Can anyone think of a reason why a clutch-bleed job that produces great results in the driveway fails within five minutes of a neighborhood test drive?

I'm at the end of a complete clutch system replacement job and I'm using a Motive pressurizer to bleed in both system directions (pressurizing and pushing fluid through the slave nipple up to the reservoir as well as pressurizing the reservoir and pushing fluid down through the slave bleed nipple). After bleeding (when there's no more sign of air bubbles), I'll tighten the bleed nipple and press the pedal for 30-50 strokes and when it clearly gets harder and firmer via the pedal action, I can start the car and cleanly shift through all forward gears and into reverse with no sign of a problem. I have the sensation of completion.

But as soon as I get onto the road for a test drive, the clutch line goes a little soft within five or six stop signs (forward gears are balky in shifting and reverse is out of the question) and I'm back in my driveway doing another round of bleeding.

I've been focusing on areas of possible error.

I was afraid the new master cylinder push shaft might be shorter than the old original but the measurements indicate that they match.

The hole in the clutch pedal for the master cylinder rod attachment is also in great shape; it's the later style with the harder metal inner-sleeve and it's a good fit with the clevis pin. There's no practical slop.

I did NOT use the spring bellows that comes with the new Saab slave cylinder kit, mostly because the old one coming out didn't have it and the job seems easier to install the clutch kit without that thing; I'm not used to working with them.

This is the only thing that I can think of that might be causing me the problem. Everything else is new (clutch kit, slave cylinder, master cylinder, clutch hose, reservoir hose, pilot bearing, input shaft seal) and seems to behave as expected.

Anyone agree? What else could it be?

Thanks in advance.

posted by 166.77.103...

• New clutch problems, blue87, Thu, 27 Jun 2013 14:28:38 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Re: New clutch problems, aka oldsaab, Fri, 28 Jun 2013 15:33:15
  • Re: New clutch problems, Justin VanAbrahams , Fri, 28 Jun 2013 11:21:51
  • Re: New clutch problems, Larry West , Fri, 28 Jun 2013 06:14:28
  • If it takes pumping the pedal to get firm feel, then >>, BobD, Thu, 27 Jun 2013 15:16:03
    • Re: If it takes pumping the pedal to get firm feel, then >>, Cmyles , Thu, 27 Jun 2013 17:33:16
      • I was expecting the bleeding itself ..., blue87, Thu, 27 Jun 2013 19:55:19
        • Re: I was expecting the bleeding itself ..., Cmyles , Thu, 27 Jun 2013 22:27:47
          • system defect or bleeding problem, 1 or tother, Cmyles , Fri, 28 Jun 2013 13:40:57
          • Some recommendations..., walt , Fri, 28 Jun 2013 06:18:37
            • Re: Some recommendations..., bill schultz , Fri, 28 Jun 2013 11:06:16
            • Is there a O-ring seal out of place in the Slave....., vsfoxe , Fri, 28 Jun 2013 10:59:21
              • not sure if you replaced hydrolic hose?, CBS , Fri, 28 Jun 2013 11:49:16
                • Thanks all, will try again this wknd and report back-nm, blue87, Fri, 28 Jun 2013 15:39:47
                  • SUCCESS!, blue87, Mon, 1 Jul 2013 08:59:19
                    • Strange?, Cmyles , Mon, 1 Jul 2013 10:48:54

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