I have a 89 F-150 and i thought the clutch was gettig weak until i looked into the resovoir and the fluid seemed to be completely water, that would explain the spongy pedal. I bled the clutch and replaced the slave cylinder on my 95 ford pickup but this one seems to be a little different. How would I go about bleeding this one and wheres the bleeder? thanks

 

It should be the same as your 95 - look on the left side of your trans for the bleeder screw . you need 2 people unless you have a speed bleeder. other than that it's just like bleeding your brakes ,but since you know you have water run lots of brake fluid thru so you can be sure to get rid of that water.

 

the only way that I have been told to bleed a clutch is to pump the ***** out of it. You will probubly be pumping awile. You might even have to double clutch when you shift for the first month or so. I just replaced mine about 3 weeks ago and I still haven't got all the air out. I pump it about an hour each night when I get home. It helps alot.

 

I've played that game too. Finally gave up and made a power bleeder out of a one of those cheap pump up yard sprayers. Just dumped a big bottle of brake fluid in it, pumped it up, pulled the line off of the clutch reservoir and attched the business end of the sprayer to it, opened the valve and climbed under the truck and opened the bleed screw and let her run until all the air was gone. (took most of the fluid in the pump) but when I was done the clutch worked like it was straight off the showroom floor. If you need a better explanation or some pictures shoot me an email @ (Click Here to find out why email addresses are removed from posts.) and I'll explainn it better for you.
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You did not state whether you have the internal or external slave cylinder, but since you did not mention pulling the tranny, I assume you have the external slave cylinder. This procedure is a bit messy, but it has worked every time for me. Make sure the clutch pedal in in the full UP position. Remove the slave cylinder and remove the hydraulic hose. Have a pan ready to catch the fluid as some will leak out. Plug the hose port in the slave cylinder and clean the exterior of the slave cylinder throughly. Very important that there is no dirt on the slave cylinder. Pour a couple of inches of hydraulic fluid in a plastic "cool whip" bowl or other disposable plastic container. Remove the plug from the slave cylinder hose port. Place the hose port end of the slave cylinder into the hydraulic fluid. Push on the plunger until it is all the way IN. Keeping the hose port under the surface level of the fluid, slowly release the plunger to the full OUT . Make sure the port hole stays completely under the surface level of the fluid. Repeat this several times to get all of the air out of the slave cylinder. Leave the slave cylinder in the bowl and make sure the port hole stays under the surface level of the fluid. Put the bowl and slave cylinder under the vehicle, on the floor, near the clutch arm. Now, if you will need a friend to help with the next part. One of you gets under the vehicle the other under the hood at the clutch master cylinder. WEAR YOUR SAFTEY GLASSES FOR THIS. The person under the vehicle will take the slave clyinder out of the bowl, making sure to hold the port hole facing up and that end of the cylinder tilted upward just slightly. Push the retaining pin into the retaining pin hole just enough to keep it from falling out. Hold the slave clyinder in one hand and the hydraulic hose in the other. Remove the cap from the clutch master cylinder. Remove the rubber diaphram insert from the master cylinder. Pour hydraulic fluid into the clutch master cylinder and keep the fluid level near the top at all times. Fluid will start drain out of the hose. Let it run for a couple of minutes and jiggle the hose to help get all the air bubbles out. When all the air is out of the hose, there will be steady stream of clean fluid coming out of the end of the hose, hold the end of the hose over the hose port on the slave cylinder and let the port overflow, then insert the hose into the hose port on the slave cylinder and push the retain pin into place. Reinstall the slave cylinder, clean everything off, and depress the clutch pedal several times to ensure it is working properly. Now, if you don't have a helper, take an empty small plastic brake fluid bottle and cut the bottom out of the bottle. Drill a 1/8" hole in the cap and deburr the hole. Make sure there are no small plastic shavings in the cap. Place the bottle into the clutch master cylinder cap first. Fill the bottle with fluid and quickly get under the vehile and complete the steps as listed above.

 

Thanks to this description by firsttimeford, I've been able to get my truck running again. This was just the kind of detailed information I needed (and no B/S). I hope I can help somebody in the same way someday.