Edited on 2009-11-15 17:55:29
I just discovered the clutch pedal will not depress enough to free the clutch. It will travel about half way to the floor when it meets very strong resistance. Pumping does no good. Any ideas? Also,are there any parts companies that supply clutch hoses and hydralic lines?
Thanks
Chuck
Submitted by SC38-21185J on Sun, 11/15/2009 - 20:16
Chuck, your problem may be far more serious that just hydraulic lines.
The first thing you should do is get under the car to see what's going on with the slave cylinder that pushes a rod which engages and disengages the clutch arm. This rod should have some threads and a nut on it to allow you to adjust out any slack. So with someone in the car, once the clutch pedal begins being depressed, this shaft should start moving, and should move a couple of inches.
The second thing you should do is get a work light at take a look at the physical pedal travel inside the pedal box. Is there anything up in there that is keeping the pedal from advancing forward? There are some return springs up in there that can break, and might be impeding the pedal.
If the pedal is traveling unimpeded, and the slave cylinder is not pushing very much of a distance to disengage the clutch, then there is probably an issue with the master cylinder and/or slave cylinder.
You might try bleeding the entire system with new fluid, but if this is the original master cylinder, then it's time to replace it and the slave cylinder. If you are mechanically inclined you can do this yourself, otherwise, I'd take it (or have it hauled to) to a mechanic with the CORRECT replacement parts.
When's the last time you flushed new hyd. fluid through all of your brake lines?
P