1981 s3 clutch problem: it's in or out no inbetween!

hi guys had a search round the previous threads but not found an answer yet so....here's the scoop: she's an 88" petrol s3 from 1981. the problem is the clutch pedal is seriously short on travel. I have replaced the slave cylinder and bled pints of fluid. there appear to be no leaks.
the gears change fine and there's no apparent clutch slip. The pedal comes up fine and needs pressure to take it to the biting point then there's only a wee bit more travel and the pedal's on the floor.
What's the scoop guys and girls?

Is the clutch knackered? (but it's not slipping, and I thought the the pedal would be engaging at increasingly higher points rather than almost at the floor)
Wrong slave cylinder? (matched them on the work bench first and they looked the same)
Other adjustment? (haynes book say's there's none to be had)
Master cylinder knackered?
Or....

Awaiting your combined wisdom and experience...there's a whole weekend waiting Cheers folks!!

slave cylinder bleeding nipple is on top?
pedal return spring missing?

if not: take a look through the access hole on the bellhousing. Sounds a bit like the clutch release bering doesnt return properly.

Or the flexible hose has collapsed.


The list is sorted by amount of work to check it!

....or, the clutch has a pushrod from the slave cylinder to the clutch operating lever - this can wear at the slave cylinder end. Do a search, there was a thread some years ago about this that gave the correct length. You can replace this without splitting the engine/gearbox.
The clutch operating lever has a pivot which has a ball sitting in a bearing - this could be worn. Or the springs in the clutch cover might have given up the ghost.

Check the pedal pivot points
If they are worn then half the movement is just taking up that wear

Air in the system???

Telboy111 said:

Air in the system???

Click to expand...

He said he bled it. That's why i said bleeding nipple might be lower side, as it's a common problem when people fit em

ok fellas:
she's bled..nipple to the top, return spring there, no appreciable wwear on pivot, hose looks ok.
so release arm worn OR is the rod the wrong length??? When I got her (she had been standing for a good few months)the travel on the clutch pedal was woefully short (pedal moved fine but no action till the last inch or so, replacing the cyinder has made no difference BUT the cylinder I took out still had most of its gold finish, although boot was split.
I've seen posts on wrong length of slave cylinder rod but no mention of how long they should be. anyone know?
thanks

id check push rod for master cylinder first ,nuts can come loose leaving little pedal