Clutch Slave Cylinder Spacer/gasket

[sun tortise]

My '81 240D is missing the slotted spacer that goes between the slave cylinder and bell housing.



Do some cars come with this and some not?


Is it required?


If installed on a 240D that did not have it, could it cause a problem?


I changed the slave cylinder in 2013, and don't remember if i had that spacer or not. Recently a professional installed a new clutch kit, and he may have removed that slave cylinder and left the spacer out. I would not think that removing the slave cylinder would be part of putting in a new clutch.



Thanks for any advice, i am hesitating to order a spacer, but anxious to install my new slave cylinder before the weather gets even colder, and want to do it right, because the previous one failed too soon.

[CDTurbo001]

If the depth at which the clutch pedal actuates the clutch feels right (not too high, not right off the floor) it shouldn't be a problem. I'm not sure of the rhyme or reason to which applications got the spacer, but AFAIK it only makes a small/moderate difference in pedal depth.

[sun tortise]

The previous slave cylinder lasted 7 years w/o the spacer, so i guess i will bolt it up,bleed it and hope for the best.