Shawn,

the master is actually easier than it looks. You do have to drain the
reservoir, remove the lines at the mc, then loosen the bolts and out it
drops. Re-attach the lines before bolting the new mc in place. Some
fluid is spilled in the process, but rags around the area are enough to
catch all of it.

I have found that pressure bleeding from the reservoir is the best
solution. I made a pressure bleeder from a plastic bottle (polyethylene
lab bottle), bike tire valve and assorted fittings and used a spare
reservoir cap. Works like a charm for all bleeding needs!

There are instructions for a bleeder on the web:

http://www.bmw-m.net/TechProc/bleeder.htm

The slave is more awkward due to the bolt positions.

I also have had success in bleeding the clutch by letting the fluid
drip out slowly from the slave, but i don't think this works all the
time. The run of the line from the mc to the slave seems to be
resistant to getting all of the air out. Once I reverse bled it, by
applying pressurised source of fluid to the slave nipple and being
careful not to overflow reservoir. Its a pretty well guaranteed way of
bleeding that line but you have to have clean fluid in the line else
you contaminate the fluid in reservoir, ie you have tried bleeding the
usual way.

Alistair

'82 westy, diesel converted to gas in '94
http://www.members.shaw.ca/albell/

On 22-Feb-05, at 9:14 PM, Shawn Wright wrote:

> Tonight, I bled the clutch on my '82 Diesel Westy. Unlike the brakes,
> which
> weren't bad, the fluid which came out was pretty brown at first. Then
> it got
> *really* dark, followed by an audible squishing sound as my wife pumped
> the clutch slowly. Thinking that can't be good, I closed the bleeder
> and got
> her to try the clutch. No go, very little resistance. So it appears
> either the
> slave or master cylinder, or both, have failed. The noise seemed to be
> coming from the front, so I'm guessing master. Is there any other
> possible
> cause?
>
> I'm guessing replacing the master is a nasty job, right? I only seem
> to get
> that kind lately. :-(
>
> Shawn Wright
> http://zuiko.sls.bc.ca/~swright
> '85 Jetta TD (retired)
> '85 Jetta D
> '88 Westy 2.1L
> '82 Diesel Westy
>