Clutch engages higher when warm

[Dane Becher]

I have been noticing some weird engagement issues with my clutch (ACT2100 w/ organic street disc). First thing in the morning when everything is cold, my clutch engages and grabs a couple inches from the floor. It feels about right. After driving around a while and things heat up, I can feel the clutch start to drag around where it engages when cold, only it doesn't fully grab until the pedal comes up a couple more inches. I have never felt it slip like it is worn out (i.e. 5th gear pull).

I'm having a hard time understanding why. I wonder if my disc is warped or possibly my TO bearing is sticking (it's the plastic sleeve style, I think I ordered it from RRE).

Clutch (disc, PP, TO bearing, FW surface) is about 8 years old with about 30k miles on it. I had an issue with the master cyl a few months ago, it wasn't disengaging fully, so I rebuilt the MC and bled the system really good with fresh fluid. Hydraulics looked good. Whatever problem I'm having now is what prompted me to rebuild the MC (clutch would drag worse when warm/hot).

Anyone have any ideas why my clutch is acting like this?

[Cloud]

Is it possible that it wasn't bled completely, or that air is still getting and is giving you a little bit of a pump up effect as you drive?

[Dane Becher]

Is it possible that it wasn't bled completely, or that air is still getting and is giving you a little bit of a pump up effect as you drive?

I don't think so. I bled that thing like there was no tomorrow. Plus my bleeding technique really doesn't allow for air to be sucked back in. I use a piece of vac line attached to the bleeder nipple and the other end submerged in a can of fluid. I always close the bleeder before all the pressure is released. I never let the res. go empty so I cannot see how it could have sucked air.

Though it might be worth another shot, sure as hell beats a clutch job!

Any other thoughts?

[Overkill]

I believe he was also saying that it may be possible one of your connections needs tightened a little more as it may be letting the smallest amount of air in the system. I see no reason for the clutch mechanically to function better after driving a while other than a hydraulic issue being present.

What happens if you pump the hell out of the pedal before even driving the car and then start it up and drive it. Does it act like it should?

[Dane Becher]

I've tried to duplicate the 'pump up effect' this AM to no avail. Clutch grabbed a few inches off the floor, right where I like it. When it's warm, i.e. 70* day and I've been driving for 30 mins or so (sometimes not using the clutch much), at the very same spot where it grabs when cold, I feel it just drag a little. It grabs up top instead.

I still can't get away from the fact it does it when the engine is fully up to temp and never when it is cold. Maybe heat on the hydraulics, I don't know.

[Overkill]

My Honda civic would do the same thing it sounds like. When the weather was cold the seal in the master cylinder would leak a little due to the seal being cold and not sealing correctly. When it was warm out the seal would seal fine and the clutch would work correctly.

Some of those rebuild kits don't cut it for fixing the clutch master cylinder and you might consider replacing the entire unit instead. I fixed my Honda with a complete replacement unit from Autozone. A 1g unit is only $44 + tax from Autozone so you might go that route.