Clutch engaging too low

[yjfever]

Just swaped to an AX15 on my 1989 YJ jeep. Having the clutch too tight: engaging with pedal ½ inch from the floor. Gears grind most of the times. Slave was bleeded correctly following manufacturing instructions...no air in clutch line. Any easy solution to this situation? Thank you. Note: external slave...

 

[Flyer58]

With a hydraulic clutch there's not may options as it's not adjustable like the cable type in other vehicles.

Basics first, I've heard of people installing the clutch slave cylinder or plumbing it upside down, with the bleeder below the hydraulic line. That little bleeder nipple needs to be above the line to ensure all air gets out. You said AX-15 so the slave cylinder should be an external one, not internal, Correct?

Next, it's much easier as a two person job so one can see if there's any air. On my internal slave I went through close to a full pint before all the trapped air got out. Maybe someone here has a better way to bleed the system. Keep the reservoir full because it it sucks air in you'll be back to square one. It's either that or the end connections are still not tight or either the master/slave rubber rings are going bad.

 

[yjfever]

With a hydraulic clutch there's not may options as it's not adjustable like the cable type in other vehicles.

Basics first, I've heard of people installing the clutch slave cylinder or plumbing it upside down, with the bleeder below the hydraulic line. That little bleeder nipple needs to be above the line to ensure all air gets out. You said AX-15 so the slave cylinder should be an external one, not internal, Correct?

Next, it's much easier as a two person job so one can see if there's any air. On my internal slave I went through close to a full pint before all the trapped air got out. Maybe someone here has a better way to bleed the system. Keep the reservoir full because it it sucks air in you'll be back to square one. It's either that or the end connections are still not tight or either the master/slave rubber rings are going bad.

Thank you...YJ Addict: both master and slave cylinder are new. It is an external slave as indicated on my post. An expert suggested me to put 2 washers between the slave and the bellcase like a spacer to move back the slave. Not sure if this may work. Believe the situation will get worse...please comment. Thank you.

 

[Flyer58]

Thank you...YJ Addict: both master and slave cylinder are new. It is an external slave as indicated on my post. An expert suggested me to put 2 washers between the slave and the bellcase like a spacer to move back the slave. Not sure if this may work. Believe the situation will get worse...please comment. Thank you.

I agree with you that by adding washers it may make it worse.

An interesting issue I've read about is some aftermarket parts have a pushrod from the slave that is too short for the YJ AX-15. So a questions are - is it the correct length and not being pushed far enough, or, is it pushed as far as it can go but the rod is not long enough.

Often the main reason goes back to bleeding the air out.

Maybe someone here can say what the proper length of the rod should be.

Here's what Google A I has to say. Doesn't mean they're right:


AI Overview



For Jeep YJ external slave cylinders (typically 1994–1995 or converted AX-5/AX-15 systems), the slave cylinder itself generally has a total travel of about 1.25 inches
. While the exact push rod length can vary by manufacturer, common replacement slave cylinder push rods are designed to fit the external clutch fork without needing manual adjustment, usually with a total assembly length of around 3 to 3.5 inches for the rod and piston combined.
Key Considerations for YJ External Slave Cylinders:

• Pre-bled Systems: The external slave is often sold as a pre-bled unit with the master cylinder, making the specific push rod length less critical than ensuring the unit is properly seated against the fork.
• Slave Cylinder Travel: The piston inside the external slave typically provides roughly
  
  
  
  
  inches of total travel to actuate the clutch.
• Spacer Use: If the push rod seems too short, check if your Jeep requires a spacer between the slave cylinder and the transmission case (common when mixing and matching earlier/later parts).
• Alternative Identification: Some aftermarket kits list similar push-type slave cylinders with a 3.243-inch overall length.