repair or replace clutch slave cylinder

[rutger kohler]

Hi, whilst my clutch works perfectly, I have noticed a pesky drip from the rubber shroud on the front of the clutch slave cylinder, onto my painted garage floor.  As parts have to be sourced from either Germany or the USA, to NZ, the freight is extremly expensive.  My question is, has anyone repaired a clutch cylinder successfully or should I just replace the whole cylinder?  If no one has successfully repaired one it might be more cost effective to get a new cylinder rather than a repair kit?

Interestingly the slave clutch cylinder appears to be the older version, accodring to pictures in the Haynes repair manual, whilst the car is a 1969 280SL with 129,000 miles on the speedo.

[Bonnyboy]

I have not repaired a 280sl Slave cylinder but have rebuilt ones in my old MGBs and BMWs and have seen everything from easy rebuild to garbage due to a rusted bore.  When I got my car one of the first things I got was a rebuild kit.  Then one day I asked at the parts counter about a new cylinder and it was so cheap I just bought one.    I am prepared to rebuild the old one first so I can see what actually fails and if that doesn't work replace with a new one.   I like having new replacement items on my shelf but really like rebuilding items where I can. 

If your car is not as much of a toy to you as mine is to me, I would suggest getting a whole new cylinder but make sure that the one you get matches the one you have as there appear to be differences.

I think I paid about $35.00 for a rebuild kit and $75.00 for a new cylinder (he may have given me a deal-I can't remember).

I tried to rebuild my brakes as well and that didn't go so well - I bought all new ATEs instead.   

[w113dude]

Buy a new one. not worth it.

[georgem]

The repair kit is really only a couple of rubber seals and a rubber boot, but you are wasting your time if you don`t do something with the cylinder bore. You can hone it or have it re sleeved with stainless - although still probably cheaper to get a new one, even with the Kiwi freight penalty. The benefit of repairing esp with re sleeving is that it will last forever and you know it will fit. Happy for you to send it to me for stainless re sleeving  as I have a cylinder recon company 10 min drive away.

[rutger kohler]

Guys,thanks for that, good advice.  I think I will get kit and look at hone or rebore  at this point.

cheers
Rutger K