Slave cylinder replaced and still not working, bleeding questions...........

[worangejuice]

So i lost 'clutch pressure' slowly last week. The clutch would engage with a 1/4 left of travel towards the floor.
So I've been searching and replaced the Slave Cylinder.
Bleeding of course has been problematic. I removed the (new) slave after installing and held the bleed valve side up. Depressed the rod 4 times and got the fluid to travel through. I assumed it was cool, put it back on and continued to 'bleed'. *manually opening and closing bleed valve while pumping clutch etc.
Still not 'catching' 'clutch pressure'!
and,no, my clutch does not fall to the floor!
This is the only part that confuses me. The clutch stays at the top of its travel, I can press it all the way down and it springs up. But the clutch still has no pressure and is not going in gear.
I read one guy ended up buying a pressure/vacuum bleeder and that seemed to finally give him his clutch back.
There is zero leaking on the master cylinder and all the lines are good. Stupid thing is, I've seen some brake fluid on the ground directly under the brake fluid reservoir, but no hoses cracked or leaks.
I can only think it is possibly the master cylinder now (does not leak) (most say to just replace all components in a 'hydraulic' system.
Or make a home version of the pressure/vacuum bleeder to power it out.

[castros]

Have you checked the clutch master?

[worangejuice]

I checked for leaks, found none, no fluid on floor inside.

[worangejuice]

are there better ways or any tips and tricks to trouble shoot it?
Should I just throw more money at it and replace the master? as it may go soon too?
ughhh

[chasiubao]

double check the clutch master

on top of the clutch master cylinder is a plastic pipe that gets pinched, it causes fluid loss as well as pressure fluctuations when bent.

[worangejuice]

on top of the clutch master cylinder is a plastic pipe that gets pinched, it causes fluid loss as well as pressure fluctuations when bent.

WHOAAA!!!!!
A+++
I will check this out asap!!
Thank you for the kind constructive input

[tim88325is]

I seem to remember quickly pumping the clutch pedal with my hand and after a few minutes, some pressure built up allowing me to bleed as usual for the full travel and pressure. It took a while of moving the clutch by hand...

[jlevie]

The clutch will self bleed if you pump the clutch pedal with your hand a bunch (50-75 times). However, in this case I doubt that your problem is caused by air in the system. It sounds more like you have a bad master cylinder or a worn out pressure plate.

[drumad]

I once went through 3 slaves on my nissan thinking they were all bad and didnt consider the master bc it was brand new. Turns out the master was a POS and the piston/seal leaked horribly in the cylinder. Of course you can't see this either -_-.

All else fails check and replace the master.

[jlevie]

The slave cylinder is a very simple beast. If it isn't leaking into its boot, it isn't bad and this sort of problem will be in the master cylinder. The master cylinder can leak internally with no external symptoms.

[e30huh]

goto Harbor Freight or your local auto shop and pickup a manual liquid tin pump. hook that up to your slave cylinder bleeder screw, open up your MC cap and pump away till you see fluid going into the master. GL

[McGyver]

blunt told me that when i had the same problem it was most likely the master, but that if i didnt replace the slave it would blow from the pressure of the new master. i think i spent $130 for both from him shipped.

[jlevie]

In the absence of mechanical damage, anytime you need to replace one of the clutch cylinders also replace the other.

[worangejuice]

From what I'm reading I think I'll have to do the Master any ways.
I was thinking this morning as I woke up, that the master could be leaking and trickling down the shaft,thru the firewall, and onto the pavement. I saw some leaking brake fluid under the car, but could not find any lines or anything else broken. It looked as if it came off that knuckle thats after the mc in the engine bay.
I want to barf.
Hopefully its the master and not the pressure plate. The clutch felt very firm and strong until this fiasco.
Bleeding these systems is a joke.

Also I checked for a pinched rubber hose above the mc and nothing.
Pumped like a maniac well over 50 times. I got fluid going thru it and filled up half a water bottle, but no pressure.
The MC itself looks rusted and old as poop, like other parts on this 88 I've replaced. :(

[SpecM]

Really tho, the master cylinder can be bad and still not leak externally