Clutch Bleeding
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: NH
Clutch Bleeding
What do people use to pressure bleed the clutch hydraulic system? I am done with all the kabookee dance lifting this and turning that and 300 pedal presses. I had my wife down helping me do the FSM procedure for hours til I thought she was going to divorce me and there was STILL air coming out. This is after following all kinds of suggestions online which probably got more air in there for all I know. So what do the pro's do, which mity vac or motive system should I get to take care of this once and for all.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 10
From: That one city...you know that one. Idaho
For somewhat faster bleeding I use a vacuum bleeder, and practice being a madman by pumping the clutch pedal a lot.
The rest of the time it is the same just no vacuum bleeder.
Last year the clutch and DMF flywheel needed changing, I tried all of the suggested methods to use a push style clutch and I could never get the hydraulic thow-out bearing to not leak. One time I thought it was not leaking and drove to a store about 30 miles at one of the busiest intersections the master cylinder ran dry. I had a small bottle of dot 3 in the car filled the master, and pumped the clutch pedal like a madman for about 20 seconds and it worked great until the master ran dry again (while pulling into my driveway).
The rest of the time it is the same just no vacuum bleeder.
Last year the clutch and DMF flywheel needed changing, I tried all of the suggested methods to use a push style clutch and I could never get the hydraulic thow-out bearing to not leak. One time I thought it was not leaking and drove to a store about 30 miles at one of the busiest intersections the master cylinder ran dry. I had a small bottle of dot 3 in the car filled the master, and pumped the clutch pedal like a madman for about 20 seconds and it worked great until the master ran dry again (while pulling into my driveway).
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 37
Likes: 1
From: Avondale Arizona
I just replaced the clutch master and slave on my '92. I had a terrible time trying to bleed it the old fashion way. Having someone press and depress the clutch while I opened and closed the bleeder valve on the slave cylinder. I found the easiest way to do this without using a power bleeder is once the slave and master are filled with fluid you push the plunger in on the slave cylinder to force the air out of the top of the system. Leave the cap off the master and when you push the plunger in on the slave you will hear air escaping from the master. It's easiest to have someone watching the master to see when air stops coming out. I did this 4-5 times and I had a really firm clutch pedal. I found this little trick from searching these forums. Hope this helps.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 482
From: H-Town Texas
I just used one of those simple little one man bleeder kits. Put a little fluid in the bottle, and attach the hose to the slave bleeder. You'll have to empty that little bottle a couple of times, but after that it didn't take too much pumping to get it right. Note, that all you're really trying to do is get all the air out of the slave. Once you do that, the system is designed to be self bleeding.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: NH
Is there a particular model you would recommend? they range from $50 to $300 on Amazon. With all the time I have wasted on this job, I would have been better paying someone to do it so yea, cost isnt a problem if it saves time, but dont want to over specifiy. Pretty sure I got a bad master cylinder out of Advance Auto, there is fluid on the seal where the linkage is so I am going to be starting over.
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,426
Likes: 165
From: Motor City
Is there a particular model you would recommend? they range from $50 to $300 on Amazon. With all the time I have wasted on this job, I would have been better paying someone to do it so yea, cost isnt a problem if it saves time, but dont want to over specifiy. Pretty sure I got a bad master cylinder out of Advance Auto, there is fluid on the seal where the linkage is so I am going to be starting over.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,467
Likes: 43
From: Auburn MA
This is what I used.... A big a$$ syringe and i filled it with fluid and injected it directly into the bleeder screw. This forces all the air to come out the reservoir. Just make sure you don't have your reservoir too full
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 993
Likes: 3
From: Iowa
I have their top tier model as I do this type of work for some people on occasion. Any of them with the metal body are very nice as mentioned above. You will love doing brake fluid flushes with it as well if you invest in one. Hit me with a PM if you have any other questions.