How to Bleed a Clutch on a 1989 Ford F-350 Truck

The 1989 Ford F-350 one-ton truck was available with a 4.9-liter in-line six-cylinder, a 5.0-liter V-8, 5.8-liter V-8, 7.5-liter V-8, or a 7.3-liter V-8 diesel engine. The 4.9-, 5.0- and 5.8-liter engines use an internal slave cylinder that connects directly to the throw out bearing. The 7.5- and 7.3-liter engines use an external slave cylinder on the side of the transmission bell-housing. Each one has its own bleeding procedure.

Instructions

4.9-, 5.0-, and 5.8-liter Engines With Internal Slave Cylinder

1

Park the F-350 on a level, paved surface and set the parking brake. Raise the front of the F-350 and support it with jack stands on the frame.

2

Add new Dot 3 brake fluid to the master cylinder to the full mark. Leave the cap off the master cylinder.

3

Find the slave cylinder bleeder by tracing the hydraulic line to the bell housing. The line is just below the bleeder.

4

Attach a piece of clear plastic tubing to the end of the bleeder screw and place the other end in a clean, dry, plastic water bottle. Open the bleeder screw. Allow fluid to flow through the tube.

5

Watch the fluid as it comes through the clear tube and look for air bubbles in the fluid. Once only a steady stream of fluid comes through the hose, tighten the bleeder valve. Make certain your assistant keeps the clutch master cylinder full of brake fluid throughout the process.

6

Add fluid to the clutch master cylinder if necessary. Instruct your assistant to press and release the clutch pedal quickly, then wait for two seconds. Repeat this step 10 times.

7

Check the fluid level in the master cylinder and refill as needed. Repeat steps 6 and 7 five times.

8

Instruct your assistant to hold the clutch pedal to the floor. Open the bleeder valve a quarter turn to release any air that was trapped in the hydraulic system. Close the bleeder valve then tell your assistant to release the pedal. If no air bubbles appear in the clear hose, proceed to step 9. If air bubbles do appear, refill the clutch master cylinder and repeat this step.

9

Remove the rubber hose from the bleeder valve. Raise the F-350, remove the jack stands and lower the truck to the ground. Refill the clutch master cylinder as needed.

7.5- and 7.3-liter Engines With External Slave Cyinder

10

Park the F-350 on a level, paved surface and set the parking brake. Raise the front of the F-350 and support it with jack stands on the frame.

11

Find the slave cylinder on the driver side of the bell-housing. Place a drain pan under the slave cylinder. Tap out the pin that holds the hydraulic line onto the slave cylinder with a 3/32 inch punch and hammer. Remove the line from the cylinder.

12

Pry the clip that holds the cylinder onto the cylinder bracket with a flathead screwdriver. Remove the cylinder from the bracket.

13

Pour fresh Dot 3 brake fluid into the hole in the cylinder. Tilt the cylinder so the hole is higher than the rest of the cylinder. Push the cylinder rod in a little bit to make sure all the air is out of it. Mount the cylinder in the bracket and replace the clip. Wipe off the cylinder with a shop rag.

14

Tell your assistant to open the master cylinder cap and top it off with brake fluid. Catch the fluid that flows from the line in the pan. Allow fluid to flow until you get a solid flow with no bubbles in it. Tell your assistant to keep the master cylinder full while fluid is flowing from the line.

15

Push the line into the cylinder and install the pin by hand. Finish installing the pin with the hammer and punch.

16

Raise the front of the F-350, remove the jack stands and lower it to the ground.