It is important to prevent the brake fluid from becoming too low as it will cause air to be sucked back into the system. Warning: While gravity bleeding, keep an eye on the brake fluid level in the master cylinder. Place a drain pan under the slave cylinder to catch the brake fluid.īleed the brake fluid - Leave the bleeder open and allow gravity to bleed the slave cylinder for one to three minutes. Open the bleeder valve - Use a line wrench to open the bleeder valve to the slave cylinder. Verify the location of the bleeding valve or bleed nipple - In some situations, it may be necessary to use a floor jack and safety jack stands to lift off the ground and secure it in order to gain access to the slave cylinder.īleed the slave cylinder - Use gravity to bleed the slave cylinder.
The quickest way to locate the slave cylinder is to follow the hydraulic line from the clutch master cylinder. In others the slave cylinder is inside the transmission but the bleeding valve can be easily accessed on the outside. Locate the slave cylinder - On most vehicles, it will be bolted externally on the transmission. Pour the fluid into the clutch master cylinder.
Tip: If you are performing routine maintenance, begin by opening the cover to the master cylinder reservoir and use a turkey baster to suck out the old brake fluid before replacing first and then replace it with fresh fluid.įill the clutch master cylinder - Check your owner's manual to find the brake fluid specific to your vehicle. Locate the brake master cylinder - Open the hood and locate the brake master cylinder on the driver's side of the vehicle, close to the firewall. Gather the correct materials - Brake bleeder wrench or line wrench - 8mm or 10mm are the most common sizes, Brake fluid - DOT (Department of Transportation) 3 or higher ( refer to owner's manual for correct type of fluid), Clear aquarium tubing - one to two feet, Drain pan, Empty water bottle, Floor jack, Friend/helper (to assist in manual bleeding), Gloves, Hand operated vacuum bleeder (Optional), Rags or paper towels for cleanup, Safety glasses, Safety jack stand x 2, Suction tool or a large turkey baster
Here is how to bleed a clutch slave cylinder: How to bleed a clutch Use the following steps to locate the slave cylinder and open the bleeder valve. For the remainder of this article, we will assume that the hydraulic clutch system has its own dedicated master cylinder.
You may need to bleed the slave cylinder as part of routine maintenance procedures, such as replacing vehicle fluids or because you need to replace the slave cylinder. Air pockets prevent the hydraulic system from functioning properly. Most hydraulic clutch systems have their own dedicated master cylinder however, some vehicles use one master cylinder for both the brake system and the clutch system.Īny time you open the hydraulic system you will need to bleed it to remove air pockets. When you push the clutch pedal, brake fluid flows from the clutch master cylinder to the slave cylinder, applying the pressure necessary to move (engage) the clutch and this in turn changes the gears on your manual transmission.Ī hydraulic clutch system offers greater ease and comfort while pressing the clutch pedal to change gears than opposed to a cable activated system. It is connected to the clutch slave cylinder through hoses.
A clutch master cylinder contains a reservoir with brake fluid.