So I have been researching and reviewing threads, but for some reason cannot find anything that will help my situation out. I purchased a WRX with a "bad clutch" as it would not go into gear when it was running. So I removed and replaced the clutch and bearings. I also replaced the clutch line and slave. I bled the system with a manual vacuum pump and believed to have removed all of the air. I went to start the car it started fine. HOWEVER, I cannot shift it into gear when it is on. When I attempt to shift it into gear it is almost as if I am slowing the engine down with (pretend you are using a grinder and then use a big piece to slow it down. This is what is feels like I am doing). Is it possible that there is still air in the system? Does the system have to be completely air free in order to even get into gear? The clutch pedal does not feel spongy and still comes up as it is supposed to. Thank you in advace. -Nick
Are you sure that the "bad clutch" isn't actually a "bad transmission"? Have you tried moving the shifter around with the car off and the clutch in?
So I tried to put it in gear while off and it went in. I started the car with the clutch pressed in and it fired right up. Released the clutch slightly and it started to move as if I was going to start driving. I cannot shift out of gear and or into gear when running.
What year car and did you replace the pressure plate as well? Sounds like an issue with the fork, tob, and/or pressure plate.
Ok I will try to be clearer with what I did: 1) new exedy oem clutch kit (bearings for both clutch and flywheel) 2) resurfaced oem flywheel 3) exedy clutch slave 4) braided clutch line This is a 2002 Impreza wrx 5spd
The pressure plate already came with it installed onto it. The bearing slid in and I'm assuming clipped in place where the grove was. Perhaps I'm missing something :-/
Sounds like line pressure is fine if the pedal pops up off the floor. So have someone double check to make sure the slave/fork is moving fully when you press the clutch pedal. If both of those things check out, triple check to make sure the tob is properly set into the pressure plate. Sometimes the lock ring doesn't secure the tob into the pressure plate. Another issue is if you install the ring on the tob (rather than on the pressure plate), then the tob (+ring) won't slide into the pressure plate (it'll just press against the fingers). In both cases, the pressure plate isn't moving the clutch disc. Which would explain why your car won't go into gear once the motor is running and the car is out of gear and also why you can't disengage once the car is started with car in gear.
Sorry, completely missed this post. Sounds like a bleed/line pressure issue. I've had my best luck either bench bleeding the whole system or bleeding at the slave with the slave unbolted and up as high as possible (with mityvac assist). you could try gravity bleeding the slave overnight as well. If that doesn't do it, a new master is cheap. Internal seals go bad on those.
Little update. So last night we bled the system again. The clutch pedal has pressure, but it looks like it's not pushing the little peg out far enough. The fork can still be moved ~1/2" forward using a wrench and pulling the wrench towards the front of the car. I ordered a new clutch master from rock auto for $32 shipped. I'm hoping that is what was or is wrong with it. Exactly how far should this slave be pushing the fork forward? Is it normal to have 1/2" more that the fork can move forward?
Yeah my clutch fork was fine when I took out the engine the first time as well as when I removed the engine the second time. Didn't seem to have any cracks or anything of that nature.
Pull style clutch isn't it!!!?? Try slamming your foot on the clutch pedal multiple times. Mabee the TOB disconnected from the pressure plate. Sorenson Automotive, Inc. Subaru Specialty Services www.sorensonautomotive.com
Done that. I'm just having issues with removing that air i think. I posted the car up for sale or parting out the engine swap. Got annoyed of messing with it lol. I'll still work on getting it to drive tho.
It's probably something simple, I would bring it in to a Subaru shop and at least pay for a quick inspection. If we see it we'll know what's going on with it. www.facebook.com/jmautomn
