Ok well I've been outside since the crack of dawn (the past 5 hours) trying to bleed my clutch line. I just replaced the master cylinder and it builds up pressure fine but doesn't keep it. There is no leaks anywhere in the system that I am aware of, and the slave cylinder works fine except for the fact that it won't work after it loses pressure. I know it's common to replace the slave at the same time you replace the master, but I was trying to avoid that if possible.

One thing that I have noticed though: Is it normal to have air bubbles rising in the resivoir on the master cylinder when the clutch pedal is released? Is that a pretty good sign that there is still air in the system or that there is a leak? If anyone can help me that would be great.

 

Ok, i had this problem when my clutch would go to the floor and wouldn't comeback up. There was a lack of pressure to the line. I looked and had a friend pump the clutch and saw fluid leaking from the slave cylinder. I went and bought a new slave, but found out that it was just the actual cylinder inside the casing. before the line would build pressure then it would just go away. So the new cylinder fixed it. Its the seal. So check the rubber flexing around the slave cylinder and if it isn't leaking from there, then i would make sure that the bleed nipple is at the right opening. make sure that the nipple is turned tight, then 1 half turn back. It shouldn't take more than a 5-10 pumps before it gains pressure

 

Mine did this and I had a tiny, tiny leak around where the slave cylinder hose connects up at the firewall. Look it over and over for even the tinest of leaks.

 

Your pulling air from somewhere.

Sometimes air will leak but fluid won't because its too small for the fluid to easily leak out but air gets sucked in real easy. Double check the hose connections and hard line connections then suspect your slave cylinder.

Slave cylinders don't cost that much thats why you usually do both at the same time because they age at about the same rate as far as seals and wear goes.

 

Yeah I will be going to the store tonight and ordering the slave cylinder. I'm tired of trying to figure it out, if this doesn't fix it then there is probably a connector messed up or the hose has a leak I can't see. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

Just had same problem a couple weeks ago . Found small leak in connection between hard line and soft line by dying the brake fluid and putting the whole system under pressure on the bench. Once that was fixed - I also had to pull the resivour and rubber bushing out of the top of master cylinder and silicon them both in. I found VERY tiny air bubbles coming up in the master cylinder (which was also new). Once I let the silicone set up, I re-filled and bled again and finally got the air out and all is well again. Man I like cable clutches !