Bleeding Clutch

[Rylinkus]

I have a vaccuum pump, though I may hook up an actual shop vac to save the effort. In any case, I should be able to fill the res., keep the pedal up, crack the bleeder valve, and suck out the air?

[steves93gt]

that would just waste alot of fluid. are you doing it alone or do you have help?

[n8r]

The way i was tought (by a mazda mechanic) was to jack the front of the car up do its on a good angle. This is so it is easier for the air to get where it needs to go, Up.

-Crack the bleeder (8mm) and place your finger over it with light but constant pressure.
-Have someone inside the car pump the clutch pedal with their hand. Once you start getting fluid come out with every pump of the clutch, have them hold the pedal down and tighten the bleeder.
-Now have the person to pump the pedal around 10 times, then tell them to hold the pedal down while you crack the bleeder to release the air in the line.
-Repeat the last step until no more air is able to be bled. I did that step about 10 or so times.

[steves93gt]

that about sums it up

[Rylinkus]

Unless one of you guys is coming to my place to help me out here I'm flying solo on this one. I tried the pump the pedal concept with the GF when bleeding the Miata's brakes. Somehow it didn't work. So....

[steves93gt]

im gonna guess you dont live around pa, huh?

[Rylinkus]

Maine is sort of around PA....

[U2SLO]

I bled mine by myself.. I pumped the pedal about 30 times then took a stick and put it on the pedal and put it up against my seat. Went out cracked the bleeder, closed it and so on and so forth. Took me about 30 minutes and i was back to normal pressure.

[steves93gt]

a little to far for me to help. i never had to bleed my clutch alone i wish i had an answer for you.

[n8r]

just call a buddy and offer beer. it alllwayyys works!

[Rylinkus]

just call a buddy and offer beer. it alllwayyys works!

I want my car early tomorrow morning. Everyone I could call is working, out of town, or too damn lazy to get up early enough to help. I'm trying to take my Probe to thanksgiving stuff as it does a bit better on gas than my truck and is more comfy and fun to drive.

[davmac]

Cheap one man bleeder available at every auto parts store is tubing with check valve. You just connect to the open bleeder valve and put one end of the tube into a container. Just don't let the reservoir run dry. Speed bleeders will work the same way except the check valve is built into the bleeder valve itself. Both of these methods can allow some air in past the bleeder valve threads so loosen the valve only enough to get fluid to flow.

Plain tubing can also work if the other end is submerged in brake fluid.

[bschussler]

i usually have my gf give me a hand with that... I like that idea using a stick or something wedged on the clutch pedal after you pump it..... I know ive had times when i was tempted to ask old ladies or neighborhood kids to give me a hand.. its a pain in the ass waiting to get a buddy to come over sometimes.... good luck!