97' Z81 Clutch Petal

[AnchorJoe]

I have a 1997 Z81 and my question is pertaining to the clutch system and pressure felt on the petal. When I first drive the truck (cool), the clutch petal feels solid from start to finish and the clutch doesn't engage at this point until the petal is about 4" off the floor. Eventually, when the truck warms up or I stop somewhere and shut it off and get going again, the petal feels a bit weak and engagement happens immediately from the floor. In the meaning of "Weak", I mean I can lightly push on the petal and it goes in about 4-5" before it feels solid again. Anyway, last week I discovered that if I "pop" the petal (push it in and slip my foot off allowing it to jump back up) either at a stand still or while rolling out of gear I have full pressure in the petal again. The result of the weak petal is hard shifting.

I did check the fluid level and it appeared to be good, yet it did look a little cruddy. Would changing the fluid out and bleeding it rectify this situation or am I dealing with a component failure?? Any ideas??

[pies]

just did an 88 with the same problem. first i replaced the slave cylinder on the transmission, that didn't do it so i had to replace the master cylinder. it all works good now. trucks built after 92 you cannot replace these separately. they sell the master and slave and new line all precharged so there is no need to have to bleed the system which was a big pain in the @ss on the 88

[AnchorJoe]

Thanks for the info. I am actually hoping that all I have to do is change the fluid and bleed to rectify the problem. I do know that the slave is inside the bell housing (pain in rear, I'm guessing to change). Seems kind of weird where I can "pop" the petal and full pressure seems to be restored...

[pies]

the 88 idid would work fine when it was cold, but as soon as everythting got hot it would leak a tiny bit of fluid out of the slave cylinder that is why i did it first.

[AnchorJoe]

There are no leaks hot or cold, which is what is making this whole issue very strange as to what the system is doing. Still digging...

[mbumgua]

Sounds like contamination of the fluid of some kind. Changing fluid, bleeding system should work.

[AnchorJoe]

Thanks, that's my first stop. I'll post a response when that is completed and with results..