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Saab 9000 Clutch Master Cylinder Replacement (90-98)

An average vehicle has tons of parts that need to be replaced due to wear. Some of these parts don’t play a very important role in the way the car drives, but there are components so vital that you won’t be able to move a car if they’re not working properly. The clutch master cylinder is one such component.

It’s also one of those things you have to replace as soon as you notice the first signs of wear. Ignoring the issue puts you on a crash course with roadside assistance. If you own a SAAB 9000 made from 1990 to 1998, you can replace the clutch master cylinder all by yourself, and we’re going to show you how!

saab 9000 clutch master cylinder
Photo credit: autowp.ru

Article updated on 12/01/21. Original publishing date 06/29/14

How Do I Know If My Clutch Master Cylinder Is Bad?

There are a few common signs of a bad clutch master cylinder. However, keep in mind that most of these symptoms can be caused by other parts of the transmission system. That being said, they’re a good starting point if you’re suspecting the clutch might be on its way out.

The most common signs include:

  • The clutch pedal getting softer
  • Gears become harder to shift

The clutch pedal should always feel the same, no matter what time of day it is or whether the car is idling or not. If you start noticing the clutch pedal is getting softer on a daily basis, it means that the clutch master cylinder is failing. If there’s enough brake fluid in the system there should be a certain resistance as well.

In case you start noticing that it’s becoming harder to shift gears, the first thing you should suspect is the clutch master cylinder. If it’s failing, you won’t be able to depress the clutch, which will in turn make shifting gears difficult or even impossible.

What Happens When The Clutch Master Cylinder Goes Out?

The clutch master cylinder rarely fails out of the blue. You’ll usually notice some signs before it cylinder fails completely. You should heed those warning signs since complete clutch master cylinder failure will leave you stranded on the side of the road.

One of the signs of trouble is a clutch pedal that sticks to the floor. When and if this happens, there’s a decent chance you won’t be able to shift gears, or shifting gears will become extremely difficult. As a result, you’ll need to get your car towed.

This happens because there’s not enough hydraulic pressure in the system that will pull the clutch pedal back to its initial position.

How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Clutch Master?

When it comes to the SAAB 9000 clutch master cylinder, you should expect a few hundred dollars worth of labor added to the cost of the replacement part.

When the clutch master cylinder is replaced, it’s also recommended that you replace the slave as well, and the lines that connect it all. Combining all of the parts and labor can set you back up to a thousand dollars.

Replacing this part at home is a far more affordable alternative, and for those who don’t mind getting their hands dirty, we’ll show you how to get it done.

How To Replace The SAAB 9000 Clutch Master Cylinder?

If you decide to tackle this issue on your own, you’ll need to have a few parts and a few tools ready by your side.

  • The tools you’ll need for this job include:
  • Flat blade screwdriver
  • 10 mm socket and wrench
  • 13 mm flare wrench
  • A set of pliers

Parts:

The process of replacing the Saab 9000 clutch master cylinder is as follows.

Step 1 – Remove The Panel Between The Pedals And The Dashboard

saab 9000 clutch master cylinder replacement 3


In order to remove the carpeted panel from between the pedals and dashboard, you’ll need to remove a few plastic expanding rivets. If they’re still factory rivets, it’s more than likely you’ll damage a couple of them. Getting a spare set of expanding rivets before starting is a good idea. If you’ve done a handbrake cable replacement on your car, there’s a chance you have some of these lying around.

Step 2 – Cover The Carpet With Plastic And Paper Towels

If you don’t plan on doing a deep clean on your SAAB 9000, it’s recommended that you cover the carpet with plastic and paper towels, so they’ll soak up all the brake fluid that will inevitably spill out during this job.

The plastic cover is used to prevent the brake fluid from reaching the carpet and possibly causing discoloration that will be extremely difficult, or impossible to remove later on.

Step 3 – Remove The Pin At The Top Of The Clutch Master Cylinder Rod

saab 9000 clutch master cylinder replacement 1
The pivoting pin at the top of the pedal must be removed to pull the pedal up and out of the way.

After preparing everything and removing the panel for access, you’ll need to remove the pin that connects the clutch master cylinder with the clutch pedal.

The pin is held in place with a snap clip. Also, make sure to be careful when removing this pin because there are some fragile plastic elements here that can break easily.

Step 4 – Remove The Pedal Spring Mounted On The Firewall

saab 9000 clutch master cylinder replacement 4

Take note of where the pedal spring rests against the firewall. Remove the clip on the pedal that holds the spring in place and remove the spring. If worn, replacement plastic spring guides are available from eEuroparts.com.

Step 5 – Loosen The Fitting On The Hard Fluid Hose

The next step in the clutch master cylinder replacement process includes loosening the fitting on the hard fluid hose just enough, so it can be removed by hand later. It’s located at the bottom of the clutch master cylinder.

You can also move the spring clip on the flexible hydraulic hose, so it can also be easily removed at a later stage of the process.

Step 6 – Remove The Clutch Master Cylinder From The Car

To remove the clutch master cylinder, the first thing you’ll need to do is to remove the two 10 mm lock nuts that secure the cylinder to the bracket. Right after that, you’ll need to remove the two hoses and plug them, so brake fluid won’t drain out.

Once you remove the 10 mm lock nuts and hoses, you’ll be able to remove the clutch master cylinder from the car.

Pro-tip: visually inspect the bracket for damage. It’s not uncommon for this bracket to be damaged.

Step 7 – Fit The New Clutch Master Cylinder

Fitting the new clutch master cylinder should be done in reverse order. When fitting it to the bracket, make sure the fork on the rod on the upper end of the cylinder is in place around the pedal connection. The two 10 mm lock nuts should be fitted loosely at this point, just enough to hold the cylinder in place.

Once the new part is in place, you’ll need to reconnect the two hoses back to the cylinder. Once you reconnect the hoses, you can tighten the two lock nuts properly.

The next step is installing the pedal spring back. After fitting the pedal spring, you’ll need to install the pin back to the connection with the pedal.

Step 8 – Bleed The Hydraulic System

The last thing you need to do in order to have the clutch master cylinder working properly is to bleed the hydraulic system. For this procedure, you’ll need to use a pressure bleeder. By using the old cylinder cap and a simple tire valve, you can make a special cap for this purpose.

You’ll need to start the car and pump the clutch pedal to pressurize the clutch properly.

Step 9 – Fit The Carpeted Panel Back

After the bleeding of the hydraulic system, the last step is fitting back the carpeted panel back between the clutch pedal and dashboard using the new plastic rivets.

Only Use Quality Replacement Parts in Your SAAB 9000

When performing a clutch master cylinder replacement on your SAAB 9000, you should always use quality parts. We at eEuroparts.com are specialized in Genuine, OEM, and quality aftermarket products for SAAB, among other brands.

To find parts for your specific vehicle, all you’ll need to do is choose the year, make and model of your car or browse parts by category. Let us help you get your SAAB back into shape!

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5 thoughts on “Saab 9000 Clutch Master Cylinder Replacement (90-98)

  1. Knowledgeable Saab Tech (and former Saab USA employee) Rick Comes pointed out that the bore of the master cylinder is plated, and that over time the plating will start to flake off which damages the seals. Those flakes can also make their way down the fluid line to the slave cylinder and damage the rubber seals there as well. He recommends detaching the clutch line where it goes to the transmission and flushing with new fluid before trying to bleed the system.

  2. Try checking that the mounting bracket that holds the clutch master cylinder has not cracked, a common fault.
    If yo remove the lower trim panel and press the clutch pedal, you may notice that the master cylinder moves, this tells you that the mounting bracket has started to fail.

    1. Thank you for your comment. I just replaced the Clutch master only to have the mounting bracket break off completely. I am currently looking for solutions to this problem as the bracket looks difficult to remove. If I could get if out of the car I could have it welded. If you have any suggestions to save my aero if would be greatly appreciated. Thank you !

  3. Would love more details on how to bleed air out of the system after replacing the clutch master cylinder. To where are we applying pressure? Is it to the brake fluid reservoir while pumping the clutch? Thanks for the help!

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