Morten Skaar

Hi, I am doing a brake job with the calipers of the car and going to replace the roll pin and bushings at the same time. I therefore need some education on the brake/clutch hydraulics.. I have a standard 1990 C2.

1. This is one system, has one reservoir and the fluid runs freely?

2. When bleeding the brakes, I always have to bleed the clutch asweel at the slave cylinder bleed screw or at both cylinders?

3. Should the clutch be bleed after the brakes, in between or doesnt it matter?

4. With a pressure bleeder, there will be pressure in the whole system, meaning no pedal movement is required at all for the whole process?

That is all so far, thanks for any help.

Morten

Babalouie

1. Sorta. There's a dividing wall in the reservoir, so brake and clutch do have their own fluid (sorta).

2&3. No, you can bleed only one or the other, you don't have to do both.

4. Yup! No need to touch the pedal.

Morten Skaar

Ok thanks, but just to clarify nr 2, You always have to bleed either one clutch cylinder or you dont have to bleed the clutch at all when bleeding the brakes?
3. So it doesnt matter when since the 2 systems are seperated in the reservoir!?

Rocket Rob

The two systems share a common reservoir. You can do either separately if you want to. If you are bleeding both, the sequence doesn't matter. A pressure bleeder is a great tool. It makes it easy to bleed, with only one person. No need to have someone pressing the pedals.

Morten Skaar

Which brings me over to the next question ! Is it only necessary to bleed the slave or do I have to do both?

Indycam

Both what ?

Rocket Rob

You can bleed just the clutch slave or brakes separately but I would recommend doing both. It doesn't take much extra time and you will already have your pressure bleeder pumped up and connected.

Vandit

I'm assuming he means at the master cylinder and at the slave cylinder.

My answer to that is only at the slave is necessary, since that's all I bled when I replaced my slave cylinder earlier in the year.

As far as order, i'd bleed the slave before the calipers. The fluid pick-up on the clutch circuit is much higher than the brakes, so make sure the reservoir is topped off to the brim (and the overflow line is crimped shut) before you start on the slave, otherwise you'll get air in it.

Indycam

How would a person bleed the clutch slave cylinder without bleeding the clutch master cylinder ?

Babalouie

It's kinda oldschool, but some ppl bleed the master cylinder on the bench, before fitting, by filling/priming it with fluid and then pumping it by hand.

I'd say this isn't necessary if you got a power bleeder, tho.

tbennett017

Very important, especially if the master cylinder is old, that you don't pump the pedals too far. You run the risk of picking up dirt or schmutz from pushing the seals out of their 'comfort zone'... the finely polished active area in a brake MC for example. It can score or damage the seals in a master. I've seen M/Cs fail shortly after a bleed done improperly this way. That's another reason why the power bleeder is a great tool.

Indycam

Is this an answer to the question I asked ?

Babalouie

Yes

anto1150

+964

Turbohead

Don't forget to pinch the over flow tube if you use the power bleeder.
Elliot