re: Clutch master bleeding (archive)

If I'm not mistaken, the brake fluid reservoir has the line going to the clutch hydraulics - tapped midway - out of the reservoir. Thus, unlike bleeding brakes where the fluid reservoir can go empty, one wants to be sure that the fluid level is topped up as high up to the brim as can when bleeding fluid coming out of the clutch slave cylinder.

About a year ago, I encountered the same sopping fluid all on the carpeting problem, I not only replaced the clutch master, but also the clutch slave located on the transmission (altho not required). THis part was an additional $35. THe way I saw it, if the master leaked, the slave's not that far behind. Rather bleed everything once... y'know ?

As for bleeding, I didn't have much luck bleeding the clutch hydraulics correctly on the first pass with my former E28 535i. So knowing how unsuccessful I had experienced then, when I tackled the job on my E21 323i, I pumped the fluid in reverse (ie, connect the hose at the clutch slave fitting and pushed fluid out and into the reservoir. My reasoning is that the weight of the fluid would evacuate air bubbles out of the master and slave cylinders more effectively under resistance against gravity. I use a mighty vac pump, which can either push or pull fluid, from an auto parts store. I have also seen this pump available for loan at no charge at Autozone.,

THe results turned out good for me. I got a firm pedal on the first pass.

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