When clutch jobs go bad

[Holisticbeatz]

My fellow NICO board members.

Today, I did a clutch job on my car for the first time. Remove all sensors, remove starter, remove drive shaft, remove bell housing bolts, remove transmission mount, yada yada yada.

After having everything out, I went ahead and installed the stuff. Problem is, it turns out the throwout bearing that came with my clutch wasn't the right size. Since I had the transmission out already, and I need to drive my car tomorrow, I decided just to reuse the throwout bearing. I greased up the throwout bearing with some wheel bearing grease. Then I installed my new clutch and flywheel. After a few hours, I was done.

First problem:

When I step on the clutch, the pedal seems to be sticking. Meaning, when I step on it, the pedal doesn't want to come back up until I pump it a couple time. Could it possibly have something to do with the wheel bearing grease in the throwout bearing? I flushed out all the clutch fluid and put in some fresh DOT 3. That sorta helped my problem, but it didn't correct it entirely. My car is still drivable, but I don't feel safe with the clutch the way it is.

Could it also have something to do with the slave cylinder? When I reintalled it after the transmission was mounted back on, it looked like there was some space inbetween the slave cylinder pushrod and clutch fork. Could that explain why I have a sticky clutch pedal? The slave cylinder isn't engaging correctly with the transmission?

I need :help !!!

[Nismo1182]

Yes, it sounds like a bad slave cyl. or master cyl. the master would be leaking if it was bad. I went ahead and replace both on mine when i did my clutch. And dont feel too bad, i reused my old TO bearing too since i didnt have a machine press to put the new one on and i had school and work the next day.

[Holisticbeatz]

Is it easy to install a new slave cylinder?

[Nismo1182]

hell yes, 100000x easier than the clutch

[Oneor1]

hahahaha yea that happend to me last winter. I thought it was my clutch...... turns out i just replaced my Clutch master cylinder "twice" b/c the one i got from Nissan was defective so i replaced it again and it worked...... hope it helps.

-Rick

[C-Kwik]

Before you replace either, try adjusting the pedal properly. The master cylinder is sensitive to pedal movement. If it's adjusted incorrectly, it can have this kind of problem. I've had a problem like this when I had an S13 years ago. I replaced the master and slave cylinders, and even tried bypassing the dampener. I ended up making my own return spring. I just couldn't seem to get the pedal adjustment right.

Typically, if the master or clutch cylinder is not leaking, you should not need to replace either.

[piratepete]

Could be air in the system, clutch master, or slave cylinders. First remove the damper and bleed the slave cylinder. If that doesn't work replace the cylinders. Oh, and I reused my bearing too, 15k miles with no problems so far.

[Holisticbeatz]

I went to my local Nissan dealership and asked around. Some technician told me I needed to rebleed my clutch. I did that earlier tonight and actually, my sticky clutch situation became worse. So I've decided to go ahead and just buy a new slave cylinder for $40. I'll be installing it this coming weekend. I'll let ya guys know.

[s0ldats]

you need to bleed the clutch in 2 places, the second being the gay little clutch dampening box. i had a hell of a time trying to bleed my clutch with that thing on there. you can take that box out and bend the line back to the slave cylinder and rebleed.

[Dragon240]

Or you can spend 20-30 bucks and get a stainless line to remove that dampening system...

[Holisticbeatz]

I'm really screwed now. http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....18249

[detforme]

you dont have to have a machine press to get the old bearing apart. and chances are if the old clutch was worn so was the bearing. but the bearing doesnt sound like the problem. i would try adjusting freeplay before replacing the slave cylinder. ive done many clutches and i have never replaced slave cylinders unless theyre internal.

[S13240]

I seem to have a similar problem. The clutch pedal and stuff works fine, but then I feel that it is engaging and disengaging the clutch a bit slow. No leaks from both clutch cylinders, clutch dampner taken out about 6 months ago, adjusted clutch pedal already and rebled the clutch system. Still the same problem, I'm leaning towards the clutch master cylinder just because I'm sure it's old and probably worn out. Any opinions?

[Holisticbeatz]

Read this:

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....25352

[teriyakibroccoli]

christ dood. I hope that never happens to anyone