Mini slave cylinders are TERRIBLE. Avoid them at all costs.

[@ste1872]

Everyday is a school day were never too old to learn you done well considering how much work it took it didn't look easy either

[@peterstarczewski1726]

Oh man I feel your pain, exactly like looking in the mirror.. My 2004 Mini gives me a lot of headache too, with me solving one problem on it and another comes right away. I am more than half way through now, to change every single part of it, after 4 years ownership. It is truely a terrible car, the worst that I had through the years, but when for a moment no need to service it, I am in love, cause how fun to drive it and is a pretty little gem. Keep up the good work and I appreciate your video!

[@ianbrown9486]

I just bought a 2004 Mini Cooper S in September and I'm in the same boat. Already replaced the motor, supercharger, thermostat and water pump. About $4600 deep and only owned the car about 5 months. Now I'm having an issue with either the shift linkage or the slave cylinder. Mini life lol

[@waynerob11]

this is more common then youd think, the new slave cylinders come with a new o ring for the pipe, and they leave them inside the slave cylinder, sometimes you need to dig them out

[@alexfluxx3358]

I envy your patience. Being red myself, I would have sworn all the way to that final point. Wish you only luck in what you do. This MINI series inspired me so much. You’re 👍

[@JuanSanchez-kv9yl]

Perseverance, patience and some knowhow is the name of the game! Well done, I've gotta do the same job on mine at some point.

[@neilstanghanstanghan4980]

Well done Nino! It just shows the power of walking away and a cuppa tea can really help. So pleased you got it driving!

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Cheers, Neil. Yeah taking a break in the heat of the moment definitely helps. Worked for me a few times on this build so far

[@emeraldaisle2927]

I like to see someone use their ingenuity and skill to solve these problems. Very smart.

[@ksouster6839]

Old school replacing the seals in a cylinder clutch or wheel is the way I did it. Had to replace the seals in my MG midget master cylinder as they don’t make new ones - it’s special 🤣 Keep up the good work, as you said if it all worked first time you aren’t really learning 👍

[@robaustin245]

There is a separate master cylinder for the clutch mounted above the pedal which is fed by the brake master cylinder. This can trap air if correct sequence isn't followed but obviously the second bleed done the trick.

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Ahh I didn’t know that. Always a surprise in store with these cars lol

[@johnmcmurdo5930]

I've just had these 2 exact cylinders replaced yet if I leave car for a couple days it doesn't go into gear....any suggestions on the problem?

[@lambatfitness5474]

I had to bleed it like 3 to 4 times lol

[@chrisshaw6997]

I feel your pain. My fuel pump went 200 miles from home. Lucky a quick tap to the pump got me home. Yet another thing to fix. Leaky radiator is next lol.

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

We’re masochists though lol. We love it really 😅

[@smithiestrackmini]

Never give up never surrender lol... Don't forget regarding the brakes... with new calipers & pads you need to bleed them again & pump the pedal with the engine running for servo assistance to push the pistons hard out against the rotors, then you need to follow the bed in routine to bed the new pads in. Get the car up to 50 60mph hard brake to 20mph repeat 4 or 5 times then the pedal should feel better, if not repeat. PS: chopstick for the piano lol God luck.... 🍀👍

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Cheers bud - will give that a go. Gonna try bleeding the abs system with my computer too and see if that makes any difference

[@londoncentral]

Getting there Nino 👍 Thanks for taking the time to give me the torque settings link 😎

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

My pleasure bud 👍🏻

[@tobym5]

Thanks for the video, it gave me a steer as to what problems I might get. My daughter’s Mini Cooper D 2013 had the clutch pedal sticking down to the floor and not returning. Sometimes it drove fine then it suddenly got really bad so pedal always stuck down and you had to pull it back up. I assumed it was the slave cylinder after doing a quick search online, bought a new one with a litre of dot 4 fluid for £65.00. The old one did look a bit ‘sweaty’ so must have been weeping a bit. Managed to swap the new one out in about 15 mins, I used a different method, I didn’t compress the piston but using a small funnel I primed the cylinder with fluid till I could get no more in and I opened the bleed nipple so it was coming out there too, nipped that up, kept the cylinder vertical and clipped in the pipe straight from taking it off the old cylinder, then opened the bleed nipple and gravity bleed it so no air appeared, nipped it up and reassembled, worked first time, clutch feels so much smoother now, was quite jerky before in changing first to second especially.

[@johncallaghan4616]

Really well done on gettin' 'er rolling - great call on the parallel thinking of 'swapsies' ! Good luck with the brakes and looking forward to seeing the 'she's going for her MOT' test drive !

[@quintincrizp2251]

So much info on fixing these fella …your get there 👍

[@geoffbell2906]

Pull the metal clip almost completely out, check the inlet pipe has an o ring then push the pipe into the slave cylinder and push the clip back into place to lock the pipe in place.

[@anthonyhawkins9239]

Looking nice, take a break like you did with the clutch, you’ve done a ton of work 👍, let’s see this to the end 🤓👍

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

We’re so close with it. Will be a great day when I get that MOT certificate

[@davidhilyer7490]

I’ve been watching a lot of your videos, getting prepared for my mini (Coming Saturday). My wife says we look like brothers lol. Red beard and stocky build lol. Anyways keep it up the videos are awesome ! Cheers from your brother acrossed the pond !

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Thanks for the kind words, David. Always wanted a brother 😅🤣

[@lukas0846]

I know you don't have the car anymore but if you still wonder what the issue was: the end of the pipe that goes into the slave cylinder is corroded and has expended a tiny bit, making it impossible to fit inside that tiny gap of the slave. I had exactly the same issue with mine and replaced the lower part of the pipe and it worked perfectly.

[@MortonLuvz2drum]

The whole lower section? Or just the bottom few inches? I ordered a new section, but it disappears and over the engine somehow. I'm dreading tracking it down as much as trying to repair a small section with a new fitting.

[@lukas0846]

@@MortonLuvz2drum it has a few 90 degrees bends but the lower section start at the top of the gearbox and ends at the clutch lever around 45cm or so. Don't know if it possible to just replace a few inches of pipe

[@vspencer9764]

My little £350 Cooper runs fine apart from a squeaky belt on startup if it’s been sitting for any length of time and was going to do the tensioner and belt plus splash out on a 6 speed conversion. Seeing your videos mate has now made me think twice and I have to doth my hat to you for persevering with that R53 and yours being the last of the R53s is supposed to be the best just think yourself lucky you didn’t buy an R56.

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

If I could go back in time and do this with a different car I wouldn’t. The fact it’s turned out to be difficult to work on is half the attraction. You should definitely give yours a go. Very satisfying when it all comes together 👍🏻

[@sleepercell9926]

Right now, I too am also having terrible trouble with the slave cylinder.

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

My thoughts and prayers go out to you 😅

[@BEYOND-EGO]

Does the e brake also goes off when slave clutch is dead

[@leperri352]

Morning. glad the car is working and on the ground

[@mtfulemming]

Can you film the MOT inspection? Where I am in the States the annual inspection program is a joke, as long as your bulbs all work and your tires aren't bald, you pass. Most shops use it as a way to sell you wipers or brake pads or whatever they have abundance of that day.

[@frafraplanner9277]

In Oregon and California as long as your car isn't emitting too much/certain chemicals, you pass. Doesn't matter what mechanical state the car is in

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Things are much stricter over here. The inspection is really quite comprehensive. I once failed an MOT because the car didn’t have washer fluid in the bottle 🤯 Unfortunately, you’re not allowed to film the inspection.

[@gwiggy8793]

I’m In love with this man 😂

[@rimax82]

I know how you feel. I had this situation more than once 😂

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

You’re not the first one to say that. These Mini slave cylinders are pigs

[@josemendozavalencia2281]

@@NotEconomicallyViable my mini S 2004 has the clutch stuck to the floor and release alot of fluid do you think is the slave silender? Thanks

[@BilloBob1231]

Just avoid minis altogether way too expensive and really bad cars

[@alexertel9368]

That method only works if your bolts aren’t stuck. I cut my old cylinder out and ended up still breaking one of the bolts anyway. In my garage right now trying to press on the new cylinder. Same issue as you.

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

So someone told me in the comments that the problem is with the plastic fitting that is on the end of the pipe that goes into the cylinder. Apparently they expand ever so slightly when they’re old (corrode basically), making them hard to fit in to the new cylinder. One solution is to put a new fitting on, or some people even replace that whole metal hose, but that’s quite an effort.

[@paulburgess1455]

What you mean your close to quitting, you mean your close to getting it back on the road, good thinking with the slave cylinder

[@trevr5372]

I'm goin a clutch on my wife's r50 mini diesel. I've fitted the clutch done everything. But it goes into gear without the clutch any ideas? Like the clutch isn't engaging to the engine?

[@donyel30]

Heat up the end of the clutch line with torch then push it in

[@joeg8186]

Can feel the pain ,

[@JacobWorthington-ej6cz]

Mine did same would seat once I push retaining clip in it pulled it shut

[@garrietaylor9519]

Perseverance is the key

[@pauldyson5121]

Mini R50/53 slave cylinders are extremely difficult to bleed even with a pressure bleeder - like mega difficult. Also the new parts are shit. My 1 year old new BMW slave cylinder (less than 5k miles) has just failed again.

[@steveo6944]

Really hoping youve solved this mate .....but it looks promising

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

I’m hopeful I have this time. But we’ll see. Maybe I’ve fixed it just enough that if I need to I can drive it to a garage and have a pro take a look at it

[@lol_o]

My clutch is hard, but it shifts good, straith in gear it fells like you actauly do it, and you fell that chaing not like in other cars like i stick something in butter and change the gear, and I adore it, expecialy when I drive it harder, so my question is it just a cooper thing it is 122hp, 2010, 1.6, everything is harsh on it I can fell every bump on the road, stearing is so directly, but whwn I sit in b class disel or corsa or polo which are also littel sportyer but not even close to mini. So do I have a problem with a clutch or is it normal on mini to have a little hardr clutch than other cars...

[@fatwalletboy2]

Thats the love hate with cars....get it right and its joyous but you occasionally have to go thru some pain.

[@alexperdigon5801]

How how you get access to it

[@martinbridgland149]

has your pressure vessel actually got any brake fluid in it, i put 2 ltrs in mine

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Yeah got a litre in it. Seen lots of people do this job with an empty pressure bleeder too 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@donyel30]

You still have to put the stick on it for 24 hours to get the air on it

[@ThorMotorWerks]

This is the comment ☝️anyone who has done this will look at this and agree 😂

[@donyel30]

The plastic elbow that on the back of the super charger

[@donyel30]

Ya bleeding clutches on these suck

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Will give it the stick treatment too just to make sure 👍🏻

[@MistahMatzah]

The plastic bodied slave cylinder made by FTE is rubbjsh. BMW should be too embarrassed to sell this part for the 2019 model, but rhats the OEM and it's useless. My car is only 5 years old and Im already on my third one. Im comparing the throw length and bolt pattern to other slave cylinders for Getrag transmissions. Something better has to fit there with a bit of plumbing.

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Yeah that's not a bad shout

[@adamsdrives]

First view and comment! Serendipitous as I’m up getting ready to work on my mini’s clutch. Keep up the good work bud!

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Haha you eager beaver! You doing a clutch change? Or messing around with the dreaded slave cylinder?

[@adamsdrives]

@@NotEconomicallyViable I’ve already fought my way through the valley of slave cylinder. Similar struggles to you except my power bleeder revealed my brake fluid reservoir had a crack in it. Now I’m starting on a subframe refresh and new clutch.

[@van-ubbe]

The easiest way to blead a cluch is by taking a oil can with a hose, and put it on the bleeder nipple. Than press brake fluid up into the reservoar. 60% of the time, it works everytime. Yes i know its 5 year later, but someone maby Google this vid. 😅

[@artfulbodger78]

Persistence does pay off mate.. Sometimes, when you think you're gonna have a day where everything will fall into place and work, it all goes wrong and you end up thinking "That was worth it 😕".. Main thing is.. these are just the small niggly bits that are better to come across and sort now, rather than miles down the road..

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Yeah exactly mate. Working on this car has been a real learning experience and I wouldn’t want it any other way

[@artfulbodger78]

@Nino Rosella thats the perfect way to think.. Big question is.. What you gonna do next, once the mini is done and gone?..

[@georgegonzalez2476]

You need brake fluid in the pressurized otherwise you’re pushing new air into the system.

[@johnmurray3324]

I think your parts supplier got the wrong slave part number

[@donyel30]

Air leak is the plastic elbow to the supercharger

[@ThorMotorWerks]

Charge pipe, intercooler boot or the map sensor on the right hand side of the head which is brittle AF

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Gonna check all these again. I did replace the map sensor tubing, so maybe I haven’t pushed the tube back in properly

[@waynelittle5583]

Those cars are nothing but trouble I did a load of work to my sister's old one new clutch master cylinder the lot and it never drove properly again even my mate who's a mechanic said they are the worst for clutches etc and I told her I would strip it for parts and scrapped the rest seriously the worst cars made good luck

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

I didn’t know these cars were so hard to work on until I started this whole project and everyone started telling me lol. But this is what makes it a great car to learn on for me - pushing my skills to the limit 👍🏻

[@waynelittle5583]

@@NotEconomicallyViable it will definitely do that lol

[@ozboz33]

Crappy peugeot prince engine in R56 minis are even worse. Everything is made from chocolate,most need a rebore by 80k

[@ericktinti5290]

I do they same sh!th hehehe I Hate mini but I love too 😅😅

[@charlietraquair6866]

👏

[@bobbyaxelrod5016]

The clips are 1 time use only clips, you didn't massacre it, it's normal. you ended up doing it correctly. For future reference you can buy a clip kit off amazon/ebay with a multitude of different clips in the kit. Well done tho, Where we all going on a test drive??

[@paulburgess1455]

Maybe to caffeine and machine soon lol

[@MegaAmas123]

Thats pretty racist thing to say about poor little cylinder :D

[@Mark-in5yw]

Dof you bother to bleed the system?