Clutch slip on DSM, clutch or master cylinder?

[speedminded]

A clutch can only slip because the pressure plate cant apply sufficient pressure against the clutch disc & flywheel. So the only ways it can slip are because the clutch disc is to thin, the pressure plate isnt applying enough pressure or because something is applying pressure to the pressure plate. low fluid cannot cause any of these conditions.

Exactly.


The clutch fluid only enables you to disengage the clutch, it has NOTHING to do how much pressure is being applied to the clutch disc. You can physically remove the clutch pedal, master cylinder, hydraulic lines, slave cylinder, etc. and the pressure plate will still be doing it's job. You won't be able to disengage it or shift gears but it still won't slip unless...

It's one of these 3 things:
1) The clutch disc surface is gone.
2) The sprung part of the clutch disc is broken and sticking up preventing the pressure plate from making full contact against the clutch disc. (ask me how i know)
3) The pressure plate/fingers are so worn out it can't apply full pressure against the clutch disc.


*edit*
Also, if it's not grinding gears during shifts or hard to shift and the pedal isn't sticking to the floor then the master cylinder is probably fine. These are both symptons of low fluid or a leaking master cylinder. If you hold the clutch to the floor for say 30 seconds or so and it doesn't come back up on it's own when you release the pedal then the fluid is leaking from around the plunger inside the cylinder. If you have fluid on the inside of the firewall then i'd recommend replacing the master cylinder anyways.