My car keeps eating slave cylinders, please help!

Jason Dowdy

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So I installed a Mcleod extreme street clutch kit, slave cylinder and billet steel flywheel a few months back and the slave started leaking fluid out of the bellhousing and pedal went to the floor. So I pulled the trans and put a Ford slave back in. It lasted 1 day and went out also. I was told by Mcleod I did not need to shim the slave because the kit I bought is a new design and there is no need to shim. I am thinking the slave is overextending and blowing the seal out so I think I need to measure and shim it. Does this seem likely? Only thing I can think of. Also when I shim where do I buy them from? Thanks.
 

Midlife Crises

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At the very least you need to measure the throwout bearing preload. Then you will know if a spacer is needed and how thick it needs to be. When I used the McLoed lightened steel flywheel, throwout bearing and street extreme clutch with a t56 magnum xl it required a 1/2” thick spacer to get 1” preload. Currently running the same flywheel and throwout bearing with a RXT clutch and the T56 mag. It required the same 1/2” spacer.
You can find the spacers in various thicknesses at Summit Racing.:driver:
 

Jason Dowdy

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Ok that makes sense. Mcleod told me to use calipers if I can to measure but I don't have any. Will a measuring tape and a straight edge not work?
 

Midlife Crises

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Yes a tape measure and straight edge is all you need. You should find more than one discussion about the TOB preload if you do a search.
 

Juice

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It blows me away you guys talking about half inch spacers for the slave. I used the 250 thousands shim Tremec supplied with the magnum xl. Just wow.
 

Midlife Crises

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It blows me away you guys talking about half inch spacers for the slave. I used the 250 thousands shim Tremec supplied with the magnum xl. Just wow.
Did you measure the preload or just throw it together with the parts you had?
 

DieHarder

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Ok that makes sense. Mcleod told me to use calipers if I can to measure but I don't have any. Will a measuring tape and a straight edge not work?

You can get a decent 6" caliper for ~$5 - 8 (plastic) or <$20 (steel) at Harbor Freight (if my memory isn't completely gone). I use the plastic one for just about everything unless I need finer precision.
 

Midlife Crises

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Yes, I confirmed the shim thickness needed. Been working now for four years and 3 days.
So you did need a shim. 1/4” thick. Why are you so shocked I needed more. Going strictly by the numbers I needed a 3/8” shim to be at one inch preload but I had a 1/2” shim on hand. What were your numbers? Tell us how perfect you set it up!
 

Jason Dowdy

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So I searched Jegs and all they show is the Ram spacers but it says T56/Tr6060. Will that work? Mcleod has some but there is only one size. .200 thick. Im guessing I would buy more and stack them if need be?
 

Midlife Crises

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You should measure first but yes the one that fits the tr6060 will work. It is the same bolt pattern. I bought mine from Summit and they have them in several different thicknesses. What transmission are you using?
 

Jason Dowdy

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You should measure first but yes the one that fits the tr6060 will work. It is the same bolt pattern. I bought mine from Summit and they have them in several different thicknesses. What transmission are you using?

Its just the stock Tr3650 with a new Ford slave with a Mcleod extreme street clutch and there billet steel flywheel.
 

Midlife Crises

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Your gonna run a tranny made for 350lbs. of torque with a clutch that will hold 700 ponies! Cool. Of interest, I measured the Ford, the Exidy and the McLoed TOB and they are the same length. Chances are you will need a 1/4” to 3/8” spacer to stop blowing slave cylinders apart. Don’t forget to use longer bolts to attach slave with spacer. Also nicer spacers are machined on both sides to fit the mounting surfaces and not slip around. No wiggle!:driver:
 
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Jason Dowdy

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Your gonna run a tranny made for 350lbs. of torque with a clutch that will hold 700 ponies! Cool. Of interest, I measured the Ford, the Exidy and the McLoed TOB and they are the same length. Chances are you will need a 1/4” to 3/8” spacer to stop blowing slave cylinders apart. Don’t forget to use longer bolts to attach slave with spacer. Also nicer spacers are machined on both sides to fit the mounting surfaces and not slip around. No wiggle!:driver:

I don't have a RST or RXT. I have there street series. Its good for 550-600 I believe. I had a 3v in the past with a Vortech that never gave any issues with a Spec stage 2 making 520hp. Went auto in it just to go faster. Im fairly easy on the 3650 cause I know it won't last if I dont. Thanks for all the help btw.
 

Midlife Crises

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McLoed lightened steel flywheel, street extreme clutch and pressure plate. Notice the disc has welded itself to the flywheel. Worked fine until it didn’t. Replaced it with a RXT and we’ll see how it holds up to the little 3 valve and 4,000 rpm launches.

AE1C3D20-2BD6-438D-B444-8D9C72FF5854.jpeg

AAE4983E-92B8-4F7A-B9B7-8A27F3CE47A4.jpeg
 

Jason Dowdy

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McLoed lightened steel flywheel, street extreme clutch and pressure plate. Notice the disc has welded itself to the flywheel. Worked fine until it didn’t. Replaced it with a RXT and we’ll see how it holds up to the little 3 valve and 4,000 rpm launches.

View attachment 77735

View attachment 77736

Damn that doesn't help my confidence lol. I have pulled this trans 3 times so I guess it isn't a big deal. Luckily I am a tech for Chrysler so I have a lift I can use.
 

Midlife Crises

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McLoed says I overheated the clutch. I don’t know how that could happen.

B80FE667-3730-4928-B2C5-F5F1BE5E1C28.jpeg
 

Jason Dowdy

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Yea that may do it lol. One last question. When I measure the preload do I compress the tob until it bottoms out to measure from it to the bellhousing? I read on one post to remove the spring so it will bottom out???
 

Midlife Crises

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For the measurements we are going to use the transmission and engine matting surfaces as the reference. They are fixed points and can only be influenced by a block plate or shield. The hydraulic throwout bearing should be unmolested and bolted to the transmission. The flywheel, clutch and pressure plate should be bolted and torqued to the engine. Measurement #1 is from the throwout bearing face to the straight edge across the mounting flange.

0FAA1585-5A95-4BCD-A668-F258967B1907.jpeg
 

Midlife Crises

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For measurement #2 I do not have engine out to display but I do have a pressure plate. Pretend this is mounted. Place the straightedge across the fingers and measure to the engine block flange.

EA306744-9BB6-4AA8-A273-C6FAD4D2E081.jpeg
 

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