Fizzy Clutch Fluid

[Kiliwizz]

I changed out my brake pads last night, and bled them whilst I was at it - and the clutch (and checked the torque on the suspension ready for S2K Sat ).

I had immense amounts of air in the clutch fluid!! First it came out foamy... then just loads and loads of huge bubbles, long after new fluid was washing through.

Does this mean the master/slave cylinders are shot? (more $$$, reduced chance of convincing S.O. to let me have new tires)

[POS Racing]

Was the slave leaking or have you been loosing lots of fluid in the reservoir?

I had a similar issue a little grease around the bleed screw kept it from sucking air. YMMV

[Treibenschnell]

...whilst...

Now I know you're really English!

[Kiliwizz]

What ho chaps, huzzah, rather! Don't get your knickers in a twist, but let's all have a nice cup of tea. More tea, vicar? (etc etc etc)

I didn't think of the bleed screw leaking, but then I don't have a mityvac so I'm blowing and not sucking. However, the fluid did get very low in the reservoir at one stage and I think I might have sucked some air through the system (d'oh)

[POS Racing]

Had you noticed that the reservoir was loosing fluid prior to bleeding the clutch? Was the boot wet on the slave itself??

[Kiliwizz]

No, there wasn't any noticeable fluid losss, no wetness, I squeezed the boot and no fluid came out. The fluid was black, but I understand that's just ageing of the rubber o-seals etc in the system.

The later bubbles may be due to me running it dry, early ones weren't - and they the fizzy bits!!

[trackdog]

The blacking of the fluid is coming from your rubber clutch hose, replace it will give you a more solid linear feel. Slave cylinder kits are about $7-8 dollars from the local auto parts store and are a no brainer to rebuild, a one minute job, pull the old part out and push the new part in (more or less). I do stock the braid clutch lines.

Gary

[blackzx3_13]

I'm blowing and not sucking.

[jolberry]

I'm guessing he is pressure bleeding...

[POS Racing]

I'm guessing he is pressure bleeding...

I don't have a mityvac so I'm blowing and not sucking.

Nope he is doing it old school!

Here’s how to bleed the clutch hydraulic system, the old fashioned way. Get some clear tubing about 0.25 inch inside diameter, maybe a little smaller, even (this is a Home Depot item). Then take a clear jar or bottle and pour about 2 inches of brake/clutch fluid in it. You'll probably need a couple 12 ounce bottles of DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid, so you can flush a bunch of it through the system. Stick one end of the tubing on the bleed valve and the other end in the fluid in the bottle. That will keep air from getting sucked back up into the tubing. You need an 8 mm wrench to open the bleed valve. Turn it only about a half-turn. Then just start stepping on the clutch while keeping the reservoir filled, and checking the tubing every few pumps to see what's coming out (takes a lot of running around the car). When the pedal feel firms up and it looks like clean fluid is coming out, you are probably done. This is the one-person method that I just made up as I went along, it's a lot easier with another person to help. Also, when you do the slave cylinder, while all the fluid is out of the system, pull the reservoir out of the master cylinder (it will pop right out if you pull hard enough) and wipe that sucker out with a paper towel. Mine had about a quarter inch of muck in the bottom. Believe me, if I can do this, anyone can, I am no mechanic.

[jolberry]

(takes a lot of running around the car)

Sounds like fun...