Cant get into gear after downpipe install!

[reverse.rake]

Wtf? Hoping the shifter just needs aligning. I just finished up installing 3" downpipes, everything looks normal but I can't get into gear now, 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th all work when engine is off except for reverse, when engines running none seem to want to go in.

[AudiTechS4]

did you install them ?

what was your install process ?

[reverse.rake]

Yes I did them, I pulled old downpipes out with heatshields (with good amount of strength) and the new 3" pipes slipped in like butter no problems. Brake fluid reservoir is still at full.

[slowSfaux]

Check that you didn't dislodge the line going to the slave. If it's attached, try bleeding it. A small leak won't empty the reservoir immediately, but a small amount of air in the slave can prevent enough travel to disengage the clutch entirely.

[reverse.rake]

Check that you didn't dislodge the line going to the slave. If it's attached, try bleeding it. A small leak won't empty the reservoir immediately, but a small amount of air in the slave can prevent enough travel to disengage the clutch entirely.

Hmm i wouldn't be surprised if I hit the line geting DS heatshield, I'll check it out thanks.

[reverse.rake]

OK so after aligning the shifter I can now get into all gears and reverse but only with engine off. I can put it into 1st and then start it but it wants to pulls forward. I looked at the slave cylinder and the hard line was very sturdy and I couldn't see any marks so I really don't think I hit it after all, I will try bleeding it in a bit regardless and see if it helps. Is there a possibility it's the clutch or TOB that coincidentally went while doing the downpipes?

[reverse.rake]

Managed to get the bleed screw loose, I waited for a bit until fluid came out and I pumped the clutch pedal then tightened the bleed screw.started the car with really low fluid and it went into 1st gear no problem and the clutch stayed disengaged because it didn't creep forward, good news! Unfortunately I'm low on brake fluid now, I turned engine off and went to try again 10 mins later and it won't disengage the clutch anymore again. Do I need a pressure bleeder to do it properly? Thanks in advance to anyone who helps.

[getslideways]

get a buddy to help you bleed it. They pump, you release the bleed screw, tighten the bleed screw, they release, repeat. See if that permanently puts an ends to your issue. Keep an eye to see if you observe and leaks or drips while the clutch pedal is depressed as it would be odd for it to just all of a sudden get air in the lines.

[reverse.rake]

kind of feel like a bit of a tard now lol but thought i would update this anyways as the problem seems fixed, big thanks to slowsfaux and getslideways. Bled the slave cylinder until there was a nice steady stream of brake fluid, topped up fluid reservoir, and pumped the clutch pedal until it stayed fully extended without any assistance. Seems like thats all it was because now i can get into all gears with the engine running (except for reverse, it goes into 1st gear because i still need to align the shifter properly). there's one thing im not sure of, before this occurred the clutch pedal was a little bit harder to depress than it is currently, but not by much so is this a big deal? i guess i will know when i take it for a drive tomorrow.

[getslideways]

anytime

keep us posted on if that solves it permanently or not

[slowSfaux]

There's likely still a bit of air in the slave if it's truly softer than it was prior to the install. But that could just be your mind playing tricks on you. Either way, give it another bleed. Jhm, I believe it was, made a great article on how to bleed it properly. Two things to keep in mind, first raise the rear of the car slightly higher than the front or air will always be trapped in the slave. Two, you have to let the fluid settle between pumps, as that causes aeration.