Clutch feels funky

[-The Stig-]

I recently picked up a 2001 LS1 Z28 about a month ago.

Been talkin to Bobby (2000LS1Z28) and I've noticed when I drive her hard and hit that 1-2 shift, the clutch feels like it heats up or the fluid does.. and it gets all spongy.

I had the fluid flushed out... cause it was all icky and dirty and gritty. Now it's clean and pretty like it should be. The spongyness isn't as bad as it was, but it still happens a tad when I'm driving hard.

Around town, puttin along it does fine. And doesn't feel like it's slipping.


Ideas?

[FormulaLT1]

How long ago was it flushed and are you sure all the air was removed from the lines?

[-The Stig-]

It was flushed, maybe two weeks ago.

And it looks like the air got out, I don't see any bubbles in the resovoir. Any other way to check? I'd hate to flush it again, it took long enough to have it flushed by a mechanic...

I can't imagine trying to reach that damn bleeder thing. I couldn't even find it... mostly cause the car was partially on a jackstand and just got done running so the thought of crawling under with an exhaust pipe in your face wasn't appealing...

But yea... I have do desire to attempt that task myself.

[FormulaLT1]

Are you dropping the clutch from real high when it happens?. Cause if you heat up the clutch too much alot of times it will get spongy, also sometimes after bleeding either brakes or clutches they feel spongy for the first 1k miles althought it may be another issue. The bleeding process is pretty simple though, the bleeder screw is somewhat of a pain to get to but once you do, just need to use a plastic line and the other end you put in a jar of fluid and slowly depress the clutch and hold it til there are no more air bubbles in the jar then close and fill up. Its a 2 person job withour a vacuum pump but pretty simple. If I was to bet on what was happening , I would say you still have some air in the line but how many miles are on the car?

[-The Stig-]

Originally Posted by FormulaLT1

Are you dropping the clutch from real high when it happens?. Cause if you heat up the clutch too much alot of times it will get spongy, also sometimes after bleeding either brakes or clutches they feel spongy for the first 1k miles althought it may be another issue. The bleeding process is pretty simple though, the bleeder screw is somewhat of a pain to get to but once you do, just need to use a plastic line and the other end you put in a jar of fluid and slowly depress the clutch and hold it til there are no more air bubbles in the jar then close and fill up. Its a 2 person job withour a vacuum pump but pretty simple. If I was to bet on what was happening , I would say you still have some air in the line but how many miles are on the car?

Not really, I've dropped the clutch like twice just fucking around getting used to it. And it heats up... but it also heats up like if you just come of the line hard and shift hard on the 1-2 shift... then the clutch sorta hovers down at the floor and the 2-3 shift may be an issue. I've never really gone much past that due to the clutch not returning.

I'll take it back and have them check to make sure there isn't any air in the system.

The car has abit over 62,000 on it now. I got it with a hair over 60,000. I've done alot of driving with it since I got it...

Did a LA to Phoenix trip in it... averaged 27.4mpg on the way out there... albeit it was during the middle of the night and we didn't need to use A/C just the vent. Coming home, it was 110+ outside, so max A/C and traffic caused us to average 24.5mpg. Not bad for V8 in my opinion.

Now, If I could just find away for it to do that around town... with out me pushing the car in neutral. I'd be set.

That was a whopping 750 miles right there. Drove fine... as it should.. it's a Chevy.

[FormulaLT1]

Well 60K really isn't much for a clutch but if the driver before you was not that easy on the car I could see it starting to go or it could be a faulty master cylinder after being driven with crudded up fluid for who knows how long. The easiest fix ofcourse and most likely cause is air in the system which for anyone that has done brake systems can tell you, sometimes you have to bleed hydrolic system 3-4 times to get all the air out. Good luck man.

[-The Stig-]

Yeah... if it's something that can be fixed with my warranty that'd be great.

Although, how do you explain to them that it only happens when you're beating the shit outta the car? I mean, you can only say "Like when you're merging onto the freeway and get on it... yeah... ... only when you're really getting on it.. but not racing..." so many times.

[FormulaLT1]

Well its a sports car they aren't stupid (well most of them), I would just be honest have them replace it now rather than down the line when it could leave you stranded

[goldz28]

I had the same problem not to long ago. My slave cylinder went out. When I had it fixed the mechanic forgot to put the hose behind the heat sheild. The h/p hose was laying against the manafold. When he put it back it fixed the problem.