E28 Clutch Problems (help!) - BMW Forum

limbick · 04-20-2005, 09:53 AM

I'm having some problems with my '86 535i hyraulic clutch. I'll try and make it a short story, but here's the details.

The clutch started to get "soft" on me, i.e. there was little to no resistance when first pushing in the clutch, until it was 1/2 or 2/3 to the floor. This was more annoying that anything, as I was still able to drive the car. As the car warmed up, the clutch would stiffen up and become normal again. One day the clutch dropped out completely. Went to the floor, and didn't come back up. As a result, the clutch master and slave cylinders were both replaced (tried the slave first, then the new master).

After a month or two the pedal went back to the floor while driving one day. Supposedly it was a faulty slave cylinder. That was changed, and it's worked since, but it's still not stiff like it should be. I had it bled completely and looked at by another mechanic.

It stayed stiff for a month or so, but has since gone back to not having much resistance until it's 1/2 to the floor. However, now when it warms up, it actually sticks when i'm trying to shift. I'll get in traffic, push in the clutch for 5 seconds until traffic is flowing again, and when I lift my foot, the pedal wants to stick. This causes me to stall out, or bark the tires. It's really annoying, and I'm quite scared it's going to cause me to get into an accident or the clutch will go out on me again while I'm driving.

The fluid level is staying full. Could this be a bad component that's been replaced already? Does anyone have any insight?

Sorry for the long post. Just wanted to throw all that info out there in case anyone has had the same issue. Thanks in advance.

tacroteau · 04-20-2005, 01:18 PM

Well there isnt much left to check. My guess would be the throwout bearing is worn pretty bad, this can cause the clutch to "stick" or basically not provide enough pressure to release.

Quote:

Originally posted by limbick@Apr 20 2005, 10:53 AM
I'm having some problems with my '86 535i hyraulic clutch. I'll try and make it a short story, but here's the details.

The clutch started to get "soft" on me, i.e. there was little to no resistance when first pushing in the clutch, until it was 1/2 or 2/3 to the floor. This was more annoying that anything, as I was still able to drive the car. As the car warmed up, the clutch would stiffen up and become normal again. One day the clutch dropped out completely. Went to the floor, and didn't come back up. As a result, the clutch master and slave cylinders were both replaced (tried the slave first, then the new master).

After a month or two the pedal went back to the floor while driving one day. Supposedly it was a faulty slave cylinder. That was changed, and it's worked since, but it's still not stiff like it should be. I had it bled completely and looked at by another mechanic.

It stayed stiff for a month or so, but has since gone back to not having much resistance until it's 1/2 to the floor. However, now when it warms up, it actually sticks when i'm trying to shift. I'll get in traffic, push in the clutch for 5 seconds until traffic is flowing again, and when I lift my foot, the pedal wants to stick. This causes me to stall out, or bark the tires. It's really annoying, and I'm quite scared it's going to cause me to get into an accident or the clutch will go out on me again while I'm driving.

The fluid level is staying full. Could this be a bad component that's been replaced already? Does anyone have any insight?

Sorry for the long post. Just wanted to throw all that info out there in case anyone has had the same issue. Thanks in advance.

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limbick · 04-20-2005, 03:25 PM

If it were the throwout bearing, would it be constant? I only ask because after sitting overnight, it was fine this morning. I could feel it starting to act up after 10 or 15 minutes of driving into work (after the clutch started stiffening up).

Thanks for answering though

Quote:

Originally posted by tacroteau@Apr 20 2005, 02:18 PM
Well there isnt much left to check. My guess would be the throwout bearing is worn pretty bad, this can cause the clutch to "stick" or basically not provide enough pressure to release.

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