Thread: Bleeding 300TDi R380 clutch

Last time i had this issue, I pressure bled it from the slave cylinder. Simply used an oil syringe (make sure it is absolutely free of mineral oil - I cleaned it with detergent and water followed by metho). Fill with brake fluid and connect to bleed point with rubber tubing and push fluid through.

Do it a bit at a time, closing the bleed point in between each push, as you don't want to overflow the master cylinder. Syringe excess fluid out of the M/C.

I suspect your problem is that the car is not level. My problem was that the car was nose down in a sloping driveway.

I did mine nose up on ramps. I didn't have any syringes so i couldn't do it John's way but I reckon it would work. I couldn't get anything through at all at first. I made a cap up with a Schrader valve in it and gave it a little compressed air, but I do mean a little. That got a bit of flow, but lousy pedal. so, I removed the bleeder screw entirely and let it drip, keeping the fluid topped up. Maybe 40 minutes of this and I put the screw back in and had a reasonable pedal so it went for a drive and by the time I got back it was good.

All the above should be seen through the lens of about ten years. Clutch still works, memory I'm not so sure of.

I never understood why it was so recalcitrant. It's not as if I've never bled anything before.

Have you replaced the Clutch master Cyl ? Is it adjusted properly.

Originally Posted by Bazzle218

Have you replaced the Clutch master Cyl ? Is it adjusted properly.

We had the master out and disassembled.

There is no adjustment on the master or the push rod.

Is the adjustment in the pedal? I had the young Fella doing the head stands in the footwell.

Tony

It's much better this morning.

Seem that all you need to do is lie in bed awake for what was left of the night 😁

The only suggestion we didn't try was John's of letting it gravity bleed.

BTW
What's the round thing next to the slave, that the hydraulic lines go into, then out of?

Thanks

Tony

Originally Posted by TonyC

BTW
What's the round thing next to the slave, that the hydraulic lines go into, then out of?

Thanks

Tony

It's a "Hydraulic Damper". Apparently for the diesel only. I've wondered if it has anything to do with the bleeding issue.

Image 5-1-2023 at 3.03 pm.jpg

That illustration shows the bleed nipple at the very bottom of the system, which probably wouldn't help. Mine isn't like that.