FLgrinder

Hello all, I bought a 97 a few months ago and have been slowly reading all your helpful tips and applying the ones I can afford for now.
My question is, how can you determine how healthy the clutch is besides the obvious, slipping, which then means it's shot. This is my first truck with a slave cylinder, and no adjustment. Is there an inspection cover anyware? And if there is how much meat should I look for? Friends say that is the problem with the slave cylinders, you can't tell till it's too late. True or False?
The pedal feels solid,grabs not too high and not too low. I want to start using it to tow but buying something used who knows when the clutch was or has been replaced. I'd rather find out in my driveway than on the interstate!
P.S. 5-speed 158K, I like to drive lounging in the seat not sweating in it!!

FLgrinder

Nothing!!!!!!!!!!!


So everyone out there with a stick Dodge is just wingin it till it slips??

JKM

Yes , basically that is about how it seems to go around here, the stock clutches last a long time , at stock power levels, The master/slave cylinder automatically adjust, that is why there is no other adjustment.

I have heard of stock clutches lasting 250k miles in these , and even more. If a clutch is not abused , and slipped very very little when engaging it , it will last as long as the vehicle.

plow

I had over 210,000 on my stock clutch before changing it. It wouldn't slip unloaded but loaded it would slip bad in 4th and 5th.

FLgrinder

Thank you for the responses, I didn't know the stock clutch lasted that long with "good" behavior. I don't know how the previous owner drove it so I'll take it as it goes.
Thanks