how screwed am I. Went to replace the slave cylinder in my driveway. Figure 2 hours tops until I went to put a wrench on the bolts.
So was it the slave cylinder that failed or just a pin-hole leak? Not sure now.
Well I put PBblast and heat to bolts and the valve got very warm so that’s probably bad now anyway.

Heres the question would it be better/easier to buy a new line (“line C” apparently)and splice it in above the rot?

And if those thru bolts break off- I’ll have to cut the slave cylinder and drill out the bolts, ya?

Frozen bolts (red arrow) and corroded line (purple circle)

 

Top bolt came out. Cut the plastic shoulder off of cylinder, shear head off on purpose which left me with a stud. Heat+pb blast + vice grips= successful removal of the stud..
I guess now I need to order and install hydraulic “line c”

 

"I feel your pain"! :( Seems as though the simplest jobs can turn into a nightmare in a heartbeat. WRT slave cylinders, I've found that, if they ain't broke, don't fix 'em.

 

100% but it was weeping and my clutch stuck to the floor. Had to pull it up. Went thru the typical diagnosis and pointed to the clutch slave.
I was thinking 2hr job. What a fool. Haha

 

Been there too.
Could be worse...
I thought it interesting to notice that you had some sort of "plumber's" strap over the slave...It reminded me of a friend who had run into a huge problem doing the same job:
He had broken one of the bolt "ears" on the transmission in an attempt to break loose one of the slave cylinder bolts that was totally seized.
Now, having only one bolt to hold the slave in place; he had to improvise some sort of way to compensate for this in order to hold the slave in place to the trans.
He'd wound up using a small block of wood and the same "plumber's" strap in a similar manner in the photo you'd previously posted above.
For a moment I'd thought that was the same case for you as well.

Glad to hear it's not and you are able to move forward.
Good luck.

 

Had the broken ear problem myself. It doesn't take much for that sucker to snap. This is how I repaired mine: https://www.ebay.com/itm/152938281105 . It's a little pricey but it works.