Master cylinder or slave cylinder?

[Rowleym]

Okay, so I the clutch doesn't fully engage/disengage and the clutch fork isnt bent or anything. I tried bleeding the slave cylinder(yes I did it properly) to get some pressure back. Helped a tad bit. But still not enough. The slave cylinder isn't leaking or anything, and it's only extending about an inch with the clutch fully down. Would pressure be lost from the master cylinder? I don't want to order one and not know.

[mk3alltheway]

Okay, so I the clutch doesn't fully engage/disengage and the clutch fork isnt bent or anything. I tried bleeding the slave cylinder(yes I did it properly) to get some pressure back. Helped a tad bit. But still not enough. The slave cylinder isn't leaking or anything, and it's only extending about an inch with the clutch fully down. Would pressure be lost from the master cylinder? I don't want to order one and not know.

I recently had a rebuilt caliper fail and leak out all of my brake fluid. Now for anyone with a hydraulic clutch thats no bueno

Of course this happened to me past midnight and I was stuck so I started the car already in second and limped it home. Soon realized that my brake fluid reservoir was dry and that judo kicking the clutch pedal out of frustration wasnt really helping. Chances are I damaged the seals on the clutch master

Nonetheless, I got the caliper replaced within warranty from MJM and ordered a new clutch master. At first I tried to replace just the caliper and re-bleed the slave since it had ran dry. I noticed a really quiet but inconsistent hissing that could only be heard in pin drop silence. All the air coming out of the bleeder would soon assure me that it was sucking in air faster then I could get it out. Odd part is the clutch master wasnt leaking fluid into the footwell or the firewall. Bleed it with my Motive pressure bleeder, not really a fan of that I must say since I watched all the air bubbles going back into my reservoir. Replaced the clutch master and tried to re-bleed it the 2 person way and it took two weeks for my to find that the brake line going into the clutch master was about a turn and a half loose so it was still sucking in air after the new clutch master

Then I took it into work because we have a vacuum bleeder. It sucks from the bottom rather than pushing from the top like some of the pressure bleeders. Long long story short vacuum bleeding took 2 seconds, was much less of a headache and always double check for leaks before assuming the worst

[Rowleym]

You my friend, are one of those people who make vortex awesome. Thanks a lot. I'll check my lines tonight. After I did my timing chains, not even a full gas tank later this happened -.- it literally went overnight, but I thought i didn't do anything that wrong? Haha. Well I did notice a leak of fluid, but I also have a coolant leak I'm too lazy to address haha.

[Rowleym]

Is their an easy way to tell if the clutch master cylinder is defective or not? Can a slave cylinder go bad and still not leak?

[98GTI_VR6]

when you let it sit u cantell if u have air in the system if u got to pump it up and it gets harder, this only happens when there is air still in need of being bled out....

[98GTI_VR6]

when i do what u did i clamp the hose shut b4 i disconnnect it, then once reconnected it un clamp the hose going to the slave. so that air doesnt get too far in theory, makes bleeding a breaz

[Rowleym]

I'm not quite sure what you are saying? Clamp what before you disconnect what?

[98GTI_VR6]

the soft part on the line going from slave to master... theres a softer section i clamp it shut preventing air from going all the way back and loosing lots of fluid...

[98GTI_VR6]

definately sounds like it to me unless u put your clutch fork on upside down...

[naysayers]

you can take the slave cylinder apart without damaging it.
you take a small flat head screw driver to the concave washer retainer and gently pry it out. once that is out you can pull the actuator pin out. the green boot is connected the pin and it comes out as a unit. What you want to look for is any spilts or rot on the pin gaskets. you also need to clean out the cylinder housing and look down into it will a flashlight. you will be looking for pitting on the cylinder walls.

any gasket spilts or noticable wear and any pitting on the cylinder wall would be grounds for replacement.

if its all good put it back together carefully, prime it and reinstall it. you will need to bleed the system again after this.

[98GTI_VR6]

[Rowleym]

Ordered a new master cylinder before I saw this. I shall check it out tomorrow anyway. Good help so far guys. Hopefully I can drive my damn VW again... Bought it in October and have but 2000 miles on it because it's been broken the whole damn time. I love brokeswagens.

[Rowleym]

Well it wasn't the clutch master cylinder -.- ordered a slave because I saw the leak.

[98GTI_VR6]

that you may have installed the fork wrong?
either air is in system, could be the slave but if that doesnt fix it i'd have to say take the transmission back off and see where you messed up

[Rowleym]

**** that. I never took the fork off? Just replaced the slave. Got a little bit more pressure. Should I bleed it with the slave cylinder attached? Or should I take it off and like clamp it down type thing? I'm pissed.

[Rowleym]

Any help? Still can't get it to work -.-

[vwALLdaWay]

Where did you buy the clutch master cylinder I only ask because some people had problems with cheap replacements. My clutch master cylinder was so bad that I could push the rod in with a finger the new one I couldnt get it to move with my palm.

[Joe05]

Well I just replaced master and slave on mine. Did you bench bleed them first and how are you bleeding the system.

[Rowleym]

Turns out there was no air in the system. It was actually the clutch supposedly -_- I haven't ripped the trans out for the second time in 400 miles yet.