DSC00321.jpg

[Sudesh]

As I'm flusing the system too I first just let gravity do its thing, so with the bleed bottle attached the system just started to drain on its own

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/icongroup/NSXCLUTCHFLUID/DSC00322.jpg

With the fluid draining, I just kept topping the reservoir up so not as to trap air and also till the fluid looked nice and fresh.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/icongroup/NSXCLUTCHFLUID/DSC00327.jpg

I decided to give it a good flush so with 1lite of brake fluid I swapped out the small bleed bottle for a larger one:

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/icongroup/NSXCLUTCHFLUID/DSC00330.jpg

This is what the fluid looked like while draining.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/icongroup/NSXCLUTCHFLUID/DSC00323.jpg

[Sudesh]

There were some small contaminents coming out.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/icongroup/NSXCLUTCHFLUID/DSC00324.jpg

So I just kept the flush going. Eventually the fluid started to run nice a clean, so at this point I got my helper to start pumping the clutch. After several pumps any air in the system was removed and the fluid was nice and clean.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/icongroup/NSXCLUTCHFLUID/DSC00328.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/icongroup/NSXCLUTCHFLUID/DSC00329.jpg

I then tightened up the bleed nipple, cleaned up the area and topped off the resevoir and job done. Nice clean fluid and I actually noticed a difference in the clutch feel as my clutch always felt quite heavy, but with the new fluid its lighter and feels better.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/icongroup/NSXCLUTCHFLUID/DSC07307.jpg

[vtecdirect]

This is a job so many people including (and probably especially) main dealers, overlook. The main clutch fluid pipe gets pretty hot as it runs down by the engine and the fluid deteriorates over time. I would recommend doing this once a year along with a brake fluid change.
Nice one Sudesh.

[Sudesh]

Thanks Andy! Yeah a job well worth doing. I'll actually be doing it again shortly as I'm upgrading the clutch hose to a stainless one, and I'm also going to do do the clutch damper delete.

[goldnsx]

This is a job so many people including (and probably especially) main dealers, overlook.

That's true. Mine was black when I changed it. The contaminents will harm your clutch hydraulics (master and slave) and the water in the DOT4 will do the rest to the system. If you do it every year you only need a small amount to do this job.

[Kaz-kzukNA1]

Hi, Sudesh.
Nice one.

I have installed the damper less joint and Type-R clutch pedal for many owners in the past but the parts for mine are still on the shelf... I need to find some time.

Looking at the photos, I hope your CL Master/Slave cyl are fine as normally, the black debris is coming from the rubber seal inside the cyl.

As you know, the leak from the master won't show up to the outside world. Instead, it will leak into the cabin and the leaked brake fluid will be hidden behind the floor carpet which is not good.

The sign of leak at the slave is also not going to show itself until it gets worse.

Another common maintenance items for our NSX.

Regards,
Kaz

[Sudesh]

Hi, Sudesh.
Nice one.

I have installed the damper less joint and Type-R clutch pedal for many owners in the past but the parts for mine are still on the shelf... I need to find some time.

Looking at the photos, I hope your CL Master/Slave cyl are fine as normally, the black debris is coming from the rubber seal inside the cyl.

As you know, the leak from the master won't show up to the outside world. Instead, it will leak into the cabin and the leaked brake fluid will be hidden behind the floor carpet which is not good.

The sign of leak at the slave is also not going to show itself until it gets worse.

Another common maintenance items for our NSX.

Regards,
Kaz

Hi Kaz,

Yeah I was thinking that about the seals but after the long flush, the debris disappeared, its wasnt that much either. I inspected the slave cylinder while I was there and there were no signs of leaks or dampness and the master was the same, nice and dry with no interior leaks. I ordered a a new master and slave cylinder to keep handy anyway as its something I'm planning on changing at a later stage.

Is there much of a difference in the type-r clutch pedal?

[NSXGB]

I have installed the damper less joint and Type-R clutch pedal

What are the benefit's of this mod?

[Senninha]

What are the benefit's of this mod?

+1 on benefits of these changes.

My clutch is quite heavy so fluid change wil be on my list of to do's.

regards, Paul

[AR]

It is slightly lower than a normal pedal, changes the pivot point and angle and the damperless should give better feel.

[gumball]

The clutch damper bypass sounds interesting, can a problem in the damper give an inconsistant pedal feel?(which I get)
I would like to get a more direct clutch movement. Is the bypass long winded/difficult to fit?

[Sudesh]

The clutch damper bypass sounds interesting, can a problem in the damper give an inconsistant pedal feel?(which I get)
I would like to get a more direct clutch movement. Is the bypass long winded/difficult to fit?

Hi,

From what I read it can cause some problems. The bypass method results in a more direct feel with the clutch and a more instant bite. The NSX-R didnt come with a damper. Its pretty straight forward and very easy to change. I have a brand new damper delete pipe for sale if your interested.

[gumball]

Hi,

From what I read it can cause some problems. The bypass method results in a more direct feel with the clutch and a more instant bite. The NSX-R didnt come with a damper. Its pretty straight forward and very easy to change. I have a brand new damper delete pipe for sale if your interested.

Anyone without a pipe for sale have an opinion on how easy it is to change? ;)

:bigsmile:

[Sudesh]

The damper is just a round box that has 2 metal clutch pipes running into it. You unbolt the pipes and remove the damper, you then remove one of the metal pipes as it becomes obselete. Screw in the new bypass pipe and thats it, job done, just bleed the clutch again.

Damper:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3323/3424640058_ba7812067e.jpg

Damper removed and new line installed
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3241/3423838491_08687f94f1.jpg

[gumball]

Thanks. Looks OK.
Rear bulkhead from below? is that the underside of the header tank in the top right of the second pic? or am I lost(again).

[Sudesh]

You can access it from above or below, above is easier, just remove the air box and you will see it up against the firewall, passanger side obviously!

[TheSebringOne]

Not being technically minded, but why bypass the damper when it was put there for a reason in the first place?

[Sudesh]

Not being technically minded, but why bypass the damper when it was put there for a reason in the first place?

The clutch damper softens the response of the clutch engagement/disengagement. My view on it is, its there to aid your car as a daily driver or in round town aming it more user friendly etc. As mentioned the NSX-R didnt come with a damper which aided in weight reduction but also a better clutch feel and response.

[gumball]

I imagine it will also aid a crisper heel'n'toe.

[gumball]

Thanks Sudesh, that was quick! I'll fit it at the weekend and see how it feels. :)

[gumball]

I fitted the bypass pipe today. The pedal feels a bit lighter, but the fluid flush also probably had an effect(it was already quite light due to the master cylinder only being a couple of years old). The difference is not massive, but to me it feels more direct and mechanical(iykwim). Also more consistent, which was the main reason for the change.
To anybody fitting one shortly, remember to fit the pipe on the slave cylinder side before messing about trying to line up the other union. :o