99 Ranger clutch issue

[Securis411]

Here I am at the end of my second R&R with a slave cylinder. I replaced it two months ago but something went wrong. The pedal went soft and no amount of bleeding could compensate for the seals inside being blown. That's what it was when I took off the relatively new part and replace it with an even newer part. That's almost 20 hours of work doing it alone with a minimal of tools to help support and remove the transmission. 'Woe is me', right? So I install the new slave cylinder (I also replaced the clutch master cylinder a few days prior because it was easier to begin with). I bleed the system and get some clutch. But that's at midnight and I can't function anymore so I have to wait a day before I can get back and do the finishing up. After all the last details are handled, I try driving it off the ramps and my clutch is soft again and even after a series of bleeding it, I can't get it to stiffen and more especially engage the clutch so I can get it in gear. There does not seem to be any leakage that I can see.

This should be a simple but labor intensive remove and replace job. What am I overlooking? I'm doubtful of a simple solution and am dreading having to take it all apart again. But I will anyways.

 

[Securis411]

Nobody? Nothing?

 

[robertc1024]

Viagra will make that clutch hard.

- Oh sorry, don't know anything about the clutch, but if I were in your position I could at least like a laugh - and a bump.

 

[Securis411]

I wish it were that simple. Thanks.

 

[superds]

Did you bench bleed the master? How did you bleed the slave? Did you use the gravity bleed method? I find that method works ok and seems to be the prefered method by many people.

 

[Securis411]

I bleed both of them after I installed the parts. I installed them at different times so I've bleed them at separate times. I guess I gravity bleed them.

What's the difference other than it's easier to get to while you are working on it?

 

[407Link]

i just hauled butt down a brick road and my clutch stiffened up right away...they say you have to bleed these for like 30mins or so and the best way is to bench bleed and then install and bleed

 

[H311RzR]

Maybe your clutch is worn and the release springs are weak? or even possibly the plastic line from the master to the slave is weak and expanding when you actuate the clutch?

 

[wakingtowinter]

Well, the only two possibilities I can see are faulty parts or insufficient bleeding. If the parts are new, obviously it's unlikely (but possible) there's a leak. With the bleeding, it would have been best to bench bleed the master first thing, before installing in the vehicle. This needs to be done because of the angle at which the master cylinder is mounted on the firewall.

Check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgNTDGwcjZc

This is a pretty helpful video. Follow the instructions and you can't go wrong. The slave is not hard to bleed. The difficulty in this system is in the master and the hard line between the master and slave. I would take the master out and bench bleed it and then reinstall and bleed the whole system again. Disconnect it at the slave and take out the master and hardline all at once, it would be pretty much impossible to do it otherwise.

Also, check your connection at the slave cylinder, and double check it. When I put my new trans in my ranger, I got it all done and found that the connection there wasn't quite 100%. If there is a problem there, you will be able to feel brake fluid on the connection fitting after pumping the pedal. I was able to fix it, and it solved my problem.

 

[superds]

^^What walkintowinter said. You'll want to bench bleed the master. It's almost impossible to get the air out of it as it's mounted on the vehicle because of the angle.

 

[Securis411]

Alright, I'll go with that.

How about this one. The master cylinder attaches to the clutch pedal with this four-pronged snap on clip. What's the best way to get that loose without destroying the clip?

 

[Securis411]

Finally!!! After going through two bad brand new parts, I got wise and went with another store and another brand. [sarcasm]It's hard to believe that parts come defective from China.[/sarcasm]