7MT hydraulic accumulator failure

[GI_Jo_Nathan]

Here is a short summary to add/expand on what @tdh1971 is saying:

https://outbacktravelaustralia.com.au/4wd-mods-tech-torque/dual-mass-flywheels-explained/



I’m also interested in this as well. I never installed the Steeda spring because I suspected it would only have minimal effect. The question to my mind is how much this little damper/“accumulator” is responsible for the vaugeness/mushiness of the Broncos clutch. Even if it’s just 20 or 30% (with the dual mass flywheel responsible for the rest) removing it might be a significant improvement.

That's a really interesting read! Never really thought about the potential for transmission damage. Considering possible issues with synchros and whatnot in our transmissions already definitely gives me a little bit of pause. Especially while running the 37s and beating it up off road.

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[GI_Jo_Nathan]

I’m also interested in this as well. I never installed the Steeda spring because I suspected it would only have minimal effect. The question to my mind is how much this little damper/“accumulator” is responsible for the vaugeness/mushiness of the Broncos clutch. Even if it’s just 20 or 30% (with the dual mass flywheel responsible for the rest) removing it might be a significant improvement.

Also I forgot to mention earlier that I originally did the Steeda spring for my Focus RS because it suffered a similar strangeness with the clutch pedal. It's definitely a minimal improvement, but it's also really cheap and relatively easy to do. So bit of a win-win.

 

[Brian_B]

Following.

 

[tdhyden79]

Okay, so I have built and installed the new all metal piece. I have driven it all day today with no problems. The clutch does feel better to me. Before it felt like I was pushing on a balloon, now the pedal sweeps with less resistance and less of a squishy feel. We are going down to Galveston for a long weekend camping trip. I will likely have to pull some people out of the sand and bogs more than a few times, so I will report the performance of the repair when I get back. Here are some pics of the new factory piece next too my delete. As you can see, the orifice in the factory piece is tiny and redirects some of the fluid through alternate passages in the body of the accumulator, this is why it feel like you are pushing on a shock absorber. The metal piece has a much larger orifice that allows a direct high flow passage to the pressure plates.

 

[GI_Jo_Nathan]

Awesome! Good work. Sorry if I missed it, could you post part numbers or links to what you used? Thanks!

 

[AZ_Liberty]

we jump in the Squatch and the clutch goes to the floor...and stays! I only have 40k miles on the rig with mainly commute driving and some occasional offroading.

Same thing last month with about 40k miles. Clutch goes to floor and stays there. Same part blew out. Not even sure what that piece of junk does. Gussing it's sole purpose is to make the clutch feel sqooshy. grrrrr.

Ford Dealer says it's not covered under power train. Drove it to a local shop in 2nd gear. Ford only part and took a week to get from Michigan.

 

[AZ_Liberty]

I wonder if this a common failure for MT Broncos and if there is a better aftermarket solution.

Local dealership claimed that they had "never seen it before" when mine did the exact same thing.

 

[GI_Jo_Nathan]

Same thing last month with about 40k miles. Clutch goes to floor and stays there. Same part blew out. Not even sure what that piece of junk does.

Ford Dealer says it's not covered under power train. Drove it to a local shop in 2nd gear. Ford only part and took a week to get from Michigan.

That sucks that it wasn't covered.

 

[zyglyrox]

yeah a common thing on on VWs is to get rid of the accumulator valve as first too, when i had my mk7.5 it made a big difference as well as my southbend stage 3 clutch.

 

[Brian_B]

Okay, so I have built and installed the new all metal piece. I have driven it all day today with no problems. The clutch does feel better to me. Before it felt like I was pushing on a balloon, now the pedal sweeps with less resistance and less of a squishy feel.

Hoping it goes well. The inconsistency in the clutch engagement with the pedal is the biggest knock I have on the 7MT system - it isn't a huge problem daily driving, but trying to get up rocks and it drives you nuts.

 

[tdhyden79]

Awesome! Good work. Sorry if I missed it, could you post part numbers or links to what you used? Thanks!

Two of these as the broken part is female on both sides.

https://www.tickperformance.com/4an...gmwFgmvZAGeEKrukbq0kp0h14s2xDvQcaAuK7EALw_wcB



And one of these to join in the middle.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/..._Y2kWQOYcAbMIMK7TI33Hew-RnqvILVRoCZskQAvD_BwE



should completely replace the plastic part

 

[GI_Jo_Nathan]

Two of these as the broken part is female on both sides.

https://www.tickperformance.com/4an...gmwFgmvZAGeEKrukbq0kp0h14s2xDvQcaAuK7EALw_wcB



And one of these to join in the middle.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/..._Y2kWQOYcAbMIMK7TI33Hew-RnqvILVRoCZskQAvD_BwE



should completely replace the plastic part

Thanks! Wanted to make sure what you ended up using was what you had planned on.

I'm definitely doing this, may carry this setup as a spare for a little while before swapping. We'll see.

 

[AZ_Liberty]

OP,

Make sure to report this failure to the NHTSA,

Enough of these and maybe we can get a recall.

 

[tdhyden79]

OP,

Make sure to report this failure to the NHTSA,

Enough of these and maybe we can get a recall.

I will do that

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