clutch proplems

[steviep]

I have a 98 4x4 with a 3.0 with 5 speed . When I press on the clutch pedel it seems very weak. I have to start my truck in gear and when I do it seems to lunge foward a little. After getting truck up to speed it will shift but it is still a little on the hard side. The resivore is full and when taking off the rubber inspection cover I can see what I believe to be the slave cylinder disengage the clutch about a half inch. Is there a way to test the master or slave cylinder. The truck doesn't seem to have the normal worn out symtoms like engine over reving while climbing hills. Also the pedal doesn't seem to disengage the clutch until it is almost bottomed out. I am trying not to remove transmission, as the clutch is less than 15000 miles and 3 years old.

 

[Evan]

It's likely your slave cylinder is toast. Even if the reservoir is full. Mine didn't leak much fluid at all when it went out.

 

[MAKG]

If it is ABSOLUTELY full and there are no brake fluid drips in the bellhousing, I'd take a chance and replace the master. You may need to replace the slave as well if it's a wrong guess, but it's A LOT less work to do the master. And fairly likely.

You can't detect a hydraulic leak by noting the pedal height on release. Leaks make it change with time. As in, if you sit long enough on the clutch, the engine will stall or the vehicle creep forward.

 

[steviep]

Well guys it is fixed, I had to bleed the system. The only thing though when I opened the bleed screw a white greese like supstance came out it looked and felt like greese. It was about 1.5 inches long can anyone give me an idea what it might be, can the clutch fluid go bad. Oh yea I bled my clutch by using a hand bleeder , it did a great job and was fast , cost me about 40 bucks a year ago at the local Auto parts store. Can someone tell me what size the bleeder is ,I had to use vicegrips to get it off and tighten.