Newbie SAAB 900 fan with a clutch question

[LFO]

Hi all. Very new here and I would like some advice.

I have just purchased a nice old '93 4 door saab for £100 with T&T but it's clutch is shot. Thankfully it is easy to get to the clutch but I have become stuck at removing the slave cylinder as I need to put a special saab tool between the release spring of the clutch. Can anyone recommend an easier way or what would be best to use instead of the special tool? Tried some cable but this just became crushed with the spring plate pressure.

[Boosted LS1]

I did it once but it was a pain. You're on the right track though. You need something that won't squash or fall out. Don't use washers or coins. I got it slightly uneven and the clutch used to judder a bit on pickup so persevere. Maybe a leather skipping rope would work?

[oakdale]

I've done this in the past many times using 3/16 brake pipe, you have to get the length right, and bend it roughly into a circle before you fit it while someone applies the clutch pedal.

Copper pipe will do (it does crush a bit) but kunifer is best.

[Boosted LS1]

^ Cool, thanks for that.

[LFO]

Why didn't I think of the brake pipe method?

Cheers people!

[LFO]

Got some copper brake pipe but it seems too fat to fit in the gap. Is it worth crushing it down to size? The gap is slightly bigger than the width of a 2p. Asked at a couple of garages and they just say 'no, don't touch old saabs' which makes me even more determined to do it.

[oakdale]

LFO said:

Got some copper brake pipe but it seems too fat to fit in the gap. Is it worth crushing it down to size? The gap is slightly bigger than the width of a 2p. Asked at a couple of garages and they just say 'no, don't touch old saabs' which makes me even more determined to do it.

It is a tight fit (it needs to be or you won't get the clutch out).

Providing the clutch hydraulics are o/k, you should be able to force it in when the clutch is depressed (sometimes I've had to gently tap it in with a hammer and screwdriver}.
If you still cant get it to fit, get someone depress the clutch pedal and then release it while you prevent the bearing from coming all the way back with a lever or some form of spacer, and then get them to depress the pedal again.

This should give you extra clearance to get the pipe in.

[LFO]

Ohhhhh crap!

Whilst using a puller to get the clutch shaft out the bolt I screwed into the end of it snapped.

I do have a spare shaft. I am guessing I need to drill the snapped bolt out.

Anyone else had this happen to them?! Any tips?

I will not be beaten! Plenty of access to the end of the shaft once the rad is out the way.