clutch pedal on floor
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 456
Likes: 0
From: Homosassa Fl
clutch pedal on floor
I've been away awhile but my C6 is stuck in a parking lot now. 2009 C6 with less than 10k miles and clutch pedal stays on floor and can be easily pulled up by hand. Is this something simple or not?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 14,475
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From: Las Vegas NV
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 456
Likes: 0
From: Homosassa Fl
Pro
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 706
Likes: 56
From: Houston TX
You have a failed master cylinder. It happened to me and it's happened to countless others. And the worst part, not covered by any kind of warranty.
I was quoted over $800 at a local Chevrolet Dealer for the fix. I ended up going to a corvette specialty place and think i spend $450 with an new GM master cylinder.
Good Luck
I was quoted over $800 at a local Chevrolet Dealer for the fix. I ended up going to a corvette specialty place and think i spend $450 with an new GM master cylinder.
Good Luck
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
If it were me,,, I would go to the local auto parts store and get a new master cyl.. Prime it on the bench and install it.
The QUICK DISCONNECT fitting allows you to disconnect and reconnect it without getting air into the system.
If you need help priming it, just ask! Some come primed bit I still do my own just to be sure.
The QUICK DISCONNECT fitting allows you to disconnect and reconnect it without getting air into the system.
If you need help priming it, just ask! Some come primed bit I still do my own just to be sure.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 587
Likes: 11
Can someone please explain how to bench bleed the clutch master cylinder before i try to install it... the auto store one i got didn't have fluid in it, i had a mechanic add fluid to the master cylinder and he pumped it a few times but i don't believe that is all it needs... a few bubbles came out the reservoir, but nothing out the line that goes to the clutch.. seems like there has to be air in that line.
thanks
thanks
Pro
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 547
Likes: 230
Bench bleeding is not too difficult in concept but is not so easy in practice. The hardest part is holding the master cylinder well enough to be able to push in the piston. Once you figure that part out it gets easier. Once you have it held down, you want to fill the reservoir with fluid and be able to cycle the piston in and out.
If you have enough access, and you can put something around the firewall to protect the paint, then you can actually bench bleed it mounted on the car, you just don't hook up the line to it yet.
Anyway, once you figure out how to hold it or mount it, then you fill the reservoir. Once full, the idea is to leave the outlet hole open as you push the piston in and cover the outlet hole as you let the piston back out. This creates a vacuum, which draws fluid into the cylinder between the piston seals. I mostly just use my finger to cover the hole. Cycle the piston enough times that it consistently forces fluid past your finger every time you push in the piston (it won't at first.) Once you've achieved this, then just hook up the line to the clutch, and you're done with the master cylinder. Then just bleed the clutch as normal.
Good luck!
If you have enough access, and you can put something around the firewall to protect the paint, then you can actually bench bleed it mounted on the car, you just don't hook up the line to it yet.
Anyway, once you figure out how to hold it or mount it, then you fill the reservoir. Once full, the idea is to leave the outlet hole open as you push the piston in and cover the outlet hole as you let the piston back out. This creates a vacuum, which draws fluid into the cylinder between the piston seals. I mostly just use my finger to cover the hole. Cycle the piston enough times that it consistently forces fluid past your finger every time you push in the piston (it won't at first.) Once you've achieved this, then just hook up the line to the clutch, and you're done with the master cylinder. Then just bleed the clutch as normal.
Good luck!
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,363
Likes: 543
From: Sarasota FL
St. Jude Donor '25-'26
My old style master clutch cylinder failed on the track. The new GM updated master cylinder (black reservoir) came with the fluid included. No bleeding necessary.
I removed the old and installed the new.
I removed the old and installed the new.
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