Clutch slave

[Froussemaitre]

I've just put the engine back into my '94 sl2.

When I went to check the pedal pressure there was none. I'm not familiar with this type of clutch system. Can it be blead with that little hex that is on the slave. I checked the manual... it said do not touch, top up the system, start the car and check for correct activation.

Does starting the car help?(BTW the car is not ready to be started yet) I don't see how it could(no vacuum lines or electronics hooked up to it).

So... I guess my question is, can I bleed the system, or do I just wait untill I can start the car and hope that this miraculously yields some pedal pressure.

thanks jake.

[wolfman]

The hydraulic clutch system on all Saturns is basically a sealed non-servicable unit. Although you "can" remove the resevoir cover on the clutch master you "should" never have to unless the system is leaking. I am curious as to "how" it got this way as simply doing an engine removal/install should not have affected it. If the slave at one point was higher relative to ground than the master was it is "possible" that any air in the system "could" have collected there or that the fluid could have gravity fed into the resevoir, run over and evaporated with out you seeing it (not likely) (Also, when you disconnected the slave cylinder from the clutch fork did you "trap" the actuation rod to prevent it from hyperextending?) However I am more prone to suspect that there is a misassembly of, or damaged, componant somewhere. Double check EVERYTHING in the clutch system ESP. where the slave connects/pushs the clutch activation fork for proper assembly and that all the parts are there. Then pump the clutch pedal constantly for a while and see if the situation slowly improves or self corrects (it should) If all is well mechanically with the assembly I strongly recommend replacing the master/slave assembly as a unit rather than attempting to bleed it.

[Tycho]

My clutch master/slave cylinder is self bleeding (2001)

[Greg1]

I had the same problem too after removing the transmission to replace the clutch. Was able to bleed the air out with the slave cylinder disconnected from the bell housing and pushing the rod in to push the air back up thru the master cylinder. It has been fine now for 40k miles.

[Froussemaitre]

Thanks for the input guys.
I had tied the slave up higher than the master and it's been like that for a few months. I think that air has become trapped in the slave.
I'm gonna try to pump it out by manually pushing on the actuator rod to get the air out.
I just hope that the release bearing and the clutch fork arn't mis-aligned... I really don't feel like pulling the tranny again.

I'll keep you all posted.

jake

[newt]

Could it be as simple as the slave cylinder pushrod not "finding" home in the throwout bearing arm? I've heard of that before. When I dropped my engine back in, I had to be really careful that the rod was heading in the right direction when I put it through the bell housing.

Just a thought. Maybe you can remove the slave and have someone hold the rod while you push on the clutch pedal (or vise versa). If pedal movement results in NO rod movement, then you have air in the system. If the rod moves, maybe it just wasn't on the throwout bearing arm.

If there was any air in the reservoir in the master and you did, in fact, have the slave elevated a little higher, then that may be the issue. Maybe you could let gravity do the work in the opposite direction to fix the problem and let the slave sit at a lower level for a few days.

Let us know how it goes!

Good luck!

-Wayne

[Froussemaitre]

I did have the slave out and had someone pump the clutch... The slave felt real spoungy, I'm gonna keep my fingers crossed and hope for air in the system.

jake

[Jim Waibel]

I had a similar problem on a 94 SL2. after a new clutch I had next to nothing in pedal. It could be driven but you really had to push against the floor to disengage it. The slightest relaease and you were moving. I tried and tried to bleed the thing out. I had no luck at all. So I broke down (so to speak) and bought the complete system from Saturn. It went in real easy (the master cylinder comes out like the slave. and works just fine. I know the old one got air in somehow, I just could not get it out. BTW the parts cost about $180. I like the car but parts seem high and hard to find in aftermarket. Good luck.

[Froussemaitre]

Fixed the problem....

I just made sure the slave was lower than the master and pumped the shaft for a while. At first it didn't do much, but then I pulled the pedal up as high as I could and I could start to feel pressure comming back at the actuator. I also took the actuator rod out and physically pulled the slave plunger out to try to get more fluid into the slave.

All this seemed to have worked... but I guess the true test will happen when I start her up (should be this week-end)

seeya jake