Date: 14 Sep 2001 16:26:47 GMT From: davehinznopsamcop.net Subject: Re: Clutch Changed But Still Not Working
Lou <louise_mccormacknopsamail.com> pressed random keys until the following was produced: > Hi, > We have recently changed the clutch on our 1987 SAAB 900. The clutch > won't engage the pedal just goes down to the floor. We have also > changed the Slave cyinder and bled the system twice. We are stumped, > any advice would be gratfuly recieved, Sounds like you have an air bubble. There's a really tall vertical section of line in the clutch line. It's *very* tough to get all of the air out of your hydraulic system. Here's how I've done it twice with success, it may work for you as well. I opened up the reservoir near the brake booster, and left the cover off. Get a turkey-baster, a length of 1/4" inner diameter hose (maybe 5 feet), a fresh container of brake fluid, and a spring-type clothes pin. (no, we're going somewhere with all this, trust me). Remove the bulb from the baster (which should never be used again for food, of course). you're making a tall, thin funnel here. Attach the hose to the baster (might have to dunk the end of the hose in hot water to soften it enough to get it over the tip), and clip the top of your "funnel" to a convenient location on the hood (I use the lines for the windshield washers). Loosen the bleeder on the clutch slave cylinder, and fluid will start coming *up* your clear hose. Now, fill the "funnel" with brake fluid; you should start seeing your troublesome bubbles coming up through the master cylinder's reservoir. I've never needed to use more than one baster-full of brake fluid before all of the bubbles were gone, and it works quite well for me. Even if it doesn't get *all* of the bubbles, it'll get the vast majority of them, which should make the car drivable. It seems that the remaining bubbles work themselves out in a few days. Hope this helps, Dave Hinz