New clutch, no operation. Please help.

Post Sat Feb 07, 2015 7:57 pm

I fitted a new Sachs clutch today in my 318, all went OK and got it back together but it's not operating. The pedal is soft (I've re-bled the slave and fluid is all fine) but it's like the push rod isn't going far enough. You can here the thrust bearing just making contact with the splines but it's not pushing the enough to engage the clutch.

Any ideas?

I guess I need to take it out again, could I have put the plate in the wrong way or done anything else?

If you've seen my other posts today I did consider putting in the gearbox I had out of the 316 I'm breaking as it's lower mileage, but in the end decided to play it safe and stick with the original one.

Post Sat Feb 07, 2015 8:44 pm

I assume that you assembled it correctly and fitted the release bearing the correct way round?

I once re-fitted a gearbox,to spot the release bearing waving and laughing at me from the workbench....but at least the engine/'box were still on the garage floor...

Failing that,a soft pedal leads me to suspect air still in the system,try wedging the clutch pedal down overnight.

Post Sat Feb 07, 2015 8:52 pm

Well I've gone over it in my head and I think I put it all together ok

and good point about the pedal, I used to cable tie the brake lever to the grip on my motorbikes and leave them over night to bleed. I'll wedge a brick in place and hope for the best in the morning, I don't fancy the thought of taking it out again.

Post Sat Feb 07, 2015 10:11 pm

you need to bleed it properly...this involves getting fluid down your arm.. if your clever you can bleed a clutch system in reverse so the bubbles come out of the reservoir but that another story lol .

last thing you want to do is rip it apart again .

Post Sat Feb 07, 2015 10:17 pm

yes what Mick said is right

the clutch system takes quite a while to bleed on e30s, a lot longer than you think

Post Sun Feb 08, 2015 6:43 pm

Well I had no choice, it all came out again and I found the problem. I'd fitted the friction plate wrong way round.

What I think happen is I remembered dropping it on my chest as I laid under it, ready to offer it up. Must have just grabbed it a flipped it without realising, lesson learned (the hard way)

But second time was much quicker. Lol.

Post Sun Feb 08, 2015 9:12 pm

daimlerman wrote:I assume that you assembled it correctly......

Post Mon Feb 09, 2015 9:40 am

daimlerman wrote:
daimlerman wrote:I assume that you assembled it correctly......

quite! oh well.