My catch point is changing...

[Sean]

Ok, so about a week ago, I was trying to run cruise control into my car, and I accidently yanked on my clutch hose - running thru the firewall. I look inside the car to find brake fluid gushing everywhere.

I catch it until it stops, am really pissed at this point too.

After examining stuff, I realized I had busted the plastic elbow hose fitting leading into my master cylinder.

So, after a LONG time of working on it, I finally got it replaced without removing the actual master - I used the one of my parts car which was in good condition. I bought two new ones too just in case.

When everything was hooked back up, I started by bleeding the system wrong. At first, I just had someone hold the clutch pedal down, and I'd open the valve, let fluid out, then do it again after the helper let the clutch go back up - then they'd puch it back down.

So, that wasn't working. We hooked up the pressure bleeder to it, I had my helper pump the pedal about 5-6 times, then hold it. I removed a bunch of air, and waited until it seem there was just constant fluid coming out.

Well, now my clutch pedal doesn't even come ALL the way up - it stops about an inch fromt eh top of it's range of motion. I can pull it up, and push it down with ease - so that one inch of travel is doing nothing at all. Not only that, but my catch point is continually changing.

For example - I have a clutch stop in my car. Yesterday morning I go to start my car, and my clutch hadn't fully disengaged. I started the car like this... Oh well, it's ok... :| But, I had to remove my clutch stop so I could fully disengage it. By the time I got where I needed to go, it had gone back to the catch point where it was before. This sounds like air in the lines - I think. If not - what else could it be?

Just so you all know, my clutch slave AND master are BOTH brand new. They have less than 5000 miles on them, so they shouldn't have gone bad...I wouldn't think.

I think that pretty much covers everything. before any of this happened, my catch point was consistant and my clutch pedal travelled it's full range of motion, so I'm not sure what's going on. Maybe I just need to rebleed it again?

So...yep, suggestions and ideas welcome! Thanks!!

[Addissimo]

you just didnt bleed it properly... You need to attach the power bleeder, pump the pedal up, release the valve, pump the pedal, release the valve, keep doing it untill it springs back all the way. Its one of the biggest pains in the ass ever... if you're hard core like me, you can do it alone :) you're taller than me, so your arms are definately long enough haha... have fun.

-Addis

[AdamF 88iS]

Clutch bleeding can be tricky. You may have gotten all of the air out of the system properly, but the often take quite a long time to feel normal through their full range of motion.

[E304life]

At the shop that I work at we always bleed it from the bottom. To do this
you need a phoenix brand bleeder or a hardware store oil can with a
vacuum hose attached to it. Connect the vacuum hose to the bleeder screw of the slave cylinder and crack the screw open. The start pumping
unitll the pedal returns on its own . This method has taken me anyware from 10 min to about 45 min. Your hand will be sore when you are done.

good luck :D

[Sean]

It's nice to know it's not my master or slave.

I'll get to bleeding it again sometime soon. I was running out of brake fluid before, but I have a whole liter now.

I'll letcha guys know how I do.

[James Crivellone]

I always gravity bleed mine and it works out great, I guess I just have better luck doing it that way.

nice and firm too

[Sean]

Do you just leave the bleeder screw open, and let the fluid flow out while holding the clutch down?

[Addissimo]

When I did it- i opened the bleeder screw when i depressed the pedal, closed before the pedal was completely depressed- pulled the pedal back and repeat-eventually you'll get enough pressure in there to push the pedal back on its own- keep going untill it pushed back all the way with lots of pressure.

-addis

[AndrewBird]

Here is how I bleed brakes. It does require two people, but i've never had brake problems. My father, a mechanic for 15+ years, taught me this method.

One person is in the car pumping and one person is on the bleeder screw. With brakes, make sure you start at the furthest brake from the master cylinder. Use a piece of tubing on the bleeder and a bottle to catch the fluid. With the bleeder closed, pump the pedal until it is as firm as it will go. 3 pumps should do it. Then, as the person inside the car puts pressure on the pedal, the person under the car opens the bleeder screw. Then, when the pedal is all the way down, the person outside the car closes the bleeder. Then just pump up the pedal a couple of times and restart. Do this until no bubbles or crap comes out of the hose.

Also, make sure the fluid resivour stays full. If it gets low, you will suck more air into the lines. It also helps to have some fluid in the bottle and submerse the tube in it to prevent air from backfeeding into the cylinder.

[Addissimo]

hes bleeding his clutch slave cylinder- a bit trickier than brakes...

[AndrewBird]

hes bleeding his clutch slave cylinder- a bit trickier than brakes...

No, it isn't.

[Addissimo]

ask anybody who has bled an e30 slave and they'll tell you its considerably more difficult.

[erik325i]

After I replaced my clutch (including master and slave cylinders), I bled it basicly the same way Andrew (NitroRustlerDriver) described.

Had somebody pump the pedal then hold it down. Open the bleeder valve, close the bleader valve. Pump, open, close. Pump, open close. I just did that untill there was enough pressure in the pedal, and there were no more bubbles comming from the line on the slave sylinder.

[Addissimo]

great if you have another person to help... otherwise you need a power bleeder and about 30 minutes... I bled all four brakes in half the time it took me to bleed my slave.

[Digitalwave]

hes bleeding his clutch slave cylinder- a bit trickier than brakes...

No, it isn't.

You don't own or drive an E30, so please don't talk when you obviously don't know.