Leaky bleeder valve on Slave Clutch Cylinder

[PamPoovey]

I have not found anyone with this exact topic, but googling has led me to a similar, but with calipers (for the two I found, they kept replacing the caliper until they got ones that didn't continuously bleed, going through around 4 of them before they got ones that didn't bleed). So I would love your opinion because this is bonkers!

 

I have bought Nissan, which is not easy to find. The first one wouldn't stop bleeding from the valve. Second one, wouldn't stop bleeding from the valve. I tried a made in China one that was supposed to be made in Taiwan, wouldn't stop bleeding from the valve. It is two hours past my bed time, but this vehicle has been down going on three weeks now with trying to have a reliable part and having to track down a Nissan that actually has it in stock. 

 

Any of you think it's me and not the part, that's fine. I never intended to be this involved when it came to vehicle repairs. 

 

Is it the slave clutch? is it defective and I am having a bad string of luck? Is it the bleeder valve? 

 

Side note, i didn't want made in China because it would probably fail within a year. 

[Slartibartfast]

I had an issue with my brakes a while back that led to me replacing the master cylinder multiple times, thinking the prop valves were faulty. I never nailed down what was actually wrong (I suspect I had a particularly stubborn air bubble holed up in one of the unions in the rear circuit), but it sure wasn't the MCs I kept replacing while chasing the bastard. I wouldn't be shocked at one bad new part, but three in a row from three different sources would have me checking my work before ordering another one.

 

Are you certain it's leaking from the bleeder, and not from somewhere else in the clutch plumbing (lines, fittings, damper)? A leak upstream that's running down the outside of the plumbing could drip from about the same place, and would explain why replacing the slave three times hasn't fixed it. If you're not sure where it's coming from, prop up your phone, set it to record, pump the clutch, and check the footage to see where it sprayed from. (Might want to set it back a ways so you don't douse your phone in brake fluid.)

 

Hell, are you sure it's leaking at all? I bleed brakes with a clear tube over the nipple on the bleeder, which works fine, except that it tends to leak and pull in air between the bleeder and the hose, or (if the bleeder's open) around its threads. This can make it look like you're flushing out a whole bunch of air, when you're not, which has tripped me up in the past. If in doubt, pop the hose off, see if it still looks like it's leaking.

 

If you are definitely 100% seeing fluid come out of the bleeder, when you know it's tight, I'd check the pointy end of the bleeder and the hole it goes in for any obvious defects, buggered threads, or swarf. You might be able to see a witness mark around the end of the bleeder where it's supposed to be sealing off the hole--see if that mark goes the whole way around, or if there's a garf across that mark that would prevent the surfaces from sealing. If you've got the old one sitting around, and you can get its bleeder out, I would compare it to the new ones to see what the hell changed.

 

I hate hydraulics. Good luck!

[PamPoovey]

Thank you for taking the time to write me a novel

 

It sounds like user error but this is so basic.(Two 14mm bolts, 12mm hydraulic bolt, 8mm.nleeder valve tighten to close loosen to allow bleed). I replaced this slave last time about 9yrs ago and replaced the one on my 02 earlier this year. 

 

I am underneath and seeing just the bleeder valve leaking on all three. The screw comparison, I have previously done.

 

I definitely need to figure out what is causing it: me or the part. 

[CamperDan]

I recommend double checking the banjo bolt that connects the clutch hydraulic hose to the clutch slave cylinder to make sure it's tight. Although if this is your issue I would imagine you would see brake fluid dripping from the banjo bolt and not you're bleeder valve.

 

Chris.

[PamPoovey]

 Thank you for all your advice! Right, I made sure I had a clear view of the valve and the banjo bolt. 

 

My son too the air compressor air gun attachment to the slave clutch cylinder. I also got an assortment of bleeder screws from Amazon and that resolved the issue. I don't know which one resolved the issue but grateful my 95 is back on the road

[Slartibartfast]

Weird. Good to hear it's back together!

[PamPoovey]

It is weird! There was a slight difference in the one from Amazon & the one it came with. For instance, the Amazon one only had one bleeder hole in the thread area & it was slighty poinntier. 

 

Slartibartfast, the Nissan from where it came, I got a special email with it; the chap thanked me for keeping a manual transmon the road.

 

Thank you for your help!!! I might had just returned this slave without your guidance. 

[FirstGenFreak]

16 hours ago, PamPoovey said:

Nissan from where it came, I got a special email with it; the chap thanked me for keeping a manual transmon the road.

 

That's amazing! We need more guys like this

[level9]

bleeder valves are one of the few things I will actually use teflon tape on and for this reason, in addition to anti-rust/seizing.