clutch engages low - Page 3

**rkundrat** · #31 (**permalink**) 05-04-2008, 10:42 AM

Alright, good news and bad news. Good news is, the clutch slave and master are in. I was having trouble bleeding the lines with the pressure bleeder. Based on a suggestions I decided to check for a clog in the fluid reservoir. That I found to be clean, but the feed tube running from reservoir to the master had collapsed and kinked a few inches down from the reservoir (out of view till removed.) Replaced that hose (and the broken coolant line below the coolant tank... thanks Jason!) bled the system through and the clutch works beautifully! It disengages very soon, making me wonder about installing a clutch stop. Has anyone done this? I can shift smoothly using only 1/3 of the travel.

Anyway, BAD news is when I pulled the car out of the garage, I was sopping up some spilled coolant and notice a puddle by the passenger rear tire... At first I thought brake fluid, but I can't seem to find where it would be leaking from. While looking I had Amy pump the pedal and I could see nothing. Could this be fluid from the shock? All the brake lines look dry. It did drip on the tire and the rubber swelled slightly. How do I proceed? Thanks.

And thank you everyone for your help with the clutch, it feels better than it ever has!

Alfisto Steve · #32 (**permalink**) 05-04-2008, 12:51 PM

Looks a bit like strut leaking. Is there any fluid around top where shaft comes out?

Looks like strut boot and bump stop are gone. No safety problem but if strut leaking gas charge gone and that side maybe a bit bouncy.

**rkundrat** · #33 (**permalink**) 05-04-2008, 01:49 PM

The top of the strut housing is damp as well. I was thinking brake fluid from somewhere just because that's what i was messing with during the clutch. I was a bit skeptical that it could be pure coincidence that while the car was sitting completely still for 2 weeks the strut just started leaking? There's no bounciness to any corner, all rebound and stop at their top position. It sure looks like its coming from the top of the strut though.

Alfisto Steve · #34 (**permalink**) 05-04-2008, 03:50 PM

If it is left strut then probably brake fluid from working on clutch hydraulic as you say.

Thought it was right strut in picture.

ChazzyD · #35 (**permalink**) 05-04-2008, 05:18 PM

My left rear strut did that too and it drove fine with no bouncy-ness, I went ahead and replaced both rear struts before the bouncy-ness set in. You probably just hadn't noticed the fluid leaking before you started your clutch project. Also, the boot is no longer protecting the strut from dirt and that, no doubt didn't help matters. Those struts can leak quite a lot of fluid before you start to feel it affect the ride of the car. I don't understand the clutch stop question. Your seat should be adjusted so that your left foot can go all the way to the floor, whether your clutch engages early or late. It will take relearning how to drive the car with the new action of the pedal, but the stop should really be the floor, even though you won't have to go that far.
Charles

**rkundrat** · #36 (**permalink**) 05-04-2008, 05:43 PM

Got it... budgeting for struts... I'll definitely will need to relearn the clutch in the car. I've heard of a lot of people (not alfisti) using clutch stops to limit the clutch pedal travel, basically a bump stop that sits below the clutch pedal on the floor. Would that be harming clutch or syncros to shift with a 2/3 pedal stroke if the shifter lever feels to engage and disengage from gears the same as it does pushing the pedal to the floor? I've always pushed it to the floor, but if the clutch is disengaged, is there really a reason to go further?

colo164 · #37 (**permalink**) 05-16-2008, 02:19 AM

Wow good thread as my clutch did the same thing to me today. If you do end up needing struts I have a full set of S struts in my garage I will let go of.

Alfisto Steve · #38 (**permalink**) 05-16-2008, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChazzyD

My left rear strut did that too and it drove fine with no bouncy-ness, I went ahead and replaced both rear struts before the bouncy-ness set in. You probably just hadn't noticed the fluid leaking before you started your clutch project. Also, the boot is no longer protecting the strut from dirt and that, no doubt didn't help matters. Those struts can leak quite a lot of fluid before you start to feel it affect the ride of the car. I don't understand the clutch stop question. Your seat should be adjusted so that your left foot can go all the way to the floor, whether your clutch engages early or late. It will take relearning how to drive the car with the new action of the pedal, but the stop should really be the floor, even though you won't have to go that far.
Charles