Nope, left the flaps in place until the clutch was depressed. The issue didn't materialise until I had driven 15 miles. When it was first tried everything was fine. All I can conclude is that there was air in the system from manufacturing, and that initially it must have worked itself into the wrong point. Given air will rise to the top in a fluid eventually, and because due to time available I had to let it stand for a couple of weeks it must have worked its way to reservoir. After driving it last night there does still feel to be air in there, but is not too bad, also looking at the slave cylinder in the new bracket the free end moves around when depressing the clutch pedal. Reading a post further up, the poster stated they put some zip ties around the slave cylinder as extra insurance. I did that and took the car for another test, and it does feel better. I would say that the whole design smacks of penny pinching. Given this vehicle was designed at a time when Land Rover and Rover were in deep trouble, you can clearly see thins in the components used. I have followed this issue through a number of forums on vehicles using this engine and there is a similar theme, its a pity nobody has come up with a more conventional fix.