Got a man comming to look at my freelander tomorrow, thought i would do some last minute checks on it, make sure everything was absolutely 100%. Its the little things that make the difference for me when i buy a car. Daft things like handbrake travel and proper wheel alignment can make all the difference when im looking at a car.
Not only have i had it fully cleaned and serviced, put an mot on it and done a few of the little things like new wiper blades and adjust the handbrake, i noticed there was a small amount of play in the clutch pedal. Nothing thats indicating any parts worn, certainly not as bad as others i have felt but as i said, its the smallest things that make all the difference.
I have read on here about people bleeding the clutch before, and i thought as the van is 9 years old its probably needs some fluid change and that might improve the pedal feel.
So as i am sure you have all heard people doing before, i checked and topped up the reservoir, got the missus to jump in the hot seat whilst i cracked off the bleed nipple and got her to do a few pumps. Tighten the bleed screw and tell her to go back to whatever life or death tv program she was watching and cant possibly miss.
So i jump back in the van and give the pedal a feel. Nothing. Sat on the floor like its full of air. I trace the pipe from the bleed nipple and it goes up to the master cylinder. I realise that i had been looking at the brake reservour (and how many times have i read about people doing that??) and i see a lid on the master cylinder. fluid must go in there methinks, probably just ran out of fluid. So i take the lid off and read what it says on the top. Along the lines of dont remove lid. COCK
So i run inside and look for a quick clutch bleed tutorial and find This one
Easy i say, i will just carefully bleed it.
I start off by having the perfect size bit of metal wedged between the seat and the clutch pedal holding it down. Open bleed screw, fluid everywhere. close bleed screw. take metal off pedal then on again and repeat whilst keeping an eagle eye on the level of the master cylinder.
I manage to get slight feel to the pedal, but car is not driveale.
I then doubt my methods and am concerned about the amount of mess i am making and the amound of fluid i have left. I rip off the washer jet hose off my L series and put that over the nipple, its black but it will do. I then half fill a bottle with brake fluid and put hose in the fluid. Open bleed nipple and pump clutch pedal whilst keeping an eagle eye on the levels.
Still no better!
I have now been trying to bleed this clutch for the best part of 2 hours. It wasnt even that bad i was just trying to make it perfect. This bloke is comming to have a look at it tomorrow and its not working.
I have had a good search around and found others in a similar situation Like here
Most people find fitting a new master cylinder works, others replace the whole clutch system. Everyone seems to take it to a garage and they magically fix it.
I am reluctant to replace the master cylinder as it costs over £100 and i saw no problem with the last one, unless i have somehow fecked it up by taking the lid off. Likewise for other parts.
I am farely confident in my bleeding. I only stopped because i ran out of fluid and daylight.
What are peoples thoughts? Apart from that i am a grade A twonk? will it eventually bleed or shall i bite the bullet at buy a new master cylinder. Even if i buy that i shall still have to bleed it so i will be back to square 1.
I am unsure what to do next really:scratching_chin::scratching_chin:
Not only have i had it fully cleaned and serviced, put an mot on it and done a few of the little things like new wiper blades and adjust the handbrake, i noticed there was a small amount of play in the clutch pedal. Nothing thats indicating any parts worn, certainly not as bad as others i have felt but as i said, its the smallest things that make all the difference.
I have read on here about people bleeding the clutch before, and i thought as the van is 9 years old its probably needs some fluid change and that might improve the pedal feel.
So as i am sure you have all heard people doing before, i checked and topped up the reservoir, got the missus to jump in the hot seat whilst i cracked off the bleed nipple and got her to do a few pumps. Tighten the bleed screw and tell her to go back to whatever life or death tv program she was watching and cant possibly miss.
So i jump back in the van and give the pedal a feel. Nothing. Sat on the floor like its full of air. I trace the pipe from the bleed nipple and it goes up to the master cylinder. I realise that i had been looking at the brake reservour (and how many times have i read about people doing that??) and i see a lid on the master cylinder. fluid must go in there methinks, probably just ran out of fluid. So i take the lid off and read what it says on the top. Along the lines of dont remove lid. COCK
So i run inside and look for a quick clutch bleed tutorial and find This one
Easy i say, i will just carefully bleed it.
I start off by having the perfect size bit of metal wedged between the seat and the clutch pedal holding it down. Open bleed screw, fluid everywhere. close bleed screw. take metal off pedal then on again and repeat whilst keeping an eagle eye on the level of the master cylinder.
I manage to get slight feel to the pedal, but car is not driveale.
I then doubt my methods and am concerned about the amount of mess i am making and the amound of fluid i have left. I rip off the washer jet hose off my L series and put that over the nipple, its black but it will do. I then half fill a bottle with brake fluid and put hose in the fluid. Open bleed nipple and pump clutch pedal whilst keeping an eagle eye on the levels.
Still no better!
I have now been trying to bleed this clutch for the best part of 2 hours. It wasnt even that bad i was just trying to make it perfect. This bloke is comming to have a look at it tomorrow and its not working.
I have had a good search around and found others in a similar situation Like here
Most people find fitting a new master cylinder works, others replace the whole clutch system. Everyone seems to take it to a garage and they magically fix it.
I am reluctant to replace the master cylinder as it costs over £100 and i saw no problem with the last one, unless i have somehow fecked it up by taking the lid off. Likewise for other parts.
I am farely confident in my bleeding. I only stopped because i ran out of fluid and daylight.
What are peoples thoughts? Apart from that i am a grade A twonk? will it eventually bleed or shall i bite the bullet at buy a new master cylinder. Even if i buy that i shall still have to bleed it so i will be back to square 1.
I am unsure what to do next really:scratching_chin::scratching_chin:
