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Subject:Re: clutch pedal failing, how long to failure
From:John Brush
Date:Mon, 20 Nov 2006 15:33:44 -0500

>
>My clutch today started grabbing when the pedal was almost at the floor.
>Did the searches and looked a few things over:
>
>1.  Fluid level high....above max actually
>2.  No leak at master cylinder
>3.  No leak at slave cylinder
>
>This all happened in one day.  How long before complete failure, I can't
>get to a shop for a few days and have lots of driving to do.  I will try
>bleeding tomorrow, but I suspect that may be a temporary fix.

As was mentioned, it sounds more like the hydraulic system than the clutch
itself. If you want to "prove" it to yourself :-) before investing, bleed
the system at the clutch slave, which sits on the transmission. If you have
air in in the system, this will clear it and put the clutch pedal play back
where you remember it. If there is a leak, it will soften up again, but at
least you know its not  the clutch itself.

For reasons which I cannot explain, and which make me look like I don't know
what I am doing :-) my pedal went to 'the board" one morning, so I bled it,
and six months later, its still fine. I  can find no signs of any leaks
either, so I just keep using it, until ....... <g>

You can do it with some help pushing the clutch pedal while you open and
close the slave cylinder, but you will do a much better job with a pressure
bleeder, or even the old favorite, MightyVAc, found at Harbor Freight kind
of stores.

Might be worth a try?

HTH,

John

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