Clutch Bleeding Problem
09-09-2011, 11:47 AM
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Clutch Bleeding Problem
My clutch felt like it had a lot of play and was very soft so I decided to flush and bleed the fluid. I unbolted the bleeder valve and let all the old fluid leak out. I cleaned the cylinder that was filled with black gunk. Poured in fresh fluid and began bleeding. The I used the 2 people technique. (One pumps while the other opens / closes the bleeder while watching the reservoir.
1. Fill the master cylinder with fresh dot 3 or 4 brake fluid. With the bleeder valve closed have the person in the car pump the clutch pedal a few times then hold it down.
2. Open the bleeder valve and watch all the air bubbles go through the hose and into the cup of water.
3. Tighten the bleeder valve and repeat steps 1 to 3 until no more bubbles show up. Make sure to keep an eye on the reservoir.
Strange thing is, while we are pumping the pedal is getting stiffer. We repeat the steps until we see no more bubbles. As soon as I take the car off the jack stands and hop in the car for a test run, the pedal is no longer stiff but is very soft. Is my slave cylinder shot? Or is it supposed to build pressure while bleeding and then disappear after a minute or two?
1. Fill the master cylinder with fresh dot 3 or 4 brake fluid. With the bleeder valve closed have the person in the car pump the clutch pedal a few times then hold it down.
2. Open the bleeder valve and watch all the air bubbles go through the hose and into the cup of water.
3. Tighten the bleeder valve and repeat steps 1 to 3 until no more bubbles show up. Make sure to keep an eye on the reservoir.
Strange thing is, while we are pumping the pedal is getting stiffer. We repeat the steps until we see no more bubbles. As soon as I take the car off the jack stands and hop in the car for a test run, the pedal is no longer stiff but is very soft. Is my slave cylinder shot? Or is it supposed to build pressure while bleeding and then disappear after a minute or two?
09-09-2011, 01:19 PM
#2
I've only done this once, but what I thought was that you never want the reservoir to empty. You don't want air into the system. Here is a DIY: http://forums.s2kca.com/showthread.php?t=12154
It sounds like you are saying you emptied the entire system? If so, you could still have air in there. Also, I dont know about the pumping before opening. I believe you just open the valve, press the pedal to the floor once, close the valve, then lift the pedal. Repeating this until fluid is clear and lacking any air bubbles.
It sounds like you are saying you emptied the entire system? If so, you could still have air in there. Also, I dont know about the pumping before opening. I believe you just open the valve, press the pedal to the floor once, close the valve, then lift the pedal. Repeating this until fluid is clear and lacking any air bubbles.
09-09-2011, 06:45 PM
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I've only done this once, but what I thought was that you never want the reservoir to empty. You don't want air into the system. Here is a DIY: http://forums.s2kca.com/showthread.php?t=12154
It sounds like you are saying you emptied the entire system? If so, you could still have air in there. Also, I dont know about the pumping before opening. I believe you just open the valve, press the pedal to the floor once, close the valve, then lift the pedal. Repeating this until fluid is clear and lacking any air bubbles.
It sounds like you are saying you emptied the entire system? If so, you could still have air in there. Also, I dont know about the pumping before opening. I believe you just open the valve, press the pedal to the floor once, close the valve, then lift the pedal. Repeating this until fluid is clear and lacking any air bubbles.
09-09-2011, 08:30 PM
#4
Yes but you still don't empty the system completely. This is why it's called a clutch bleed. You don't want air to get into the system, which means you never want the fluid empty from the reservoir at any point (either while driving or during the actual bleeding of the clutch)
If you read the DIY fully, you will see what I mean. You are simply letting old fluid out while putting new fluid in. Little by little, the fluid will get clear.
If you read the DIY fully, you will see what I mean. You are simply letting old fluid out while putting new fluid in. Little by little, the fluid will get clear.
09-15-2011, 09:12 AM
#5
Yes but you still don't empty the system completely. This is why it's called a clutch bleed. You don't want air to get into the system, which means you never want the fluid empty from the reservoir at any point (either while driving or during the actual bleeding of the clutch)
If you read the DIY fully, you will see what I mean. You are simply letting old fluid out while putting new fluid in. Little by little, the fluid will get clear.
If you read the DIY fully, you will see what I mean. You are simply letting old fluid out while putting new fluid in. Little by little, the fluid will get clear.
It's much like bleeding the brake lines.
09-15-2011, 09:28 AM
#6
Originally Posted by T-S.M.A.C' timestamp='1315629014' post='20959860
Yes but you still don't empty the system completely. This is why it's called a clutch bleed. You don't want air to get into the system, which means you never want the fluid empty from the reservoir at any point (either while driving or during the actual bleeding of the clutch)
If you read the DIY fully, you will see what I mean. You are simply letting old fluid out while putting new fluid in. Little by little, the fluid will get clear.
It's much like bleeding the brake lines.
09-15-2011, 09:42 AM
#7
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Unbolt the slave, point the bleeder straight up, and open it. Gravity will push the air right out. One man job, no pumping at all.
It is near impossible to get the air out with the slave bolted to the car.
It is near impossible to get the air out with the slave bolted to the car.
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09-15-2011, 07:53 PM
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listen to the man. did mine in 10 mins but had someone pouring fluid in as i was bleeding it
06-25-2013, 01:55 PM
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Originally Posted by T-S.M.A.C' timestamp='1315629014' post='20959860
Yes but you still don't empty the system completely. This is why it's called a clutch bleed. You don't want air to get into the system, which means you never want the fluid empty from the reservoir at any point (either while driving or during the actual bleeding of the clutch)
If you read the DIY fully, you will see what I mean. You are simply letting old fluid out while putting new fluid in. Little by little, the fluid will get clear.
It's much like bleeding the brake lines.