87 clutch won't raise far from floor

[yogi]

I went to use the car today and the clutch would not come up far from the floor, when backing out of my driveway. I put the car into first to go back into my driveway, and the clutch would still not come up more than about an inch. The car was fully in gear at that point. When I got out of the car and pulled the clutch with my hand it came right up and seemed fine.

Looking in the Bentley manual I seem to be looking at the clutch master and/or the slave cylinder, as the possible problems. Does anybody have any other suggestions or possibilities to tell me. Also are these parts hard to change out? thanks,

[87coupe]

Check pedal cluster, then bleed the slave. That's where I would start.

[KTL]

Sounds like classic symptoms of air in the clutch line just like 87 said.

Can you "pump up" the pedal and get a firm clutch pedal? It sounds like all it took was pulling the pedal up to return things to normal.

The master cylinder is a royal PITA to change. Start looking there and then go back to the slave cylinder atop the trans. No signs of leakage anywhere, then bleed the system (be sure to not let the fluid level in the brake/clutch fluid reservoir drop below the elevation of the clutch master cylinder supply hose (the medium sized hose coming out of the middle of the reservoir) or you'll be introducing air into the system once again.

[yogi]

Thanks I will look at these things tomorrow in the day light. There is a chance I got air into the system. About a month ago my brake warning light came on at an autocross event. My brake fluid was pretty low.

[88911coupe]

My '88 has been doing this for the last few months as well. I can hook my toe under the pedal and pull it back and it then works fine. It's most common first thing when I back out of the garage in the a.m., but once I pull the pedal back into place it works perfectly the rest of the day except for on occasion it will do it later in the day. The clutch fluid level stays absolutely the same and I have not seen any sign of a leak. I suspect the fluid is getting past the seal (or whatever) in the slave or master cylinder and then when I pull the pedal up it somehow reseals the seal, if that makes sense.

[KCinBR]

Another thing to check it the roll pin that secures to clutch pedal to the shaft. I had a broken one on my 88 Carerra. Simple fix, low cost but a little aggravating because of where it is.

Hope this helps...................KC

[yogi]

I looked at things today and could find no external leaks. I also couldn't get the clutch problem to happen again. I will bleed the system and watch to see if anything happens. Things like a low level of break fluid or a clutch that stays near the floor.