I searched and saw a few archived posts on replacement of the master cylinder....most people seemed to indicate that it took only an hour or two.

So, I got under the dash and looked under the hood to check this thing out and it looks tough to get at from both sides of the firewall...There's the clutch reservior and all kinds of wiring modules and harnesses in that corner of the engine bay, all above the cylinder. Under the dash is the electrical control unit with fuses, harnesses, and relays that make access to the cotter pin and upper left nut of the cylinder tough.

Can someone let me know :

A) the best tools to use to get at and remove the necessary nuts (both under the dash and in the engine block). How about the cotter pin?

B) which of the obstructions I need to unplug / unscrew and remove / relocate so I can effectively get at the master cylinder from either side. (maybe there are some good tools to eliminate the need to remove obstructions)

C) What can I absolutely not mess with?...I see the yellow sleeved wires under the dash (right where I need to get to) and I assume they are the ABS. Probably can't unplug that. Can I unplug the harnesses above the cylinder in the engine block to get all that wiring out of the way?

Thanks for the help in advance!



Modified by jerry5150 at 4:32 AM 6/10/2005

 

When i did mine i used a stubby 10mm or 12mm combination wrench for the 2 bolts that hold the unit into place. I used a line wrench to undo the hydrolic (sp) line from the unit. I also removed the fluid resivoir (sp) for easier access. To get the cotter pin out i simply used a longer curved tip needle nose pliars. All of this is not in any specific order. and a light of some sort is also very very useful. I think i got everything now?

 

So, a stubby (4 inches?) combo wrench worked for getting at that upper left nut under the dash? Did you have to remove anything under the dash other than the foot rest to the left of the clutch?

I'd have to go buy myself a line wrench set for the hydraulic line nut....any particular length on that one? I assume you have to get the wrench in there by going in at an angle between the wheel well (biggest obstacle) and the brake master cylinder..there's only 5 inches maybe between the wheel well and the firewall, barely even enough to maneuver the cylinder into place let alone work a wrench down in there.

Thanks!