I remember the first time my S2000’s clutch pedal went spongy halfway through a track day at Buttonwillow. I’d pushed through 30 minutes of hot laps, and every shift felt like I was guessing if the clutch would fully disengage. I wasted two weekends flushing the fluid and replacing the slave cylinder before I realized the weak factory clutch master cylinder was the root of the problem. After weeks of researching reliable replacements, I landed on the Blox Racing S2000 clutch master cylinder as the most cost-effective, high-performance option for both street and track use. If you’ve dealt with frustrating clutch issues on your S2000, you’re not alone, and this upgrade is likely the fix you’ve been looking for.
Key Benefits of Upgrading to the Blox Racing S2000 Clutch Master Cylinder
The factory S2000 clutch master cylinder is built with cheap plastic internal components and weak seals that can’t stand up to heavy use, especially when paired with upgraded performance clutches. The Blox unit fixes these flaws entirely with a fully billet aluminum construction and heavy-duty seals designed for high pressure and high heat conditions. Consistent pedal feel under high heat is the biggest difference you’ll notice immediately, even if you only drive your car hard on back roads. Unlike the factory unit that gets spongy after 20 minutes of hard driving, the Blox CMC maintains the same firm, predictable pedal feel lap after lap.
Longer lifespan than factory units is another huge plus: OEM CMCs typically last 60,000 to 80,000 miles if you drive your S2000 gently, but they can fail in half that time if you track the car or run an upgraded clutch. I’ve had my Blox unit installed for three years and 45,000 miles, including 12 track days, and it still feels exactly the same as the day I installed it. Compatible with all performance clutch kits up to stage 4, too: the Blox unit is rated for up to 1200 ft-lbs of torque, so it works for everything from daily driven stock S2000s to full drag or time attack builds. You won’t have to worry about upgrading your CMC again if you decide to install a more aggressive clutch down the line.
Common Issues the Blox Racing S2000 CMC Fixes Instantly
Most S2000 owners run into the same three clutch hydraulic issues as their car ages, and many waste hundreds of dollars on unnecessary repairs before they find the real solution. The Blox Racing CMC addresses all of these common issues without requiring any extra modifications to your car. Here are the most frequent problems it resolves:
A lot of people assume their slave cylinder is the problem when these issues pop up, I made that exact mistake and replaced my slave cylinder twice before I realized the OEM CMC just couldn’t keep up with my stage 3 clutch. You won’t need to modify your firewall or pedal assembly to fit this unit, either – it’s a direct bolt-on replacement for the factory part, so there’s no cutting, drilling, or custom work required. That makes it a great upgrade even for people who don’t have a lot of experience working on their cars.
Step-by-Step Installation Tips for First-Time DIYers
Installing the Blox Racing S2000 CMC is a straightforward job that most people with basic hand tools can complete in 2 to 3 hours in their home garage. You don’t need any special equipment, but there are a few tips that will make the process go much smoother and prevent headaches down the line. Drain all old brake fluid from the system first before you unbolt the old CMC, this stops fluid from leaking all over your floor pan and ruining your carpet. I recommend placing a small plastic pan under the dashboard near the pedal assembly to catch any stray fluid that drips out during removal.
Next, always bench bleed the new Blox CMC before you bolt it into the car. Skipping this step will leave air trapped in the master cylinder, and you’ll spend hours trying to bleed the entire system to get a firm pedal. Most Blox CMC kits come with a bench bleeding kit included, so you don’t have to buy extra parts for this step. When you refill the system, use only DOT 4 or DOT 5.1 brake fluid, especially if you track your car. These fluids have a much higher boiling point than standard DOT 3, so they won’t break down as quickly under high heat conditions.
Finally, tighten the mounting bolts to the factory torque spec of 9 ft-lbs. Over-tightening can crack the billet aluminum housing, and under-tightening will cause fluid leaks around the seal. If you’re not comfortable working on hydraulic systems, any reputable import mechanic can install this unit for under $150 in labor, so it’s still an affordable upgrade even if you don’t want to do the work yourself.
How to Tell if This Upgrade is Right for Your S2000 Build
While the Blox Racing S2000 clutch master cylinder is a fantastic upgrade for most builds, it’s not a necessary purchase for every S2000 owner. It’s important to weigh the benefits against your specific use case to avoid wasting money on parts you don’t need. If you fall into any of these groups, this upgrade is well worth the investment: you track your S2000 even a few times a year, you have an upgraded clutch higher than stage 1, your OEM CMC is leaking or spongy and you want a replacement that lasts longer than stock. It’s also a great preventative upgrade if you’re prepping your S2000 for a long road trip or a multi-day track event, where a failed CMC could ruin your entire trip.
That said, if you only drive your S2000 1,000 miles a year as a weekend cruiser with a completely stock clutch, you can probably stick with a cheaper OEM replacement CMC. The Blox unit is slightly more expensive than stock, so the extra durability and performance won’t benefit you if you never push the car hard. If you live in an area with extreme cold temperatures, you’ll want to bleed your clutch system once a year to keep the pedal feel consistent, since the heavy-duty seals on the Blox unit are slightly less forgiving with old, contaminated fluid. I do a full brake and clutch fluid flush every fall before the cold weather hits, and I’ve never had any issues with pedal feel in the winter.
At the end of the day, small, reliable upgrades make the biggest difference in how much you enjoy driving your S2000, whether you’re cruising back roads on the weekend or fighting for a podium in a local time attack series. The Blox Racing S2000 clutch master cylinder is one of those rare upgrades that fixes common frustrating problems, lasts far longer than the stock part, and improves performance all at the same time, without breaking the bank. I recommend it to every S2000 owner I meet who complains about clutch issues or is prepping their car for track use, and no one has told me they regretted the purchase yet. If you’ve been dealing with spongy pedal issues or want to add a reliable preventative mod to your build, it’s one of the first upgrades you should add to your list.