How to Bleed a Hydraulic Clutch
Bleeding the hydraulic clutch on a vehicle is important to the safety of the driver and others on the roadway. To avoid potential problems with your braking system, flush the system every two or three years or as soon as you experience a problem with your brakes. One surefire sign that your hydraulic clutch may need bleeding is that the brake pedal feels soft underneath your feet when you press it, which means there's air somewhere in the line.
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Things You'll Need
- Hydraulic fluid
- Floor jack
- Jack stand
- Plastic hose
- Plastic container
- Adjustable wrench
Instructions
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1
Park the vehicle on a flat surface before chocking the rear wheels and setting the parking brake. Open the vehicle hood. Pour new brake fluid (DOT 3 or DOT 4) into the master cylinder. Jack up the vehicle, and place jack stands underneath. Lock both the jack and jack stands for extra safety. Locate the bleeder valve on the top left of the bell housing, and take off the dust cap.
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2
Connect one end of the bleeder hose to the brake bleeder valve, and put the other end of the hose into a clean plastic container. Release the bleeder valve so that the brake fluid can run out of the clutch master cylinder and hydraulic line into the slave or release cylinder and out of the plastic tube. Close the bleeder valve as soon as the brake fluid becomes bubble-free.
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3
Reopen the bleeder valve and have an assistant slowly press the clutch pedal down to the floor so that the fluid will come out the plastic hose. Close up the valve as soon as the assistant notifies you that the clutch is almost to the floor. Ask the assistant to get off the clutch pedal.
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4
Release the pedal fast so that the fluid flows down the stream, reducing air bubbles. Repeat this step, allowing about two seconds each time the pedal releases, until the line is clear of air bubbles.
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5
Add fluid back to the proper level in the reservoir. Replace the dust cap on the bleeder valve, and lower the vehicle. Check the fluid level and test the clutch before using the vehicle.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not allow the master cylinder reservoir to run low on fluid, as this causes air bubble, resulting in your having to start over.
