Bleeding my clutch- '88 Hardbody- Z24i, 4X4

[Stevo F]

I just changed out my trucks's clutch master cylinder & slave cylinder since the master cylinder was getting noisy (no leaks, but I had a slave cylinder go bad ad 10 years so i change these parts out every 8 -10 since it's only $50 for new replacements. It's an easy job but now I'm trying to bleed the air out of the lines. I have no brake bleeder, but the last time I did this job I just opened the bleeder at the damper (on the firewall) put a hose on it and out the other end of the hose in a container with brake fluid. After a few pumps of the clutch I had a good hard pedal and it was good to go. This time,m I tried bleeding it this way from both the damper and the slave bleeders but no clutch at all. Next i may try to have someone hold down the clutch while I open the bleeder, if someone is even home to help. Does anyone have any other good ways they've bled air out of the clutch hydraulic lines?

For a longer term solution and being able to start changing out brake fluid on all of our 5 vehicles, I would like to purchase a decent one man brake bleeder (hopefully under $100). Any recommendations?

[Saudade]

Get the kit. I paid around $40 for mine. Bleeding the master is tricky due to the valving. Sounds like you got lucky the first time. Usually, you need to "bench bleed" to get the air out. I did the master on mine due to an internal leak, then a few months the slave with an external leak. The vacuum bleeder made it very simply and quick.

Only issue is that the bleeder can empty the reservoir with just a few pumps so make sure you check the level often. Also have plenty of fluid on hand to ensure a good flush.

[Stevo F]

Thank you. I assume you have a vacuum bleeder? I picked up a really cheap kit from Autozone)( pretty much some clear tubing and a really small collection bottle. I connected it to the slave cylinder bleeder for a few times (the bottle fills up about as quickly as the reservoir would would have emptied). I finally got some pedal. It almost had to be to the floor to engage the clutch so i adjusted the travel of the clutch pedal so it engages about halfway to the floor. Still feels a bit grabby, so i think there might still be some air left in the lines (I could still see bubbles occasionally going into the bottle but it had to be emptied so often, it was hard to tell id the bubbles were from the collection hose going to the bottle or the clutch system itself).

I guess I should order a decent vacuum bleeder or I'll have a friend who has one help me bleed it again to be sure.

[Saudade]

Thank you. I assume you have a vacuum bleeder?

Yes. I tried those silly "bleeder stems" that have the check valve in them. They were useless. My Cherokee has a zillion vac lines on it so I figured this would be a good buy anyway. I have a Harbor Freight nearby (well a couple of them) so I got one for $40 at the time. It's even cheaper now. After a few brake jobs, some sensor diags on my Jeep and the clutch mc/slave on my truck, it was well worth it.

http://www.harborfreight.com/mityvac-va ... 39522.html