How to Bleed a Clutch Slave Cylinder to Remove Air Bubbles
Learn the Most Effective Way to Bleed a Clutch Slave Cylinder
When you change a clutch master or slave cylinder, you have to perform a clutch slave cylinder bleeding procedure. In many ways, it’s not much different than the procedure for bleeding a brake caliper or wheel cylinder. But car makers sometimes throw a loop into the mix—literally speaking. Sometimes, the steel line to the clutch slave cylinder is bent in a loop above the clutch master cylinder, making it very difficult to bleed because the air rises into the loop.
Just like the problems you can encounter when trying to bleed a caliper or bleed a wheel cylinder when you’ve got air in the brake line loops, you can pump the pedal all day and go through a gallon of brake fluid; you’re never going to get the air out.
The pros use a reverse bleed tool to force air up and out of the master cylinder
Instead of trying to force the air bubble down into the slave cylinder, they use a reverse bleed tool to push air and fluid backward—up into the master cylinder—pushing the air bubble into the fluid reservoir.
Phoenix makes several styles of reverse bleeding tools,
The Phoenix reverse bleeder tool is the best tool for removing air from the clutch master or slave cylinder, costing up to $800. However, they also make the Phoenix V-5 model for DIYers.
Follow the instructions for the tool, and you’ll never have problems bleeding from the brake, clutch, or ABS again.
Find the Phoenix reverse bleeder tool kit on Amazon for about $55
©, 2015 Rick Muscoplat
Posted on by Rick Muscoplat