konradj

I've done a lot of looking around this forum as well as general car/hydraulic related forums for my problem but have found no help/people with similar symptoms

Was hoping someone could shed some light on my current situation

Background:
A year or so back I bought an rx8 with a bad engine, pulled/dissasembled the engine, got all my ducks in a row... and then the car sat for a year up until now (likely my issue)
Just finished the rebuild upon installing the clutch slave cylinder was unable to bleed it

I started using standard methods just like i would on any other car -- and even double checked this form to make sure i was going about this properly
(fluid full, everything connected, partner pump and hold while bleeding through slave nipple, close nipple, release clutch pedal.... repeat
No luck!

I tried bleeding through the nipple using a harbor freight vacuum pump/bleeder and cant get anything to draw through

I disconnected the line to the master and put it in a jar of brake fluid and was finally able to draw fluid through the slave ---- but was still unable to bleed afterwards

I removed the slave and got the plunger all the way to the end and then filled entirely with fluid (using the bleeder pump with the nipple facing up so air would rise up and out) Then reinstalled the slave (first connecting to the line --- this required i pull the slave into position against the hydraulic pressure because the plunger was all the way out

(I now have some pedal pressure but as soon as I go to bleed it disappears more with each attempt until the pedal just stays to the floor)

I've repeated the slave procedure two more times and the line to the master one more time with no luck)

(all done while clutch pedal is in the up/non-depressed position)


I detached the line from the master that goes to the slave and pumped the pedal to see if it would spit fluid and it wont

My theory... the master is bad (it doesn't pump out fluid and I cannot draw fluid through it with a bleeder pump like I normally can on other cars (reservoir is still full fluid wont move past the master) its like something is clogged in there


My question... are these likely symptoms of a bad master cylinder? I should be able to pump/draw fluid through the master cylinder correct?

konradj

No replies but the issue is now sorted out... (hopefully useful to others in the future)

I removed the master cylinder to bench test and bleed/prime it...
it wont draw any fluid through it by vacuum or by pedal/plunger operation even when gravity fed fluid

Purchased a new one and the fluid flows through it freely when gravity fed without vacuum or plunger operation.... installed it and the car seems to bleed fine

Bad Clutch Master Cylinder ------ Case Closed!

Abendschein

Question for you: Do your brakes feel a little soft at the top of pedal travel with the new master, or is it responsive at first press?