Bleed Your Clutch the Easy Way!
04-03-2013, 09:42 PM
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Bleed Your Clutch the Easy Way!
It was not that many years ago that I had to replace my clutch slave cylinder on my first 944. After two nights, brake fluid everywhere, and maybe a few choice words under my breath I successfully got it bleed. 
Over the years I got better at it with knowledge and techniques like jacking up the back of the car, keeping the reservoir completely full, etc but it was still basically a miserable job.
A while back I considered buying a power bleeder and then came up with an alternative that I have now used several times successfully. I already had a coolant pressure tester that I bought from Autozone for $75. I hacked up one of the adapters I never used and attached a bit of hose and with this setup I can bleed the clutch in 5 minutes! With the hose on, I fill the reservoir completely full and even a bit up into the hose. Then apply about 5 psi and after 1 or 2 tries the job is done.
Over the years I got better at it with knowledge and techniques like jacking up the back of the car, keeping the reservoir completely full, etc but it was still basically a miserable job.
A while back I considered buying a power bleeder and then came up with an alternative that I have now used several times successfully. I already had a coolant pressure tester that I bought from Autozone for $75. I hacked up one of the adapters I never used and attached a bit of hose and with this setup I can bleed the clutch in 5 minutes! With the hose on, I fill the reservoir completely full and even a bit up into the hose. Then apply about 5 psi and after 1 or 2 tries the job is done.
04-03-2013, 10:03 PM
#2
Three Wheelin'
Nice ingenuity.
While reading through the shop manuals recently there is a little nugget of info on how to get air out of the lines that I have rarely seen suggested. I've used the pressure method a few times with varying effect, usually deferring to pushing new fluid in from the bottom. I plan on using the book method next time I bleed to see how successful it is (lines are bone dry, so it should be a nice test); it's reminiscent to how I bled my E36 clutch slave, only I had a tool for that which would hold the slave and compress the piston (seen here )
While reading through the shop manuals recently there is a little nugget of info on how to get air out of the lines that I have rarely seen suggested. I've used the pressure method a few times with varying effect, usually deferring to pushing new fluid in from the bottom. I plan on using the book method next time I bleed to see how successful it is (lines are bone dry, so it should be a nice test); it's reminiscent to how I bled my E36 clutch slave, only I had a tool for that which would hold the slave and compress the piston (seen here )
Part or model number for the coolant pressure tester?
04-03-2013, 10:28 PM
#4
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Nice ingenuity.
While reading through the shop manuals recently there is a little nugget of info on how to get air out of the lines that I have rarely seen suggested. I've used the pressure method a few times with varying effect, usually deferring to pushing new fluid in from the bottom. I plan on using the book method next time I bleed to see how successful it is (lines are bone dry, so it should be a nice test); it's reminiscent to how I bled my E36 clutch slave, only I had a tool for that which would hold the slave and compress the piston (seen here )]
While reading through the shop manuals recently there is a little nugget of info on how to get air out of the lines that I have rarely seen suggested. I've used the pressure method a few times with varying effect, usually deferring to pushing new fluid in from the bottom. I plan on using the book method next time I bleed to see how successful it is (lines are bone dry, so it should be a nice test); it's reminiscent to how I bled my E36 clutch slave, only I had a tool for that which would hold the slave and compress the piston (seen here )]
04-03-2013, 11:13 PM
#6
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Trending Topics
04-04-2013, 01:22 PM
#9
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Nice. Cheaper than a Motive Power Bleeder too (which is what I use...)
http://motiveproducts.3dcartstores.c...der_p_115.html
http://motiveproducts.3dcartstores.c...der_p_115.html
04-04-2013, 02:53 PM
#11
Three Wheelin'
I've been using one for the last 8 years, only have had to replace the hose. Make sure you clean the hose out before you put the bottle away for a while, because the next time you go to use it, the hose will blow out spraying brake fluid everywhere. Luckily it was my beater E36 at the time so I didn't really care about the paint damage, but it's something to watch.
04-04-2013, 03:58 PM
#12
It sorta kinda defeats the purpose but I don't actually put fluid in it. I just use the bottle for pressurization. When the fluid gets low in the reservoir I pull it off and add fluid.
Stories of the hose rupturing and blowing fluid everywhere like Scott said scare me.
Stories of the hose rupturing and blowing fluid everywhere like Scott said scare me.
04-04-2013, 04:32 PM
#14
Race Car
It was not that many years ago that I had to replace my clutch slave cylinder on my first 944. After two nights, brake fluid everywhere, and maybe a few choice words under my breath I successfully got it bleed.
Over the years I got better at it with knowledge and techniques like jacking up the back of the car, keeping the reservoir completely full, etc but it was still basically a miserable job.
A while back I considered buying a power bleeder and then came up with an alternative that I have now used several times successfully. I already had a coolant pressure tester that I bought from Autozone for $75. I hacked up one of the adapters I never used and attached a bit of hose and with this setup I can bleed the clutch in 5 minutes! With the hose on, I fill the reservoir completely full and even a bit up into the hose. Then apply about 5 psi and after 1 or 2 tries the job is done.
Over the years I got better at it with knowledge and techniques like jacking up the back of the car, keeping the reservoir completely full, etc but it was still basically a miserable job.
A while back I considered buying a power bleeder and then came up with an alternative that I have now used several times successfully. I already had a coolant pressure tester that I bought from Autozone for $75. I hacked up one of the adapters I never used and attached a bit of hose and with this setup I can bleed the clutch in 5 minutes! With the hose on, I fill the reservoir completely full and even a bit up into the hose. Then apply about 5 psi and after 1 or 2 tries the job is done.
04-04-2013, 05:59 PM
#15
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Swanky, well done Shawn!
Did you 'buy' your bleeder like I did? I borrowed it from Autozone, decided it was a great tool and ended up just keeping it and letting them charge me for it per the agreement.
Did you 'buy' your bleeder like I did? I borrowed it from Autozone, decided it was a great tool and ended up just keeping it and letting them charge me for it per the agreement.