Clutch pedal issue

[aajj1987]

ok im sure this has been beaten to death but here I go. new clutch kit, master cylinder and slave cylinder.... when I drive the car the clutch works fine. I adjusted and blead the system per service manual excessively. but after I drive about 15 to 20 miles the clutch gets real stiff and feels like its move its engagement point to the top of the clutch pedal so there is no travel at all. as a matter o fact when this happens if I give it gas the clutch will slip. the only cure ive been able to perform is when she gets real tight and starts slipping I go and crack the bleeder on my slave real quick lets a little bit of fluid under extreamely high pressure come out and it feels like the engagement point goes back to were it was. any suggestions. slave and master were installed to spec. but was wonder whats all this about different length slave rods? its a 96 tsi fwd.

 

[andrew k]

sounds like your master cylinder rod isnt adjusted properly and you have your bleeder valve blocked off.
Edit: heres a link to a good vid of what im talking about http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYJxQyjIhUw&feature=youtu.be

 

[aajj1987]

awesome video im gonna give it a whirl today when I wake up . hopefully that fixes it

 

[bewstin]

Hey i had this EXACT same problem last week after doing my rebuild. I just had to adjust the clutch pedal. There's a 12mm nut behind there that's on a worm gear. Very easy to change. Loosen the jam nut and spin it out a few times. Then adjust the worm gear to where the pedal has a little bit of play before you feel the resistance of the clutch pressure plate. I found if i had the pedal adjusted too tight, it would be fine at start up, then get very very stiff like you said after 15-20 minutes, this is because the check valve in the master isn't working properly. Just adjust the pedal and you will be all set!.

 

[aajj1987]

I will let yall know how it goes... was gonna do it today but its raining so im going to go work on the z28 at the shop.

 

[aajj1987]

Ok I adjusted my pedal got it perfect, but does this sound like a bleed problem? I drive the care a few miles and the pedal goes soft... but I never lose clutch... I pump it once or twice before I use it and it come right back? does that sound like air in lines still or a leak? I have sat still with the clutch in to see if it leaks enough to back out and start moving but it does not. so I think the system still holding pressure its just weird to me?

 

[bewstin]

Yes you could have air in the system, and you also could have the pedal adjusted too loose now. Its hard to find the sweet spot. Try bleeding it first.

 

[bcracecar]

Ok I adjusted my pedal got it perfect, but does this sound like a bleed problem? I drive the care a few miles and the pedal goes soft... but I never lose clutch... I pump it once or twice before I use it and it come right back? does that sound like air in lines still or a leak? I have sat still with the clutch in to see if it leaks enough to back out and start moving but it does not. so I think the system still holding pressure its just weird to me?

I would bleed it again. Try to grab a friend to help you out. Have them pump the clutch a few times and then hold the pedal to the floor. While the pedal is held in, open then bleeder on the slave. You will then get a nice squirt followed by a stream of fluid. Repeat this multiple times until all the air is out. Make sure you don't let the reservoir run out of fluid otherwise you will have to start all over.. I broke the bleeder loose with a wrench before I started the process. That way I could open and close it with ease during the bleeding. Just make sure you get it nice and tight when you are finished.

If you are still having this issue and believe that the clutch is adjusted properly, you may have a leak somewhere. Usually when the pedal goes soft then stiffens up after pumping, that is a sign of a leak somewhere. Try to bleed it and see where you get with it. Good luck!

 

[aajj1987]

problem solved... just bled the hell out of it and it is staying stiff hopefully it stays that way... im going to order a steel braided line for clutch and install to be safe.