to bleed properly :
attach a hose to the bleed screw on the slave cylinder and suspend it a clear bottle filled with brake fluid. make sure there is the proper amount of fluid in the clutch master cylinder tank. then slowly pump the clutch pedal until no more bubbles come out of the hose in the bottle of brake fluid. tighten the bleed screw to 6lbs. only use Honda DOT 3 brake fluid.

 

Hey yesterday I tried to bleed the clutch I went through forums for proper procedures following everything to a T and I even bought a vacuum pump bleeder I connected the lines as instructed started pumping and nothing came out of the bleeder and I pumped the pedal aswell even tho the clutch pedal is dead to see if it would build pressure but nothing happened completely dead pedal falls the the floor with no hydraulic pressure. I’m stumped should I replace the CMC and SMC?

 

Did you open the screw?

 

The air you injected into the system may have damaged the CMC. If you replace it do it with the EM1 CMC and TypeS slave cylinder. If you want a Ktuned slave cylinder I have a brand new one for sale for dirt cheap b/c I am not using it. I can ship out the Ktuned slave cylinder on Monday morning for $60 shipped.

 

It sounds like you're dealing with a tricky clutch bleeding situation. Here’s a step-by-step process to troubleshoot and properly bleed your clutch system on your 2002 Acura RSX Type-S:

1. Check Fluid Levels and Master Cylinder Condition

• Ensure the clutch master cylinder (CMC) reservoir is filled with Honda DOT 3 brake fluid.
• Check for leaks or damage in the CMC, as a failing CMC could be causing the issue.

2. Bench Bleed the Master Cylinder (Optional but Recommended)

• If possible, remove the CMC and bench bleed it before reinstalling. This ensures that any air trapped inside is removed before it is installed back in the vehicle.

3. Bleeding the Slave Cylinder

• Manual Bleeding:
  1. Attach a clear hose to the slave cylinder bleeder screw, placing the other end in a bottle partially filled with brake fluid.
  2. Have a friend slowly press down the clutch pedal, then open the bleeder screw to allow air and fluid to escape.
  3. Close the bleeder screw before your friend releases the clutch pedal.
  4. Repeat the process until you see no more air bubbles in the fluid.
• Using a Vacuum Pump:
  1. Attach the vacuum pump to the slave cylinder’s bleeder valve.
  2. Pump the vacuum to create suction, then open the bleeder screw.
  3. Continue to pump until you see brake fluid flowing through the clear line without air bubbles.
  4. Close the bleeder valve while maintaining vacuum pressure.

4. Check for Pressure Build-up

• After bleeding, check if there’s any hydraulic pressure by gently pressing the clutch pedal. If it still falls to the floor with no resistance, there may still be air in the system or a failure in either the CMC or Slave Cylinder.

5. Inspect for Leaks

• Inspect all lines, the CMC, and Slave Cylinder for leaks. A leak could be causing a loss of hydraulic pressure.

6. Consider Replacing Components

• If you’ve bled the system thoroughly and still have no pressure, it might be time to replace the CMC and/or the Slave Cylinder, as they could be internally failing and not building pressure.
• Sometimes you can have bad seals in the slave cylinder, check and see what the cost is for a new one versus a rebuild kit (the rubber pieces and new tiny boot usually in that, you take it apart and replace the seals basically rebuilding it in a sense). Sometimes it's cheaper ot buy the rebuild seal kit instead of the entire slave cylinder.

7. Post-Bleeding Tips

• Once you have some pressure in the pedal, continue to monitor it. Sometimes, air can take a while to work its way out, so you may need to re-bleed after driving for a short distance.

If replacing parts, make sure to re-bleed the system after installation to ensure all air is out of the system. If the issue persists after replacing both the CMC and Slave Cylinder, there might be an issue with the clutch line itself or another component in the hydraulic system.

 

No worries, it happens! If your clutch pedal is dead after messing with the slave cylinder, you'll definitely need to bleed the system. First, make sure the clutch master cylinder (CMC) is full of fluid. Then, with your pressure bleeder connected, open the bleeder valve on the slave cylinder and pump the pedal slowly. You might need to do this a few times until you see all the air bubbles come out and get solid fluid flow. If that doesn’t work, try manually bleeding it by having a friend press the pedal while you open and close the bleeder valve. It’s a bit of a process, but you’ll get it! Good luck!

 

THREAD UPDATE
Thanks to everyone for the tips and tricks on bleeding. The issue I was having was since I had introduced so much air into the system I’m guessing my clutch master cylinder failed. I took it out and inspected the cmc pushrod and tried to pump it, it looked like it needed viagra lol it was completely broken and floppy. I bought new CMC And CSC from (Valexracing) they had the best of both worlds where they have a kit of the Exedy em2 cmc and ktuned csc with new lines. I replaced the system then bled the system and the clutch feels like absolute butter thanks guys!

 

the failed CMC