EMERGENCY HELP PLEASE: Clutch/Slave & Brake Bleeding on Lemons car

[DrewC]

We had a leaky slave in the off-season and replaced it. After that date (I didn't do the install), I bled all the brakes with a Motive power bleeder.

Is it normal for it to just dribble out of the bleeder screws? Seemed odd to me that it came out so weak.

Fast forward to today, our clutch is slipping in testing for the race TOMORROW.

Is the brake bleeding scenario normal, or is it an indicator that the slave wasn't bled right and has some air in it or something?

Just trying to avoid replacing the whole damn thing as time isn't on our side and the car is at the track and not in a garage.

Any help is very appreciated!

[newman]

I made a pressure bleeder for my car for 15 bucks in about 10 minutes, it works AWESOME, check it out:

http://onyxsyndicate.com/newman/e30gtr/e30gtr_121.html

[jlevie]

If the clutch is slipping, that won't be because of air in the clutch system. The only reason for a clutch to slip is a worn out clutch or a problem with the pressure plate. in either case the only solution is a new clutch.

When using a pressure bleeder fluid won't flow from the calipers at a very high rate. It takes more than a minute to get 100cc out of a caliper.

[DrewC]

Is there any adjustment that could be tweaked in the pedal or anything?

The clutch wasn't slipping in the last race. Only after replacing the slave.

[newman]

Is there any adjustment that could be tweaked in the pedal or anything?

The clutch wasn't slipping in the last race. Only after replacing the slave.

Are you sure you have the correct slave cylinder in there. If it's too long it won't allow the pressure plate to fully engage? Is the the pin inserted all the way into the detent on the actuator? (I've never seen an e30 transmission before, lol, but i'm just speaking generalities)

[DrewC]

Item Name Item Price Quantity Item Total
--------- ---------- -------- ----------
21-52-1-116-300-M33 $28.25 1 $28.25
Clutch Slave Cylinder, 318i (1984-85), 318i/is/iC (1991),
325/e/es/i/is/iC/iX (1984-91), M3 (1987-91) Brand: FTE

----------------------------------------------------------------------
21-52-1-156-673-M33 $31.00 1 $31.00
Hose, Clutch Slave Cylinder To Master Cylinder, 318i (1984-85),
318i/is/iC (1991), 325/e/es/i/is/iC/iX (1984-91), M3 (1987-91) Brand:
FTE

[turbo325i]

The slipping clutch is a mechanical thing. It could have been developed by air in the slave system by not allowing the clutch to fully disengage.

You know you have to bleed the slave separately from the brakes. It uses the same master cylinder but is its own system and needs bled independently from the brakes.

[newman]

The slipping clutch is a mechanical thing. It could have been developed by air in the slave system by not allowing the clutch to fully disengage.

You know you have to bleed the slave separately from the brakes. It uses the same master cylinder but is its own system and needs bled independently from the brakes.

The clutch and brakes definitely do NOT use the same master cylinder, lol.

[JGood]

Definitely not caused by air in the system. All that would do is make it hard to disengage the clutch (it would release with the pedal close to the floor, or not at all). A slipping clutch means there isn't enough mechanical grip left between the disk and pressure plate. All slave cylinder's should be the same length for e30's, so your best bet would be to pull it out and make sure the rod is seated properly, next step is clutch job.

[turbo325i]

The clutch and brakes definitely do NOT use the same master cylinder, lol.

I should have been more specific. The clutch gets its fluid from the brake master cylinder, but the systems are separate.

[884door]

I should have been more specific. The clutch gets its fluid from the brake master cylinder, but the systems are separate.

No the clutch gets it's fluid from the same reservoir as the brakes, but the master cylinder is completely independent.

[turbo325i]

No the clutch gets it's fluid from the same reservoir as the brakes, but the master cylinder is completely independent.

Exactly what I said above. It shares fluid, but has its own slave cylinder.

[884door]

Exactly what I said above. It shares fluid, but has its own slave cylinder.

No that's not what you said. I think you are under the impression that the brake master cylinder and the fluid reservoir are the same thing.

[turbo325i]

No that's not what you said. I think you are under the impression that the brake master cylinder and the fluid reservoir are the same thing.

No, im not. I meant reservoir. :) please excuse me when I said they shared the same master cyl.

[884door]

No, im not. I meant reservoir. :) please excuse me when I said they shared the same master cyl.

No problem. Sorry if I seemed like an ass. I just wanted to clarify for you that the 2 systems (clutch+ brakes) are totally independent.