94 SS Clutch Return Travel/Pressure Issue

[LikeUCare]

All,

I have an issue with the clutch on my 94 SS that has been progressively been getting worse. Clutch has unknown miles on it but when the engine was rebuilt about 8K ago wear was very minimal and we decided to not replace it as misc parts looked fairly new. Car has 230K.

Here is what I am experiencing:

Normal driving the clutch shifts fine (relative, as clutch feel is somewhat spongy). There is no weird noises, no clutch slippage, etc.

Spirited acceleration equals a clutch pedal that doesn't return to top travel. I can still shift and there isn't any slippage and clutch engagement is good but the the pedal doesn't return up. It will go about 2/3 the way up and stop. I can toe up the pedal and it will return to top travel. This is now happening every time I go through the gears with any kind of quickness.

I figure I should be looking at the master cylinder but wanted to if anyone had these symptoms first and what the corrective action was.

Any thought? Ideas? Thanks in advance for the assist.

[euroshark]

i have the same exact problem

[Legacy777]

I would suspect air in the clutch lines. Have you checked the clutch MC resevoir? Have you tried bleeding the air out of the system?

The spring pressure from the clutch transmitted through the slave cylinder and brake fluid is what pushes the pedal to the top. So if there is air in there, the pedal won't return to the top. The other issue could be a leaking clutch slave or master cylinder, which should be pretty obvious if you look. You would likely see fluid leaking.

[LikeUCare]

I am going to give the master/slave cylinder a gander this weekend, I did give it a quick look but didn't see anything previous. Stuff is hidden pretty good by the intercooler now.

Noob question but how do you bled out the clutch line? I have bled brakes using a kit to help out, same principle but where do I break open the line?

[euroshark]

you will bleed it the same way as you would on brakes. get someone to sit inside and pump the clutch pedal and then hold. it will take 5-10 times to get it if you are doing it right. you crack it open from the slave cylinder.