Bleeding clutch system - manual gearbox — AUDI
Bleeding clutch system - manual gearbox on Audi: 14 steps. What to remove, in what order, and what to check after.
Bleeding the hydraulic clutch on manual-gearbox cars on the platform codes listed below (42) uses pressure bleeding equipment on the brake fluid reservoir rather than pedal pumping alone. To reach the reservoir the air cleaner housing and the cowl panel trim come off, and the trim is easily damaged, so take it off carefully. Before opening anything, the aperture on the gearbox is stuffed with a clean cloth, because brake fluid must not run into the clutch housing. With the bleeder hose on, the screw is opened and about 100 cm3 is let through, the pedal is worked at least 10 times, then another 50 cm3 is bled off. A tight-fitting bleeder hose and the cloth in the aperture are the two details that matter.
🧭 Before you start
Remove the air cleaner housing and the cowl panel trim, then connect the filling and bleeding unit to the brake fluid reservoir. Plug the gearbox aperture with a clean cloth and fit a bleeder hose to the bleeder screw. Open the screw and let about 100 cm3 out, close it, operate the clutch pedal at least 10 times, then open again and let about 50 cm3 out. Close the screw, refit the cap, disconnect the equipment and reinstall the trim and air cleaner.
Fits: platform code 42
- Opens: brake fluid
Don't miss
- Seal the gearbox aperture with a clean cloth so brake fluid cannot enter the clutch housing.
- Keep the bleeder hose firmly on the screw throughout so no air is drawn in.
- Operate the clutch pedal at least 10 times between the two bleed passes.
- Take care not to damage the cowl panel trim when removing it.
- Brake fluid strips paint; rinse any spills off straight away as general practice.
Written for this job from the workshop steps below · TorqFix editorial.
📋 Procedure
- ⚠ Observe safety precautions and requirements for handling brake fluid Brake system47Bleeding brake system.Brake fluid specification Brake system47Bleeding brake system — Remove air cleaner housing Injection and ignition system24.
- Remove cowl panel trim General body repairs, exterior50.
- ⚠ Take care not to damage the cowl panel trim. — Connect brake filling and bleeding equipmentVAS 5234 to brake fluid reservoir.
- Seal off aperture on gearbox (arrow) with a clean cloth. [Note: This is necessary to prevent brake fluid from entering the clutch housing.]
- Remove protective cap from bleeder screw (B) and fit bleeder hose (A).
- Switch on bleeding equipment, open bleeder screw (B) and allow approx. 100 cm3 of brake fluid to come out. [Note: Ensure bleeder hose is correctly fitted during bleeding operation.]
- Close bleeder screw (B).
- Operate clutch pedal at least 10 times.
- Open bleeder screw (B) once again and allow approx. 50 cm3 of brake fluid to come out.
- Close bleeder screw (B).
- Disconnect bleeder hose and fit protective cap.
- Detach brake filling and bleeding equipmentVAS 5234 from brake fluid reservoir.
- Install cowl panel trim General body repairs, exterior50.
- Install air cleaner housing Injection and ignition system24.
Other AUDI procedures
- Removing and installing toothed belt – Audi · 56 torque figures
- Removing engine – Audi A8 D3 · 41 torque figures
- Removing camshaft timing chain from camshafts – Audi A6/A7 C7 · 38 torque figures
- Installing engine – Audi A8 D4 · 36 torque figures
- Removing and installing camshaft timing chain · 29 torque figures
- Removing and installing starter - vehicles with 1.4 ltr. TFSI engine and dual clutch gearbox
- Removing and installing starter - vehicles with 1.6 ltr. engine
- TDI injection and glow plug system (4-cyl. 1.6 ltr. 4-valve common rail) — Filling and bleeding fuel system
- Removing and installing intake air temperature sender G42 / intake manifold pressure sender G71
- Renewing stub shaft oil seal (right-side) with bevel box installed
Who makes these pages, and how
TorqFix was built by a mechanic — after a 2,700 km drive with five roadside repairs that no diagnostic tool could explain.
The figures on this page come from manufacturer workshop documentation and are shown as they are. The page is assembled automatically from that data — it is not written by an AI. The AI works in the chat, where it answers for your specific car. It writes nothing here.
Variants of the same model differ. Cross-check torque against the factory manual for your engine before final tightening.
Seen a figure that does not match your manual? Write to us — we correct it and note when. support@torqfix.com
The story behind TorqFix →Workshop data on this page last updated 20 Sep 2026.