quote:Originally posted by Joules5:
Jan,
This is indeed strange, I think we shoudl step back and analyze the situation prior to changing too much more. To help me understand a little better I have some questions;
1. What were the symptoms that caused you to change to the long throw slave?
2. Even though you couldn't vacuum bleed, you managed to manually bleed the new slave correct?
3. You drove the car, how did the clutch feel, did it slip at all?
4. With the bleeder open/removed do you get fluid when the clutch pedal is depressed (like a manual bleed)
In your MC photo it looks like the MC plunger is all the way back against the circlip. The easiest way I find to tell is to loosen the two bolts in the front trunk bulkhead that hold the MC to the bulkhead, if the MC is forced off the bulkhead by residual pressure the rod is set too long. But if this wasn't an issue previously changing the slave would not affect it.
Julian
Yes, this is all pretty strange. I decided to change the slave because it was leaking slightly and shifting was a little difficult, and I saw the throw was pretty small. So, time to change and I figured go with the long throw. On the new slave I was finally able to bleed somewhat by pushing in on the slave rod with the bleed screw open, then closed the bleed screw and returned rod to normal. I did this a few times and I suppose it drew some fluid in. (I had about 1/4 inch play there, and I suppose that did it). By the way I can now bleed excellent from the bleed screw with the vacuume pump on the bleed screw (go figure!). When I first drove the car around with the new slave, I didn't have that much throw, although it shifted ok. The more I drove it the stiffer the pedal became (now real stiff, especially at the top of the pedal movemnet - da wife could hardly press it). But I figure that is probably how a long throw is supposed to be, although maybe not that strong at the top. I figure it is real hard now at the top because the slave rod is partially initiated and won't return all the way. That slave is freakin awsome though for throw distance, it seems it is at least 2 inches throw distacne from start to stop position after I drove it around, but I have to measure. When the wife pressed the pedal and I looked at the slave, the throw distance is just excellent. Right now I am ruling out any issues with the master, because with both screws out of the top of the slave, I figure that should release the clutch arm back into position, so that is nothing with the master as it isn't even hooked up. Remember I had play before I put fluid in there and drove around. So tonight I may try and measure where the top of the piston is on the slave by sticking a toothpick or ice pick down into the bleeder screw, with the assumption that the piston (or something) should be toped out.
Here is the other odd thing that I just now recall. When I had the old slave hooked up, it also was somewhat tight against the arm (no play). But when I opened the screws at the top of the old slave in order to release pressure to remove it, I was only then able to push it in more ("then" I had play). Now I wonder if something is adjusting within the trans itself to keep tension right at this beginning of motion position on the clutch arm. I suppose only way I will know is to somehow remove the slave and see if the rod moves further into the slave when it is out of the car, and then also see if the clutch arm is free to move then. The clutch arm was free when I took out the old slave so I would assume it would return again. So now I wonder how to remove it. Only thing I can think is to try and force the bottom clip ring loose on the slave bracket but I don't think I will have luck there with the amount of pressure. Other option may be to somehow spread the clutch arm at the transmission arm gear area and allow the arm to then travel free toward the rear of the car. But I don't know if I could get something to spread that clutch arm apart enough.
Maybe I am fretting over nothing though. The car runs great, with exceptional throw and shifting ability is at it's best (with super hard pedal I suppose mostly from the long-throw unit). This is why I thought I was done with it, but it just doesn't seem right from what I understand to not have any freeplay. Maybe someone built something into this trans that takes up the freeplay in a safe manner?