clutch fluid

[GottaHaveLS1]

The brake fluid in the clutch fluid reservior is solid black. I purchased the correct brake fluid to replace it but i havent spent much time or effort to see how to drain the fluid or undergo this process. Anyone have any suggestions? It's a 99 t/a

[keliente]

Bleeding the clutch with new fluid can be a bit of a pain due to the less-than-convienient location of the bleeder screw. If you get beneath your car and see the line from the master into the slave (it is a steel braided line going into the trans), grope around a couple inches above it and you will feel the bleeder screw. It is 7/16" or 11mm...you'll need a thin-walled socket and a 1/4" driver.

Something I did to make the bleeding process a bit easier was to cut a 1" circular hole in my floorboard directly across from the bleeder screw. This way I can pull back the carpet and bleed the clutch from inside the car without help from anyone - using a few extensions the bleeder screw is much easier to get to. I tape the sockets/extensions together for safety lol. At all times you need to keep the master cylinder topped off otherwise you'll be drawing air into the system and defeating the purpose of bleeding.

Whether you do it from inside the car or have a helper underneath - you will depress the clutch pedal (and hold) crack the bleeder screw, allow fluid to run out. Close the screw and THEN release the clutch pedal. Pump it back up, and repeat this process...sometimes 20-30 times, until you have a nice, firm pedal. The fluid coming out of the slave will drain into the bellhousing...if you look underneath where the bellhousing meets the transmission, there is a little slot designed just for this.

When you're finished, top off the master cyl halfway (the little black condom thing will take up a bit of space) and be on your merry way.

[GottaHaveLS1]

Thank you very much. I should be able to do this now.

[tici]

I drilled the inside of the bleeder screw big enough to insert a transparent hose and drain the fluid in a container instead of into the bellhousing.
To unbolt the screw I use a modified socket: the transparent hose goes through the square hole of the socket. I filed the outside of the socket to fit a wrench.
So basically I insert the hose, put the socket on the bolt and open it with the wrench (sorry but I have no pictures).

This of flushing may not be enough: I bought an used A4 -> M6 swap kit and the hydraulic system was full of something like tar (!!). Filling new fluid wasn't enough to remove it and I had to disassemble the complete system to clean it.