Air in the Clutch Hydraulics?

[freddie2020]

Hi,

09 Golf MK6 GT TDI 140 Manual, 100k

The clutch is very random, sometimes high bit point sometimes low. Sometimes the 1st half of the travel light and 2nd harder and visa versa.

From research the clutch slave cylinder is a weak point on these cars. But if was that would the clutch not just fail?

Why this random feel of pedal? I am lead to think some sort of air in the lines shifting about.

Thanks

[cuprabob]

Personally, I would have the brake fluid replaced and the system bled and see if that improves things.

The normal symptom of a faulty slave cylinder is the clutch pedal not returning.

[chrisch77]

If the clutch feeling is variable then it is unlikely to be air in the system ‘moving around’ as a bubble of air would remain compressible no matter where it sits in the clutch line. At 100k I suspect you are more likely to have a knackered (seized) release bearing and probably worn fingers on the clutch diaphragm spring. The variation you feel is possibly temperature related depending on how hot the rubbing metal parts are.

Are there any nasty noises when operating the clutch?

I would budget for a clutch replacement in the near future...

[freddie2020]

Had the brake fluid done about 20k ago, by a VW specialist which I think involves bleeding and then running the ABS pump with VSDS? After the brakes were much better but clutch the same.

Bought the car with 54k (so not too sure of the type of driving before), had the same clutch issue, but it has not got any worse, always the same variable of clutch feel.

Sometimes from cold it will judder, then goes away. Could this be oil leaking onto the friction surfaces, then getting burnt off?

I think a new clutch and DMF are in order, just trying to save myself £700+ if it was a simple bleed issue.

[cuprabob]

freddie2020 said:

Sometimes from cold it will judder, then goes away.

I have a Scirocco diesel and the clutch judders slightly when cold and has done since I bought it new and it's now on 87k miles. Others owners have have reported similar.