After clutch installtion problem

[Srt4RacerDave]

To make a long story short - I installed my new Fidanza 4.3 clutch. Installed a new throw out bearing and a pivot ball joint. We put the tranny back in. When I press the clutch petal down, it has a little resistance for the first inch and then slides down and sticks. We taped the lines so I didn't have to bleed it, but I figured maybe bleeding it would fix my problem. I take out the bleed screw and no fluid comes out. It is like there is no pressure through it at all. This was the first problem I ran into doing my clutch job. I'm 99% sure everything else is connected and torqued correctly. What could my problem be? I know some people might suggest my slave cylinder is bad but everything worked fine before I put in the new clutch. What am I missing?

 

[-TunedDSM-]

First thing you need to do is thoroughly bleed the system and check your master and slave cylinders for signs of leaking.

 

[Boost92awd]

Well if your taking the loosening the bleeder screw and no fluid is coming out you've found your problem. You need to bleed the slave till you get fluid coming out of it.

 

[Srt4RacerDave]

I checked for leaks and had cardboard under the car, no fluids are to be found.

 

[Boost92awd]

Are you sure your bleeding the slave the right way?

 

[Srt4RacerDave]

Yeah a friend who's done clutch replacements more times then I can count is helping me with it. He showed me how to do it and we got no fluid out of the lines.

 

[Boost92awd]

Your 100% sure you have no leaks? Have you checked for a pinched or kinked clutch line?

 

[da_reeseboy]

The master cylinder isn't leaking by the clutch is it?

 

[Srt4RacerDave]

Like I said I have cardboard under the car and didn't see any fluid. I thought to check for this first too but didn't see anything.

 

[da_reeseboy]

If the master cylinder is leaking it would normally be inside the car by the clutch pedal and would puddle under the carpet instead of draining outside onto the ground. I doubt that is it but thought I should specify just to make sure we're on the same page.

 

[-TunedDSM-]

If your master cylinder is leaking it will leak onto your drivers floorboard. Pull back the boot on the slave and if there signs of fluid there its on its way out.

If you aren't getting any fluid out of the bleeder valve, you either have a leak, kink or no fluid in the lines. Keep adding fluid into the reservoir while bleeding.

 

[Srt4RacerDave]

Thanks for the clarification - I didn't know that about the master cylinder. I just went outside and checked inside of my car. I didn't feel any wetness under the clutch peddle. I guess it is possible there is no fluid in there, but, how was I driving beforehand? I'll have to check for kinks in the line now.