clutch problems

[VisionRx7]

I just installed a new spec stage 4 clutch 6 days ago. All was good until today. I was driving it and all of a sudden the pedal went to the floor and it wouldn't go into gear. It was also making a rattling sound. I put my foot behind the clutch pedal and pulled it up. I was able to get it into gear and get it to my work. I checked out the master cylinder and it was empty. I added more fluid and bled the system. It was still doing it. I then pulled the slave cylinder off and lubed it up. I also pulled the boot off of the tranny where the fork comes out and looked in. The throw out bearing looked to be fine and still attached to the fork as far as I could see. It seemed to be alright after I put the cylinder back on from greasing it. I drove it for about half of a mile and it started to do it agian! Does anybody have any ideas?
Thanks for your help,
Jesse

[s13driver]

did you check for leaks ? it is pointless to keep adding fluid to the system and bleed it when there is a leak somewhere.

[s13irdie2]

the same thing happend to me and it turned out that my master cylinder was bad. i went to autozone and bought a new one and it worked fine after that.

[VisionRx7]

Yea, I checked for leaks. Once I filled it up and bled it, the level stayed the same. I will try out the master/slave cylinders. Thanks for you help!

[max_misawa]

Look under your xcarpet for leaks.

Max

[VisionRx7]

It was the master cylinder! I replaced the slave cylinder and my nasty looking clutch line just to make sure. Thanks for your help! I almost have a brand new car now... I've replaced almost everything, haha.

[96twofourty]

Thats what I did too...didnt want to troubleshoot so I just replaced the mc and the slave :)

[VisionRx7]

Well... it worked for a day! The problem came back today while I was on the highway (and it was pouring down rain... agh). I was able to get it to a gas station. I tried to blead the system, and that didn't do anything. I checked all my lines and they were all tight. I bypassed the little damper that is between the hard line running from the master cylinder and the soft line that runs to the slave because when I would blead it, the fluid would just kind of drip out slowly. That also did nothing! The clutch pedal just drops to the floor, a nasty rattling sound comes from the tranny and I can feel it into the clutch pedal, and I can't get it into gear. Any more ideas anyone? Its weird that it worked fine all day until now. I'm really stumped on it. I might just get it towed to a tranny shop tomorrow and see what they think.
Thanks,
Jesse

[max_misawa]

did you ever check the pivot?

Max

[VisionRx7]

If you mean pivot of the fork, then no. I didn't have a problem at all before, so I just left it the way it was. When I first had the clutch in, I didn't have any problems for about a week. After it started, I replaced the master, slave, and clutch line. It was fine again for a day. I don't know how it could be the fork if it was working like it was. I mean, it was shifting really smooth until the master went bad.

Something I was thinking about.... What are the chances that I bought a bad master?

[max_misawa]

i done about 50 master cyclinders on various cars.
I have never got a "BAD" one.
Did you bench bleed it?

Max

[VisionRx7]

bench bleed? You mean add some fluid before I put it in?

[max_misawa]

bench bleed? You mean add some fluid before I put it in?

No thats not what i mean.
You should take your car to a mechanic.

Max

[VisionRx7]

Could you just explain what bench bleading is? I may have done it, I just don't know that term.

[max_misawa]

There is a big problem with this sort of thing.
I am not comming down on you, but when people start to work on thier cars they need a little something called nomeclature.
That is a industry standard name for a given part, method, etc etc etc.
like the term wrench, what wrench?
Pipe wrench, open end, socket, flare nut, torque, combonation?????
Knowing the names of things will help you understand a lot faster.

Bench bleeding is where you bleed the master before you put it on the car, basically forcing all the air out of the system.
Seeing as you are not familar with this term i am gonna have to guess you are not familar with this operation either.
But thats fine, i don't mind anyone trying to learn, but also realize when you are over your head and ask someone how knows what they are doing, or take it to a shop.

Max

[SimpleSexy180]

hey man i had a problem like that with my car also. It ended up being my front cover in the tranny. The sleeve broke off so it would cause a horrible rattling and whinning noise and would barely get in gear (i had to force it) and i felt heaby vibration when i would press the clutch. you shoul drop your tranny for inspection but i have a feeling it is the front cover.

[VisionRx7]

ok, I got all the air out before I put it in, so I guess I did bench blead the master then. I'm almost positive that my pressure plate is broken. I don't know how, because the clutch was only in for a week, but it definatly feels like it is. It would make sense for the clutch to go to the floor, because the throw out bearing would push in to far. Also it would rattle like crazy. Anyone want a sr20 powered 240 for $25 and a cheese burger?

[golfer17]

actually... i do. i'll give you $20 and a regular hamburger. lol
so did you figure out that it was the pressure plate?

[VisionRx7]

hmm, $20 is kind of low, and I really like the cheese on my burgers. Can you wait about a week to see if I get any better offers? haha.

I didn't get the tranny out of the car yet. I've been stuck at work all the time, haha.

[DriftingXJDM]

I had the same problem before... When bleeding the clutch what I did is that I removed the bolt that holds the cooler line or some sort in between the master and slave. Then while bleeding the system I bent down that line and try to make the air go up the line and after a while of bleeding I got my clutch back. I'm not good in explaining but hopefully this helps. Make sure when bleeding you have a good stream of fluid coming out not just drips.

[NismoRacer1]

I am currently dealing with a similar problem. I installed a Spec stage 2 in my car when i did the swap about 10 months ago. The clutch has always chattered and been really rough to drive (for a stage 2) In the past 4-5 months its gotten to the point that it will not go into 1st or reverse unless i use a syncro from another gear, and sometimes that doesnt work either. Also sometimes it gets stuck in gear and will not come out unless i jerk it out of gear. Basically its not disengauging right. I replaced the slave and master cylendars and bled the system correctly. Ive got the tranny off the car at the moment and the clutch seams to be fine, the throwout bearing is not complely gone but needs to be replaced while i have the tranny off. I dont know whether this is a clutch problem or a problem with my transmission, both however are expensive to replace and I want to know exactly what is wrong before I spend a bunch of money. If anyone knows anything please let me know, I have had nothing but problems with this since the day i swapped my engine.

Thanks

[ledzeppelin240]

You people do not understand, and I know for a fact that you did not bench bleed the MC...What did you use to block off the ports? How did you torque down the pressure plate? Did you alighn the clutch disk correctly? Is your pedal hight and freeplay within spec? How about the pressure plate finger height, is it within spec?

If you can not do basic troubleshooting you are fucked...Take it to a mechanic who knows what they are doing and not just quessing...

[rps13_fastback]

my friend had a similar problem... although it wouldn't go into gear anymore.. turned out to be hte pivot on the clutch fork. it broke in half. probably not it for you though