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Thread: 1983 E21 320i hydraulic clutch system assembled and bled on bench - any thoughts?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2017
    Location
    San Francisco, CA
    Posts
    7
    My Cars
    1983 320i

    1983 E21 320i hydraulic clutch system assembled and bled on bench - any thoughts?

    Looking for opinions and/or experiences on pulling the clutch master cylinder, line and slave cylinder to bench bleed as an assembled unit on the bench and reinstalling without needing to disassemble the system.

    I understand some will say leave it in and bleed it, your bleeding it wrong, bleed it this way, that way and so on. I appreciate the intentions but I'm looking for confirmation that I can have the assembled system on the bench and bleed it as a whole, successfully and put it back in the vehicle, assembled.

    I do see that potentially getting the clutch master cylinder back into place may be difficult or not possible with the hydraulic line, etc. attached. This is the kind of information I am seeking. What to expect, what to avoid, what not to do or how did you do it.

    Thank you for your interest and responses in advance.

    Ethan

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    NC
    Posts
    2,126
    My Cars
    E30M3,318is,318i,E21320
    Quote Originally Posted by fredskidoo View Post
    Looking for opinions and/or experiences on pulling the clutch master cylinder, line and slave cylinder to bench bleed as an assembled unit on the bench and reinstalling without needing to disassemble the system.

    I understand some will say leave it in and bleed it, your bleeding it wrong, bleed it this way, that way and so on. I appreciate the intentions but I'm looking for confirmation that I can have the assembled system on the bench and bleed it as a whole, successfully and put it back in the vehicle, assembled.

    I do see that potentially getting the clutch master cylinder back into place may be difficult or not possible with the hydraulic line, etc. attached. This is the kind of information I am seeking. What to expect, what to avoid, what not to do or how did you do it.

    Thank you for your interest and responses in advance.

    Ethan

    Racers are lazy, so we cut a huge hole for easy access to the clutch master. Install everything and leave the clutch slave cylinder off the trans but held vertical where the push rod faces the floor and bleeder is up highest point. Crack the bleeder and wait for fluid. Don't touch any pedal. Once fluid dribbles can push the rod of the slave by hand a bit to ensure no air bubbles but wouldn't push it all the way. Once a nice stream of fluid close and install on transmission. Don't get fluid in your beer.
    88 M3
    91 318is
    91 318i
    83 320is
    08 X3 3.0si

    "If it flys, floats, or f*cks, rent it!"

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Sacramento, California
    Posts
    4,704
    My Cars
    1980 BMW 320i E21 M10B18

    Cool

    When I have changed mine out, I bleed the whole system out with the one man bleeding system with pressure bleeder, back of car 1st, then front and then clutch slave last, I also use DOT 4 brake fluid, it does not take long. 15-20 psi will last the whole job.
    815SU+X0JiL._AC_SY879_.jpg


    Randy
    Last edited by 320iAman; 08-09-2022 at 10:36 AM.

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