Do-it-yourself clutch bleeding

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Situations in which the clutch system of any car may not work correctly, or even fail, can be caused by various reasons. In any case, such a malfunction can significantly threaten the life of the driver, his passengers and others. In cases where there is a failure of the transmission of torque from the vehicle's engine to the rest of the units, bleeding the clutch is often the only acceptable means of eliminating the threat to life.

What holds the clutch together?

People who are quite far from knowing the structure of a car, under the concept of "clutch" often combine two completely different concepts.

Retention of the roadway by the wheels of the car and the compatibility of the operation of the internal combustion engine with the units and assemblies that set the vehicle in motion are called in one word. Foramateurs, the term "clutch bleeding" is associated either with the purchase of a new tire, or with some incredibly "abstruse" physical formulas.

Indeed, the two terms sound exactly the same, but mean completely different things.

In fact, the clutch is an indispensable component of a car's transmission, consisting of a complex system of components and assemblies. The main and only purpose of the car system, regardless of the brand, model and year of manufacture, is to transfer the energy generated by an engine of any type to the components and mechanisms that set the vehicle in motion.

Typical Damage

No matter how expensive and high-tech a car is, its clutch is one of the most vulnerable points. Over time, bleeding a VAZ clutch becomes as necessary as maintaining and repairing similar components of more expensive cars.

And the point here is not at all the quality of the materials used, but the very principle of operation of the so-called "clutch basket". Its typical injuries include the following:

• mechanical wear of parts, assemblies and components;
• incorrect adjustment of the adjunction of individual components;
• air, moisture and dust entering the system.

That's right, the last aspect is worth focusing on. It is this defect that most often leads to clutch failure. In this case, unlike many other cases, this malfunction can be eliminated andon their own. Properly carried out pumping of the clutch cylinder can very often save the car owner from wasting time, effort and serious financial resources.

When you need a boost

When should this operation be performed? It should be reiterated that bleeding the clutch is by no means a panacea that can eliminate any problem with vehicle handling. Such actions will not be able to eliminate the problem in case of critical wear or improper adjustment of components and mechanisms.

However, if it is determined that the cause of the incorrect operation of the clutch is moisture, dust or dirt that has entered the system, then you can even get rid of the problem on your own.

Of course, since the he alth of the clutch of any car is directly related to traffic safety, if problems are found, it is best to contact highly qualified specialists. Due to the fact that they have deep theoretical knowledge in the field of car design, rich practical experience and the entire arsenal of necessary equipment and special tools, clutch bleeding (Opel is no exception) will be carried out in the shortest possible time, with a quality guarantee. Nevertheless, the entire cycle of work can be carried out on your own.

Why is this procedure necessary?

The clutch drive system of modern cars consists of the following components:

• piston master cylinder;
• contour of hoses and pipelines;
• attachment system elements.

If you do not touch on mechanical details and do not delve into the intricacies of kinematic schemes, then such an operation as bleeding a clutch has only one rather highly specialized goal - removing excess air from the hydraulic system, which should not be there in principle.

Difficulties that are bound to arise

Despite the fact that bleeding the clutch (Opel, Nissan or BMW) is quite accessible not only to specialists, but also to ordinary car owners, this procedure, nevertheless, is fraught with certain difficulties.

The main one is, of course, the need to adjust the clutch after all the work. It is mainly for this reason that it is customary to entrust the purging of the system to highly qualified experts. After all, even a perfectly working hydraulic cylinder is not able to ensure efficient operation if all components and parts are not ideally adjusted to each other.

What will it take?

However, if you have the appropriate skills and show maximum attention, pumping the clutch of an Audi or almost any other brand of car is quite accessible to the average car owner. True, for this it is necessary to follow a certain algorithm of actions. And, of course, to have the necessary tools and equipment. However, no particularly complex tools, technical means or units will be required to carry out this type of work. True, it will be necessary to show a high degree of perseverance, accuracy andmindfulness.

Equipment and tools

The procedure for bleeding the clutch on your own will require the following minimum required materials and tools from the car owner:

• standard car repair kit;
• 2 liters of normal brake fluid;
• drain hose having a section corresponding to the diameter of the drain plug of the main cylinder of the hydraulic drive;
• an empty container for draining used technical fluid.

Of course, for safety reasons, it will not be superfluous to cover the work site with insulating material and provide yourself with such elementary personal protective equipment as gloves, an apron, a hat, glasses, and so on.

Features of clutch bleeding depending on the model

It goes without saying that each car model has its own individual characteristics regarding the complete set of the hydraulic system for the operation of clutch mechanisms, design solutions and applied technological methods.

Nevertheless, bleeding a car's clutch usually implies the same work algorithm. A typical clutch control hydraulic purge scheme will be discussed below.

How to bleed a car clutch yourself

Both in the presence of air in the hydraulics of the clutch control system, and in the absence of obvious signs of its presence, bleeding occurs as follows:

• To start in the main tankcylinder (usually the only one) is topped up with technical fluid. Its level should not be lower than 1.5-2 cm of the “shoulder strap”, and not the cut of the neck. Oil should be filled through a strainer.
• After that, you need to find the inlet socket of the pneumohydraulic booster (PGU). Remove the safety cap from it and connect the hose, the other end of which will be lowered into a previously prepared container with brake fluid (1.5-2 liters).
• Now back off the hydraulic reservoir bypass valve one turn.
• After that, the clutch hydraulic drive is bled directly. It is carried out by long pressing the appropriate pedal (it is better if an assistant does this) until the liquid entering the tank stops producing bubbles;
• Now it remains only to remove the hose, wrap the valve in its original position and replace the rubber cap-plug.

That's it, do-it-yourself clutch hydraulic bleeding is over.

The whole cycle of work was designed to remove air from the system, and the absence of bubbles at the final stage eloquently indicates the success of the operation. This method helps to solve the problem regardless of the cost of the machine, its class or degree of equipment with electronic devices. True, in the latter case, it is quite likely that there will be a need for fine tuning, which requires almost jewelry accuracy. But here it is hardly possible to do without specialists. Yes, and the work itself on purging the clutch hydraulic system is better, after all, to trustexperts.