Clutch Pedal Sinking - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Boother · 05-13-2018, 08:25 PM

For the second time in my 2014 ZL1, I have a clutch pedal that has sunk to the floor. Over the course of a couple days the pedal begins to get spongy at the top of the travel and gets progressively worse. It eventually does not return to the top position and the engagement point is right at the bottom of travel.

The last time this happened, the dealer replaced the clutch pedal and reservoir cap. That was the solution from GM for a pressure differential that develops in the system. That solution worked for 2000 km.

This is not the same high rpm shift clutch pedal sticking. This is normal daily driving when this develops.

Has anyone else had this issue? Any thoughts before I take it into the dealer and they throw another $700 pedal at it?

608RS · 05-13-2018, 08:31 PM

did the dealership also replace the throwout bearing? if not that's something i'd say have done next, along with a Monster Clutch sleeve for the bearing

Boother · 05-13-2018, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 608RS

did the dealership also replace the throwout bearing? if not that's something i'd say have done next, along with a Monster Clutch sleeve for the bearing

No. Neither the master cylinder or the slave cylinder (throw out bearing) were replaced. The car only has 15000 km on it.

608RS · 05-13-2018, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boother

No. Neither the master cylinder or the slave cylinder (throw out bearing) were replaced. The car only has 15000 km on it.

are you noticing any clutch/brake fluid leaks while the car is parked? this sounds like something is failing, like the throwout bearing. The car should have the full powertrain warranty still, is this something that Chevy is covering?

Boother · 05-13-2018, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 608RS

are you noticing any clutch/brake fluid leaks while the car is parked? this sounds like something is failing, like the throwout bearing. The car should have the full powertrain warranty still, is this something that Chevy is covering?

No fluid leaking anywhere. Powertrain warranty outside of the 3/36 bumper to bumper does not cover clutch or clutch hydraulics (but does cover the slave cylinder as it is bolted to trans.

The first clutch pedal was covered under good will warranty (it was 2 days outside of 3 years).

zman1969 · 05-16-2018, 09:52 AM

I would bleed slave cyl and see if that fixes it. it may be getting air in system
correction: not fix it but makes work again then you know its in the hydraulic system of clutch slave is most likely culprit

ZMEnow · 05-16-2018, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boother

For the second time in my 2014 ZL1, I have a clutch pedal that has sunk to the floor. Over the course of a couple days the pedal begins to get spongy at the top of the travel and gets progressively worse. It eventually does not return to the top position and the engagement point is right at the bottom of travel.

The last time this happened, the dealer replaced the clutch pedal and reservoir cap. That was the solution from GM for a pressure differential that develops in the system. That solution worked for 2000 km.

This is not the same high rpm shift clutch pedal sticking. This is normal daily driving when this develops.

Has anyone else had this issue? Any thoughts before I take it into the dealer and they throw another $700 pedal at it?

They will stay down to the floor if you have been slipping the clutch as you over heat the fluid in the slave cylinder and loose the pressure. Its a shared master cylinder with the brakes so take a look in MC and see if you see brown slag floating on top. If its from an over heat you can pump the pedal around 25 - 40 pumps and that might change the pressure.

If the dealer never blead the clutch pedal after you reported soft pedal they are num chucks. It's not easy to do with out a Speed bleeder which should be installed if you take the trans out..

KaBoom1701 · 05-16-2018, 11:45 PM

Turkey baster, MOTUL RBF 600, suck out as much old fluid as you can from the reservoir and replace with new fluid. Pump clutch 25-30 times. Repeat this process for about 8 times.

You should also perform a brake bleed as well.

Should solve your issue.

GMteSSted · 05-17-2018, 09:08 AM

I had the same problem on my Z/28 and tried everything others are suggesting.
I pulled off the master cylinder and it had been leaking out the back seal.
I never had fluid drops on the garage floor!
The booster and the area below and behind the booster were heavily corroded.
I replaced the master cylinder, the booster (what a pain the booster is to remove) and stripped/repainted the corroded areas.
There have been some other members who have had the same problem.
Good luck!

camguynj · 05-17-2018, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMteSSted

I had the same problem on my Z/28 and tried everything others are suggesting.
I pulled off the master cylinder and it had been leaking out the back seal.
I never had fluid drops on the garage floor!
The booster and the area below and behind the booster were heavily corroded.
I replaced the master cylinder, the booster (what a pain the booster is to remove) and stripped/repainted the corroded areas.
There have been some other members who have had the same problem.
Good luck!

Did you install a separate clutch reservoir ?

Boother · 05-17-2018, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZMEnow

They will stay down to the floor if you have been slipping the clutch as you over heat the fluid in the slave cylinder and loose the pressure. Its a shared master cylinder with the brakes so take a look in MC and see if you see brown slag floating on top. If its from an over heat you can pump the pedal around 25 - 40 pumps and that might change the pressure.

If the dealer never blead the clutch pedal after you reported soft pedal they are num chucks. It's not easy to do with out a Speed bleeder which should be installed if you take the trans out..

Clutch is not slipped. Fluid is clean and clear.

Dealer replaced the pedal assembly, which actually comes with the clutch master cylinder. Assembly replaced and system bled, pedal is great again.

Boother · 05-17-2018, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMteSSted

I had the same problem on my Z/28 and tried everything others are suggesting.
I pulled off the master cylinder and it had been leaking out the back seal.
I never had fluid drops on the garage floor!
The booster and the area below and behind the booster were heavily corroded.
I replaced the master cylinder, the booster (what a pain the booster is to remove) and stripped/repainted the corroded areas.
There have been some other members who have had the same problem.
Good luck!

Was it the brake master or the clutch master that was leaking?

ZMEnow · 05-17-2018, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boother

Clutch is not slipped. Fluid is clean and clear.

Dealer replaced the pedal assembly, which actually comes with the clutch master cylinder. Assembly replaced and system bled, pedal is great again.

I don’t understand, what do you mean the pedal is great again.

Boother · 05-17-2018, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZMEnow

I don’t understand, what do you mean the pedal is great again.

It has proper resistance throughout the pedal stroke instead of nothing until the last inch off the floor.

It also returns normally. Before the repair, it would stay an inch off the floor when released and would need to be pulled back up.

05-13-2018, 08:25 PM	#1
Boother Drives: 14 ZL1 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Calgary Posts: 167	Clutch Pedal Sinking For the second time in my 2014 ZL1, I have a clutch pedal that has sunk to the floor. Over the course of a couple days the pedal begins to get spongy at the top of the travel and gets progressively worse. It eventually does not return to the top position and the engagement point is right at the bottom of travel. The last time this happened, the dealer replaced the clutch pedal and reservoir cap. That was the solution from GM for a pressure differential that develops in the system. That solution worked for 2000 km. This is not the same high rpm shift clutch pedal sticking. This is normal daily driving when this develops. Has anyone else had this issue? Any thoughts before I take it into the dealer and they throw another $700 pedal at it?

05-13-2018, 08:31 PM	#2
608RS Drives: 2015 2ss Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Carol Stream IL Posts: 638	did the dealership also replace the throwout bearing? if not that's something i'd say have done next, along with a Monster Clutch sleeve for the bearing __________________ 2015 Camaro 2ss, NicKey Performance built/tuned

05-16-2018, 09:52 AM	#6
zman1969 Drives: 1969 R/S Z28 302 m20 Endura Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: DFW Posts: 432	I would bleed slave cyl and see if that fixes it. it may be getting air in system correction: not fix it but makes work again then you know its in the hydraulic system of clutch slave is most likely culprit __________________ 1969 RS Z/28 302 1969 Firebird LS6-6 speed TA clone 2015 Zl1

05-16-2018, 11:45 PM	#8
KaBoom1701 KaBoom1701 Drives: 13' ZL1 Red M6 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: I.E. SoCal (Yucaipa) Posts: 8,630	Turkey baster, MOTUL RBF 600, suck out as much old fluid as you can from the reservoir and replace with new fluid. Pump clutch 25-30 times. Repeat this process for about 8 times. You should also perform a brake bleed as well. Should solve your issue. __________________ Mods: Roto-Fab Intake, WW Res. kit & Big Gulp Air Scoop, Elite Catch Can, ATI Super Damper & 18% OD Pulley, LF Idler pulley bracket, Metco CC breather, ID850 Injectors, Stainless Power Headers w/ ceramic coating, TR71X Spark Plugs, JMS Fuel Pump Booster, Bo White TB, Tuned by Ted @ Jannetty Racing, Ron Davis HX, D3 Reservoir, Pfadt 1" Springs, Moreno Camber Plates, ZL1 Addons Splitter guard washers, Tow Hook kit & rock guards, Hurst Shifter Billet Plus 6 Speed Short Shifter, ZL1 DRL lighting harness, ZL1 Recaro Seats.

05-17-2018, 09:08 AM	#9
GMteSSted Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Tennessee Posts: 877 View My Garage	I had the same problem on my Z/28 and tried everything others are suggesting. I pulled off the master cylinder and it had been leaking out the back seal. I never had fluid drops on the garage floor! The booster and the area below and behind the booster were heavily corroded. I replaced the master cylinder, the booster (what a pain the booster is to remove) and stripped/repainted the corroded areas. There have been some other members who have had the same problem. Good luck!