[urq] Bad clutch master cylinder?

[Buchholz, Steven]

You've got a lot of symptoms ... which have varied possible culprits ...
some of them contradictory ... but IMO very few of them point to a
clutch M/C.  

... that said ... on the topic of replacing the clutch M/C ... keep in
mind that the M/C is easily rebuilt for considerably less than $150 ... 
> 
> I was wondering if folks could help me out with this one.  My car
seems to be
> having issues with the clutch.  Here are all the symptoms so far:
> 
> - Gear lever is hard to pull into neutral after sitting over-night
(initial
> pull)

[assumption] this is with the engine running.
To my mind this is most likely due to cold lube in the transmission ... 

> - Car seem to pull forward slightly (with clutch in) in initial
start-up, then
> no problem

This one is not that uncommon and is probably due to the clutch plate
being a bit sticky on the splines ... 

> - Gear lever gets hard to pull out of 3rd gear after trans warms up
(no issue
> when cold)

... this one sounds like the first one ... 

> - No problems shifting into ANY gear
> - No grinding sounds at all
> - Trans shifts perfectly when cold

These types of reports speak against a problem with the clutch M/C and
slave functionality.  It sounds as though the clutch is being fully
disengaged.  
> 
> I bled the clutch the other day and noticed air bubbles in the bleeder
line
> when my buddy pumped the clutch.  I can't help but think the seals in
the MC
> might be bad.  I would like to verify before I order this $150 part
though.
> 
... this seems so odd to me ... there does not tend to be much suction
in the clutch hydraulic system to promote leaks ... if there's a problem
letting air in without pressure, I'm inclined to believe that you'd also
see fluid leaking out when it 

I assume that you've completely gone over the shift linkage ...
replacing any wobbly ball joints and worn plastic bits.  You may have a
bit of stickiness inside the bellhousing ... but even that's not
completely clear based on your symptoms.  

Happy hunting!
Steve B
San Jose, CA (USA)