Silver Slayer

iTrader: (13)

Is anyone successfully using any type of synthetic fluid for their clutches? I have been through 3 master cylinders (now using the McLeod) and four slave cylinders since I put my clutch in about 14,000 miles ago. My clutch pedal pressure is very inconsistent, and the engagement point keeps changing. I have bled the system several times and always end up with the same results. However, it did work for about 6 months right after I installed the clutch with no problems. Can anyone shine some light on this?

Thanks
Kevin

Silver Slayer

iTrader: (13)

And in case anyone is wondering, I have used the 2001 master and slave every time. I have also done the drill mod, which I have removed that line, also hoping that was part of the problem.

Ragtop 99

iTrader: (7)

ttt

DERTY

I've got the same issue. I basically have to pump the pedal quite a bit on occasion. Then sometimes the pedal engages quite high and on other occasions it's very low. It's really starting to **** me off!

I've checked where the line runs down to the transmission to make sure that it wasn't close to the header. I've learned that the headers can heat the fluid up enough to cause some issues. But mine is well behind the heat sheild and runs tightly up the inside fenderwell to the master cylinder.

At times it feels like air. But if it was air I would expect that to be the case all the time. I'm going to disconnect my line on Friday and see if the cylinder itself has any air in it or if it's firm. I'm also going to replace the valvoline Dot 3/4 synthetic fluid for just regular old Dot 3. I'm wondering if the difference in viscosity causes these issues.

Silver Slayer

iTrader: (13)

Ragtop99,
Thanks for the TTT.

Derty,

You have described my problem exactly! I have to pump the pedal at times too. Maybe it is something with the Valvoline Synpower fluid. I was going to try another fluid as soon as I get someone to help me bleed it. Please let me know what you find out on yours and I will do the same.
ss_silver2001@yahoo.com
Thanks,
Kevin

Silver Slayer

iTrader: (13)

TTT

DERTY

I'll be working on my master cylinder tonight. I'll let you know what I find.

Silver Slayer

iTrader: (13)

Yeah, please let me know. By the way, what clutch are you running? I hope it is something other than the SPEC stage III. And what year/model is you car?

Kevin.

DERTY

I'm using a McLeod single disk with the McLeod Adjustable Master, a new stock slave. It's an 02 TA.

Silver Slayer

iTrader: (13)

TTT.

Slowhawk

iTrader: (12)

My clutch is very inconsistant too.I was wondering if anyone uses Dot 5 fluid?I used to use it in motorcycle hydrolic clutches and had very good results.

DERTY

So I bled my cylinder last night. Very little if any air at all. I haven't drove it yet. I have about two more hours worth of work to do then I'll give it a shot and see if it fades again.

Silver Slayer

iTrader: (13)

******UPDATE******

I flushed my system out yesterday and added Prestone DOT4 brake fluid. I then bled the system a couple of times before I decided to test it out. So far, everything is working perfectly. I still need to adjust the clutch pedal a little, but I am just happy that it is working. I am going to have to say that the synthetic fluid was my problem. I have no facts to back up this theory, but I bled the system the same way as before and it is working fine now.

Derty,

Did you get your problem straightened out?

Slowhawk,

Are you running synthetic fluid?

Hope you guys get your problems taken care of. I know this has been an ongoing battle for me, and I hope now it is over. <img border="0" alt="[Camaro]" title="" src="graemlins/camaro.gif" />

Later,
Kevin

DERTY

Same thing here. I flushed the master out with Pyroil Dot 3/4 non synthetic. Feels fine for the little that I've driven it right now. Unfortunately I blew my posi out on Friday and I won't have it back together until tonight.

I'm going to give it a few weeks and see what happens. My initial thought is that the Valvoline Synthetic I was using just doesn't have the viscosity to work well. It could be due to a number of factors, including the heat from the headers. But I do know this, I have not lost any fluid in the system. So it is breaking down somewhere.

<img border="0" alt="[Banging Head]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_banghead.gif" />

<small>[ August 05, 2002, 11:25 AM: Message edited by: derty ]</small>

Silver Slayer

iTrader: (13)

Yeah, me too. I never lost any fluid, so something was not doing what it was supposed to. I still have the stock headers on though. I could understand the heat from LT headers affecting the fluid, but with stock equipment, that means that the synthetic does not hold up like it should. I chose the synthetic by accident, not reading where it said it was synthetic. I did look at the back of the container and noticed that it had a higher boiling point than the regular DOT4, that is why I bought it. It just pisses me off that I have installed three slave cylinders and two master cylinders that I didn't need. Not to mention the time I spent trying to bleed the system. I am just glad I finally got this problem solved. <img border="0" alt="[Fluffy]" title="" src="graemlins/fluffy.gif" />

Thanks for the replies, I thought I would get a bigger reponse from this topic. Surely there are others that have made the same mistake.

Thanks again,

Kevin

DERTY

My soft pedal returned for a couple minutes today. Fuggin thing!!! Time to see what the real deal is with this issue. I'm going to call McLeod again tomorrow and see what else it may be.

Silver Slayer

iTrader: (13)

Do you mean you had to pump the pedal up again, or did the pedal just feel soft? Mine is really soft, but the SPEC pressure plates are anyway. Are you sure that you bled it good and got all the air out? I hope you get it fixed soon.

Good luck,
Kevin

DERTY

Had to pump it back up. When I bled it there was NO AIR in it. The cylinder was solid. <img border="0" alt="[Banging Head]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_banghead.gif" />

Silver Slayer

iTrader: (13)

Where were you 6 months, 3 slaves, and two masters ago???? I really had no idea that the sythetic fluid would cause such a problem. I am currently using Prestone DOT4 non synthetic fluid and it is working great. I have had a couple of occasions where the pedal stayed at the floor after a hard run, but it came right back up. This is the same thing I experienced when the car was new, so I am not that concerned. I am just happy it works!

Kevin

MIKET@CENTERFORCE

WE HAVE SEEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS TO THESE WHEN USING FLUID OTHER THAN THE FACTORY GM FLUID P/N 12345347. WE HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN THE SEAL LIPS FLIP AND CAUSE FLUID LEAKAGE AND/OR IMPROPER RELEASE. WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND USING THE GM FLUID "ONLY" AND DO NOT HAVE THESE ISSUES WHEN DOING SO. JUST MY $.02