Clutch feeds from higher on the reservoir as a safety (your clutch will stop working before your brakes quit).  This could enter into the bleed order as a matter of convenience, at least. 

Karl Wolz
Sent from my electronic umbilicus

On Aug 2, 2013, at 8:29 PM, Scott Daniel <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM> wrote:

> Doesn't matter at all which order- - brakes or clutch first.
> 
> They share a common resevoir ..otherwise they have nothing todo with
> each other.
> Don't let the level get below the clutch line feed on the side of the
> reservoir of course.
> 
> I'd sure fix the brakes though, as a first step.
> 
> odd situation really....
> do you bleed the clutch and get it working again ...
> while you know the brakes leak ..?
> 
> or do you fix the brakes first , bleed them, then go after getting the
> clutch blednext?
> 
> technically , which you do first doesn't' matter too much.
> I would fix 'what is for sure broken' first though....the brakes.
> 
> Hopefully the whole system wasn't operated with really old watery brake
> fluid until 'finally' there was a very noticeable symptom ..
> the clutch not working.
> If really old watery BF was left in there a long time..
> you could have several tired leaking cylinders..like both rear brakes,
> clutch slave ..
> even clutch master and brake master.
> 
> also ...if the clutch hyd parts are 'onthe edge' ..like almost failing
> ..sometimes doing anything ..
> like trying to bleed new fluid in,    will blow them right out.
> 
> It's true for all hydraulic systems ..if they are old and shakey ....but
> just barely working still,
> 'doing anything' can push them right over the edge into not working at all.
> 
> In all cases a good thorough Inspection is a great first step.
> Then you'll know a lot better about how to proceed.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On 8/2/2013 7:55 PM, Ed Duntz wrote:
>> Apologies to those reading this post on the Samba as well, but I'm
>> covering
>> all my bases.
>> 
>> I've got to bleed my clutch and brake system. I think I know the
>> procedures
>> for each, but I'm not sure in what order to do them- clutch first, then
>> brakes, or the opposite?
>> 
>> I've had a slow leak in the brake system which escalated and has
>> caused my
>> reservoir to get low enough for the clutch not to work. I'll be replacing
>> the wheel cylinder, which I think is the source of the leak (though I
>> haven't taken the wheel off yet) and I want to get the bleeding right.
>> 
>> Although I don't have the Bentley manual in front of me, I think I can
>> find
>> it before I try to do the job tomorrow.
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> Ed
>>