How to bleed the clutch on a Ford Focus 2 - bleeding, adjusting the pedal

There are a number of signs that indicate that the Ford Focus II clutch should be bled as soon as possible. So, if, when the pedal is fully depressed, the clutch does not disengage 100%, and a grinding noise occurs when reverse gear is engaged, this situation may indicate the presence of air in the assembly. In addition, if the lubricant was changed or repairs were made due to the loss of tightness of the unit, this also becomes an indication for working with the clutch.

The main factor on the basis of which a car’s clutch is pumped is the removal of air from the lubricants. The clutch cannot operate correctly when there is air in the mechanism. So, if any problems were discovered in the functioning of this unit, you should begin to eliminate them, because further operation of the vehicle can be dangerous.

The greatest efficiency when pumping is possible only if you check and adjust the pedal, since it will be necessary to absolutely exclude the movement of the piston pusher, which acts as a shut-off valve.

How to bleed the clutch on a Ford Focus II

Next, you need to understand how to bleed the clutch on a Ford Focus II. For this action it is important to have certain devices on hand:

Various screwdrivers and wrenches;
Container for old brake grease;
New fluid to add to the system;
Tube for pumping out liquid.

To make the work go quickly and comfortably, you should ask a friend to help you. The Ford Focus 2 clutch pumping itself occurs according to the following scheme:

To remove air from the working cylinder, you need to unscrew the valve cap.
We put the hose on the valve and lower the other end into the container for draining. We press the clutch 4-5 times and press the pedal, holding it in this position.
Slightly unscrew the valve, supporting the connection of the switching drive. If this procedure is carried out correctly, bubbling grease will flow into the container.
Unscrew the fitting a little more, screw in the valve, starting to slightly press the clutch. If the clutch on a Ford Focus 2 is lost, this process should be performed until all brake lubricant is completely cleared of bubbles.
Now you can tighten the valve, install the cap and add the required amount of new lubricant to the assembly.

It is important to understand that when performing these actions, it is important not to forget about monitoring the fluid level - you must not allow the lubricant level to fall below the minimum limit. It is necessary to fill in new fluid in a timely manner so that the system does not become saturated with air, otherwise the entire pumping procedure will be in vain and will need to be performed again.

When you have completed pumping, you should make sure that the entire system is working correctly. Squeeze the clutch and watch the placement of the piston pusher. The travel of this unit should be within 28 millimeters, but if the existing indicators do not match, adjustment of the clutch pedal is required.

The brake fluid should be a lubricant recommended by the car manufacturer. If you ignore the situation and use other products, the rubber elements may increase, which often causes the entire clutch to fail.

When is it necessary to bleed the clutch?

There are several signs that can indicate that the clutch on your second generation Ford Focus needs bleeding. Firstly, if when you press the pedal all the way, the clutch does not disengage 100% (people say that it is driven), and a grinding noise is observed when reverse gear is engaged. This could mean air is getting into the hydraulic drive. Secondly, if you are changing the hydraulic fluid or repairing the system due to its depressurization, then you will also need to work on the clutch.

The main reason why the clutch is pumped is to remove air from the cylinders, or more precisely from the brake fluid. The fact is that if there is air in the system, the clutch will not work correctly - it will not disengage completely, and the pedal itself will be very light. Therefore, if you find problems with the clutch system, you need to fix them as quickly as possible, since operating a Ford Focus with any damage is simply dangerous.

It should be noted that bleeding will be most effective if you adjust the clutch itself in advance. This is explained by the fact that there must be a complete absence of free play of the cylinder piston pusher, which acts as a locking valve.

Features of repair of the Ford Focus 2 air conditioning compressor

Useful tips for long-term use of the Ford Focus 2 clutch

In order for the entire assembly to work smoothly and for a long time, you should not keep the clutch clamped for a long time. Beginning car owners often suffer from this after studying at a driving school. There are two dangers in this situation:

Your leg will get tired quickly.
The pedal remains in the depressed position, that is, the driven disk slips and wears out. Although the release bearing assumes a long service life, constant pressing and holding will reduce the life of the part.

If you had to stand in a traffic jam or at a traffic light, it is better to put the car in neutral and use the clutch only while driving. When the clutch slips, it is noticeable on the tachometer readings. If pressing the gas pedal sharply increases the speed, but soon it drops, and only then the car begins to accelerate, it’s time to adjust the clutch pedal. The assembly may need to be completely replaced.

When will we bleed the clutch?

Bleeding the clutch on the second Focus is necessary in cases where we decide to replace the brake fluid due to wear or after repairing the working or master cylinder of the clutch hydraulic drive. In addition, bleeding cannot be avoided if air gets into the hydraulic drive system. This can happen due to our oversight, when the fluid level in the tank drops below the minimum and when trying to disengage the clutch, air is sucked into the system along with the fluid.

Ford Focus 2 clutch parts

Bleeding will get rid of air in the line, and it is easy to find out that there is air in the system - if the clutch does not disengage completely after the first press of the pedal, but after several repeated presses it still separates the flywheel and the basket, you can guarantee that the system air got in. Before pumping the system, you need to determine whether everything is in order with the tightness of the line, whether there are any leaks on the body of the main and working cylinders, and whether liquid is leaking into the passenger compartment along the engine shield. Once you have verified that the system is working properly or the leak has been eliminated, you can begin pumping.

For work, we will need a 17mm wrench and a special 11mm split wrench for the brake system fittings, as well as new, clean brake fluid.

In addition, you will need a tube that can be put on the fitting and a clean container with a small amount of brake fluid. And an assistant, since it’s possible to work alone, but it’s extremely inconvenient. Let's start pumping.

What clutch malfunctions are common on Ford Focus II cars?

To know how to check the clutch on a Ford Focus 2, you need to know common problems with this unit. So, the clutch may not fully engage, for which there are reasons:

The pedal travel has decreased - it’s worth figuring out how to adjust the clutch and performing this action.
The driven disk failed, and the end runout exceeded 0.5 millimeters. This situation requires replacing the lining or the entire assembly.
The hubs of the driven disk become jammed under the conditions of the starting shaft of the gearbox. The solution is to clean the splines and apply a special lubricant to them. If jamming occurs as a result of wear or damage to the splines, you will need to replace the input shaft or the disk itself.
The friction plate is broken or the rivet is loose. Replacing failed elements will help resolve the situation.
There is air in the hydraulic drive - it is necessary to bleed the clutch as quickly as possible.
Lubricant leaks from the main cylinder or hydraulic contacts. There is no need to hesitate here either. In the first situation, you need to change the cylinder, and in the second, stretch the contacts or install new elements instead of worn ones.
If the pressure plate is damaged or the spring rivets are loose, replace the assembly housing.

The following situation is when the clutch is not fully activated. The problems and solutions are:

The node is worn out or damaged - you should find the problem and get rid of it.
Lubricant appears on the friction plates of the driven disc on the back of the pressure and flywheel. The best solution to the problem is to use white spirit to wipe all surfaces.
Significant wear or sticking of the plates, which can be corrected by replacing the linings or driven disk.
The free play has disappeared - the system drive needs to be adjusted.

When the clutch is activated on the Ford Focus II, jerking may occur, which is a consequence of the following factors:

Excessive wear of the driven disk plates, which can be solved by installing new product components.
If the hub is stuck, it is necessary to clean the splines using special lubricant LSC15. If the splines are damaged, the only solution is to install a new input shaft or driven disk.
Loosening the rivets of the disc plates - installing new plates or rivets.
Jamming of the system mechanism - we look for damaged elements and replace them.
There is oil on the friction plates of certain system elements - you need to wipe the coating with a solvent and get rid of the cause of this problem.

Another unpleasant situation is that when disengaged the clutch is too noisy. This situation occurs when there are problems with the bearing, and it is best to replace this element. Sounds can also occur when the unit is activated, which occurs as a result of a decrease in the strength of the damper springs, loss of brake fluid, or failure of the linings. All problems can be resolved by replacing parts.

Some features of the Ford Focus 2 hydraulic clutch

Focus car owners often ask how to adjust the clutch if the pedal “snaps” late. It should be noted that on this model the Ford GPS is not adjustable; somehow changing the operation of the unit can only be done by pumping the hydraulics.

Another interesting solution from the Ford concern, used in the design of the car, is combining the RCS with a release bearing, so to replace the working cylinder you have to remove the gearbox. Also, extra work is added when changing the clutch release, because in any case you need to pump the clutch.

When the PS is easily pressed, “pushed” to the end almost with your fingers, most likely the clutch master cylinder (MCC) is faulty. If the standard location of this part on many passenger cars is under the hood, next to the wiper panel, then on the Focus the GCS is located much lower, in close proximity to the clutch pedal, and is connected to it mechanically.

The clutch basket and disc on these cars usually last for 100-150 thousand km, much depends on operating conditions. But the release bearing may fail much earlier, and in this case you will still have to remove the gearbox and do quite serious repairs.

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The sequence of dismantling and installing the friction clutch

It’s worth noting right away that if you plan to install the old pressure plate, you should mark its relative position with the flywheel with paint. This will help keep the parts balanced in the future.

The procedure for replacing the Ford Focus 2 clutch begins with removing the air filter and battery, after which the work is carried out according to the following points:

Unscrew the three gearbox mounting bolts from the engine compartment side.
Jack up the car and drain the gearbox oil.
Unscrew the lower engine support, the ball joint nuts and remove the wheel drives.
Unscrew and remove the gearbox.
Unscrew the 6 bolts securing the basket and, holding the flywheel from turning with a screwdriver, remove the part and the driven disk.
Make the necessary replacement and screw the basket, centering it on the three pins of the flywheel.

Subsequent assembly steps occur in reverse order. The driven disk is installed so that the inscription “Gearbox-side” is on the gearbox side.

Having a basic set of keys, a jack and a little desire will allow the owner of a Ford Focus II to quickly get the car into working condition. Another important incentive is saved funds that can be spent on purchasing the desired accessory.

What you need to know to bleed the Ford Focus 2 clutch