M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: fixierider84 on June 01, 2011, 08:50:52 PM
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How do you know if your clutch is on its way out. The reason I ask is that the clutch grabs at the last bit of travel in the pedal. I don't think I feel it slipping, but I am not entirely sure. Is there any way to know if it is time for a new one, or should I drive it until it starts slipping? Thanks in advance!
Evan
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You'll feel the clutch slipping if it's worn. Revs will climb on hills and/or high load situations.
The brake pedal range can be adjusted but I don't think the clutch can.
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You can try bleeding the clutch too. There's a bleed screw on the top of the slave cylinder on the front-driver's side of the transmission. Just make sure the brake fluid reservoir remains filled at or past the clutch feed line so you don't pull air in! Find a friend of family member to operate the pedal & you can turn the wrench, and that's all there is to it.
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search youtube for bleeding clutch slave cylinder with an spray oil can, pretty cool and one person job. Forces air back to reservoir.
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Thanks for the responses guys! I have a weekend project to try out. Is it common for our clutches to need air bled out of them? I can only assume that is is the original clutch and fluid, since I do not have the service records.
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It isn't too common to have air in there, but it is cheap & easy to check.
More typically, the spring fingers on the pressure plate sag over time and the slave cylinder/throw-out bearing can't travel far enough to fully disengage the clutch. The only cure is a new pressure plate.