R33 94 Why Won't My Clutch Pedal Move Back?

[skeg_man]

Hey All,

It's been a while since I last posted. Everything has been running great and I've had no issues for years until now.

"Why won't my clutch pedal return even after changing a "clutch slave cylinder"?

The Story;

The other day I was going for a drive and within 10 mins of driving my clutch pedal played up.

I was stopped at a set of lights with my car not in gear, but I did have my foot on the clutch. Out of nowhere, I heard/felt a massive "clunk" noise from poss under the car. Now, I did have the air-con on and thought it may have been just that kicking back in. Then the light changed "green" and I started to lift my foot from the clutch but the clutch wasn't following. I tried to get the car into gear with no luck at all and the clutch pedal still flat to the floor.

I managed to get it off the road and try to suss out what was going on. I lifted the pedal by hand and it stayed, but the minute I pushed on it. It would flick back to the floor. I left the car for the day and came back to it later on. The pedal seemed to have got some pressure back into it. It was only minimal, but enough to get the car into 2nd and drive it home.

I got the car up on the stands and had a look underneath. I couldn't see any stand out problems, but I was fiddling with the clutch fork and clutch slave cylinder and I managed to get more pedal pressure. I instantly thought it had something to do with the "clutch slave cylinder". After replacing that today and bleeding the lines. The clutch is back to how it was when the problem started.

So now I'm stuck, any ideas or help would be great. Just don't have a lot of coin to throw around...

Cheers for reading and thanks in advance.

[Humbla]

"If the slave doesn't seem to push the piston out far enough it could be master cylinder of course.

Another possibility is the thrust bearing has disintegrated. See if the fork seems to have a solid resistance to movement if you try to lever it in/out." This was written by my dear hubby.

[iseekool]

Master cylinder and/or slave cylinder is worn. Best get them both replaced.

[skeg_man]

The only way I can move the fork is by tapping it really... I couldn't move it by hand at all. But is saying that, pulling it towards the front of the car it gets to a point and loosens up. On a side note I checked the pivot ball and that's all good.

Its so odd.. Just feels like no pressure on the pedal, like the brake has....

[skeg_man]

I'm thinking I'll replace the master cylinder next... Would this allow to maybe start working again and then fail? cause that's what ended up happening after I changed the slave and bleed the lines.

[blind_elk]

Sounds just like a broken pedal box.

[Duncan]

have someone press the clutch pedal while you watch the rod on the slave cylinder.

if the rod moves:

broken pivot

fork popped off thrust bearing

badly bent or farked fork.

get under the car, unbolt the slave cylinder and try and move the fork by hand. lots of movement = pivot or fork issue. no movement = something badly jammed, clutch welded to flywheel etc.

If the rod doesn't move:

system needs a bleed after changing slave (by far most likely, especially if you have the big loop/cooler in your clutch line. Also, in that case there may be a second bleeder in the system on the junction box near the loop

new slave also dead or install issue

master cylinder stuffed

clutch pedal stuffed (common, as blind_elk said)

[xALmoN]

happened to me on my 32R.

pedal box died.