clutch bleeding
04-02-2002, 05:55 PM
#1
Racer
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clutch bleeding
How do you know if you're clutch needs to be bled? I recently bought the car and there are no records on this? Also, how difficult is it to do this?
04-02-2002, 07:40 PM
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I got my 87 NA about a year ago from an older guy who didnt really drive it too much. He told me that the clutch stuck a little bit when cold and should be bled. For about the first month or two I drove it seldomly. I noticed that temperature had nothing to do with it. And after a while it just went away. Shifts fine now. BTW the clutch he had put in a year prior and had almost no miles on it.
04-02-2002, 07:54 PM
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I replaced the master cylinder a couple months ago, and thus had to bleed the clutch. Seems my experience was better than most...I got the speed bleeder from <a href="http://www.paragon-products.com/" target="_blank">Paragon Products</a>. Taking out the starter is a must...hooked it up, ran the speed bleeder through a clear hose to a jar, pumped it till it ran without bubbles (make sure to keep the resivor topped off) and tightened the bleeder down. Be carefull not to tighten the bleeder too much, it will snap off. (Don't ask) 
Check out the <a href="http://www.tech-session.com/Paragon/Tech/944_clutch_bleed.htm" target="_blank">tech session</a>. (Man, is it me, or do I sound like Skip?) <img src="graemlins/bigok.gif" border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" />
Check out the <a href="http://www.tech-session.com/Paragon/Tech/944_clutch_bleed.htm" target="_blank">tech session</a>. (Man, is it me, or do I sound like Skip?) <img src="graemlins/bigok.gif" border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" />
04-02-2002, 08:05 PM
#5
Rennlist Member
Well... you can leave the starter in, but do disconnect the negative battery cable or you can get a nasty spark (don't ask). It's very tight, but quite doable. The Power Bleeder is the hot set-up. It's great for bleeding all brakes and clutch. I agree the clutch slave bleeder screw is kinda winky. Be gentle with it, opens faster than you think.
My factory wrench says you should do the clutch about every other brake bleed. If you track the car at all, that means often. With battery cable disconnected, my 10-year-old son bleeds the brakes and clutch now. Car goes up on thos Rhino Ramps and bleeding the whole thing takes about 30 minutes. Wear safety glasses/goggles (don't ask).
My clutch operation improved dramatically after I did this the first time. Seems a lot of the cars are running around with a little air in there. If you just get the whole system bled by someone who knows what they're doing while you get other service, it'll run about $60. I'm a fan of using the ATE Super Blue, resists water, pretty high quality.
Hope this helps and keep the shiny side up,
My factory wrench says you should do the clutch about every other brake bleed. If you track the car at all, that means often. With battery cable disconnected, my 10-year-old son bleeds the brakes and clutch now. Car goes up on thos Rhino Ramps and bleeding the whole thing takes about 30 minutes. Wear safety glasses/goggles (don't ask).
My clutch operation improved dramatically after I did this the first time. Seems a lot of the cars are running around with a little air in there. If you just get the whole system bled by someone who knows what they're doing while you get other service, it'll run about $60. I'm a fan of using the ATE Super Blue, resists water, pretty high quality.
Hope this helps and keep the shiny side up,