Bleeding the clutch by one's own hands

Situations in which the clutch system of any car can work incorrectly, or even completely fail, can be caused by different reasons. In any case, such a malfunction can significantly threaten the life of the driver, his passengers and others. In cases where there is a failure of the torque transmission system from the vehicle engine to the rest of the units, the bleeding of the clutch is often the only acceptable means of eliminating the threat to life.

What is the grip?

People quite far from knowing the car's device, under the concept of "clutching" often combine two completely different concepts. The maintenance of the roadway by the wheels of the machine and the compatibility of the operation of the internal combustion engine with the units and assemblies driving the vehicle are called one word. For amateurs, the term "pumping clutch" is associated either with the purchase of a new tire, or with some incredibly "abstruse" physical formulas.

Indeed, the two terms sound quite the same, but they mean absolutely different things. In fact, the clutch is an indispensable component of the transmission of the car, consisting of a complex system of units and assemblies. The main and only purpose of the car system, regardless of brand, model and year of production is the transfer of energy generated by any engine to the units and mechanisms that drive the vehicle.

Typical Damage

No matter how expensive and high-tech the car is, its grip is one of the most vulnerable points. With the passage of time, the VAZ clutch is becoming as necessary as maintenance and repair of similar units of more expensive cars. And the point here is not at all as the materials used, but in the very principle of the so-called "clutch basket". Typical injuries include the following:

• Mechanical wear of parts, components and components;
• Improper adjustment of the contiguity of individual components;
• Ingress of air, moisture and dust into the system.

That's right, on the last aspect is to focus. It is this defect that most often leads to a failure of the clutch. In this case, unlike many other cases, it is possible to eliminate this malfunction on its own. Properly implemented pumping cylinder clutch is very often able to save the car owner of the loss of time, energy and serious financial resources.

When you need a pumping

When is it necessary to carry out this operation? It should be reiterated that the pumping of the clutch is by no means a panacea capable of eliminating any problem with the vehicle's controllability. Such actions can not in any way eliminate the problem in case of critical wear or incorrect adjustment of the units and mechanisms. However, if it is determined that the cause of the improper operation of the clutch is moisture, which has fallen into the system, dust or dirt, then you can get rid of the problem even on your own.

Of course, since the serviceability of the clutch of any car is directly related to traffic safety, when troubleshooting is found, it is best to contact highly qualified specialists. Due to the fact that they have deep theoretical knowledge in the field of car installation, rich practical experience and the whole arsenal of necessary equipment and special tools, the clutch release (Opel is no exception) will be carried out in the shortest possible time, with a guarantee of quality. Nevertheless, the whole cycle of work can be done on its own.

Why do we need this procedure?

The clutch drive system of modern cars consists of the following components:

• Master cylinder with pushrod;
• Contour of hoses and pipelines;
• Elements of the fastening system.

If you do not touch the mechanical parts and do not delve into the subtleties of the kinematic schemes, then such an operation as pumping the clutch, pursues only one rather narrowly specialized goal - the removal from the hydraulic system of excess air, which there should not be in principle.

Difficulties that will necessarily arise

Despite the fact that the pumping of the clutch (Opel, Nissan or BMW) is not only available to specialists, but also to ordinary car owners, this procedure nevertheless has certain difficulties. The main one is, of course, the need to adjust the clutch after all the work. Basically, for this reason, the purging of the system is usually reserved for highly qualified experts. After all, even an ideally working hydraulic cylinder is not able to provide efficient work, if all the nodes and parts are not fitted to each other in an ideal way.

What is required?

Nevertheless, if you have the appropriate skills and take the most attention, pumping the clutch of "Audi" or a car of almost any other brand is quite accessible to the usual car owner. True, for this it is necessary to follow a certain algorithm of actions. Well, and of course, have the necessary tools and equipment. However, no particularly complex tools, technical equipment or aggregates for this type of work will be required. True, it will be necessary to show a high degree of assiduity, accuracy and attentiveness.

Equipment and tools

The procedure for pumping the clutch on its own will require the car owner the following minimum required materials and tools:

• Standard car repair kit;
• 2 liters of brake fluid used in normal conditions;
• A drain hose having a section corresponding to the diameter of the drain plug of the main cylinder of the hydraulic drive;
• Empty tank for discharging used technical fluid.

Of course, for safety, it will not be superfluous to cover the place of work with insulating material and provide yourself with such basic means of personal protection as gloves, apron, hat, glasses and so on.

Features of bleeding the clutch depending on the model

It goes without saying that each model of the car has its own individual characteristics relating to the configuration of the hydraulic system to ensure the operation of the clutch mechanisms, structural solutions and applied techniques. Nevertheless, pumping the clutch of the car implies, as a rule, the same algorithm for carrying out the work. On a typical scheme for purging the clutch control hydraulics and will be discussed below.

How to pump the clutch of the car yourself

As with the presence of air in the hydraulic system of the clutch control system, and in the absence of obvious signs of its presence, the pumping occurs as follows:

• To begin with, the technical fluid is added to the master cylinder tank (usually the only one). Its level should not be less than 1.5-2 cm "epaulet", and not the cut of the throat. Fill with oil through a strainer.
• After this, it is necessary to find the inlet socket of the pneumatic hydraulic amplifier (CCGT). Remove the safety cap from it and connect the hose, the other end of which will be lowered into a previously prepared container with brake fluid (1.5-2 liters).
• Now it is necessary to turn the bypass valve of the hydraulic reservoir one turn.
• After that, there is a direct pumping of the hydraulic clutch. It is carried out by long pressing on a corresponding pedal (it is better, if the assistant does it), while the liquid arriving in a tank does not cease to produce bubbles;
• Now it remains only to remove the hose, turn the valve back to its original position and return the rubber cap-plug to its place.

Everything, the pumping of the clutch hydraulics is over. The entire cycle of work was designed to remove air from the system, and the absence of bubbles at the final stage eloquently testifies to the success of the operation. This method helps to solve the problem regardless of the cost of the machine, its class or the degree of equipping with electronic devices. True, in the latter case, it is likely that there is a need for fine tuning, which requires almost a jeweler's precision. But here it is already impossible to do without specialists. Yes, and the work on blowing the clutch hydraulics system is better, after all, trust the experts.