Loose clutch pedal

[Erick]

Hey guys, no worries this time, but I just wanted to ask something about the clutch pedal.

Some of you guys may be aware but for those who aren't, my car has been on jackstands for over a week. Today I finished my work on it and it came down from the jackstands and I notice the clutch pedal was stuck all the way in. I was confused as hell, but after I lowered the car, I noticed that the clutch pedal started coming back.

However it's still VERY soft, yet it's drivable.... no big issues. Also, before I lowered the car I had my father sit on the driver's seat and pump the soft clutch pedal some while I was under the car and I noticed some squish noise, followed by a quick leak.... which never turned out enough to drip on the floor, just enough to slide along the tranny itself.

Now for the questions:

Is this tranny oil/fluid leaking from the clutch pedal? Does tranny fluid even come off the clutch pedal?

So far I figure the pedal got completely loose because the car was tilted for a week ( I only have 2 jackstands so the car's rear wheels were on the floor for a week ) and that I have to take a look at that sometime soon.

Thanks in advance,
Erick

[e30Matt]

Perhaps a well timed master/slave cylinder failure?

[Erick]

I'm so lost when it comes to clutches and trannies. :P

I guess I'll take a read in the Bentley to see what I can find, however the symptom seems kind of vague to get an accurate answer from the book.

[Jordan]

If you left the front of the car on jackstands you likely got air into the system. Top off the brake fluid and bleed the clutch. That would be my guess anyways

[Erick]

wait... the brakes and the clutch stiffness are related? ( i feel like this is the n00b-est question )

since th eanswer is probably a yes..... how do you bleed the clutch itself?

[Jordan]

The clutch fluid is drawn from the brake fluid reservoir.

[Erick]

cool didnt know that. I'll look into bleeding the clutch.

At least you can kill 2 birds with one stone now..... as you may have figured the brake lines are also full of air and the brake pedal is also soft, where you have to pump the pedal to stop.

[Jordan]

OK, so I'm sure of it now. You got air in the system. Your fluid was likely way too low to begin with, then jacking it up like that let air into the system.

[Ryan Stewart]

Did you unhook the brakes too? If so you should have plugged them.

Its almost impossible to get all the air out of the cylinder according to my mechanic friend so I am always paranoid when opening up the system.

[Erick]

Yes I did unhook it. I changed one of the rotors that was scraped due to uneven wear of the pads..... one of them wore out and scraped my rotor.

As I changed the caliper most of the brake fluid escaped. And even though I filled up the brake fluid reservouir, I knew for myself that I had air in the system. I cant find a wrench small enough to open the bleeder valve though so tomorrow my friend will help me out.

I just wasnt aware the clutch pedal had anyhting to do with the brake pedal.

[rs4pro3]

7mm is the side of the bleader screw. I love pressure bleeders they make life so much easier oh don't get stupid friends help you bleed the brakes. I asked one of my friends to help me I tell him to pump the pedal and he starts pumping the gas pedal, after a bit i gave up trying to explain to him how to pump and hold the brake pedal.