Here about a month ago I was at a stop light. Had the clutch pushed in and heard a chirping noise. It didn't do it again until last week. Then it became hard to shift as if not having a clutch. Took it to my shop and replaced the throw out bearing and release bearing ( I think those are the ones.) Anyway that fixed the chirping sound from the clutch. The mechanic said the clutch was ok but it's still hard to get into gear. Reverse is the hardest. It's always been hard to get into gear, but not that hard. I have 86k on the truck. Any ideas on what this could be. The mechanic thought it may be the hydraulic side of the clutch. Before I go throwing parts at it I would see if anybody experinced the same problem as me. Any thoughts would be great! Thanks in advance for the help.

Kimrey

 

I guess I was the only one with this problem? Oh well I will look elswhere.

 

For reverse, while tyring for reverse, just slightly letting the clutch out a "SMALL" amount to rotate the gears inside the tranny into alignment and it'll pop right into reverse. This is a SMALL amount, not like you're trying to start moving. It's a "feel" thing but easy to figure out.

 

My old 1972 Dodge pickup was like that... But OlBlue is right it a feel thing you want just enough clutch to move the gears a little. Most old trucks had this problem but seem to disappear on the newer trucks.

I always thought it was the pilot bearing that was the one that made it hard to shift. Being that the pilot bearing don't get lube/grease. So once it dry out it will grab the input shift a little as it wears out.

As I see from you message that it will occur again as the tranny ages... Hmm...

 

Kimrey, I havn't noticed any of the problems you are describing on my truck, but I only have 25k on it. hopefully I got a good one. I have been very happy with the tranny so far. Have you questioned the dealer yet? CJ

 

No, I haven't question the dealer yet, because they will want to through parts at it then say they don't know whats wrong. I've tried the clutch thing, that doesen't work either. It's like I'm hitting a brick wall when trying to go into gear. There are times when I force it that the truck will jump, that's when the clutch in pushed in. Thanks for the replies, any other sugestions? Tranny or clutch? I think will be the big question. One mechanic was saying it could be the hadraulic side of the clutch. Any sugestions. I just came back from a 650 mile trip and I was wore out from starting and going into reverse. I definatly need to get this thing fixed.

Thanks, Kimrey

P.S. sorry for sounding grumpy, alot going on and now my cltch and tranny.

 

It sound kinda familiar... I've got a Honda motorcycle with a hydralic clutch. When I would change the fluid in it was extremely difficult to bleed the air out of the system. If you have a air bubble in the lines the clutch will drag and make it hard to change gears.

Also if the slave cylinder fails it hard to change gears too...

You might check / chnage the fluid in it...

 

Mopar1073. Thats what the mechanic said that changed my pilot bearing. He had to leave that slave cylinder out all night, and he said he might had gotten air in it. But he said there was no way to bleed the system. He said it was closed system and I would have to replace it. I haven't priced it yet, trying to see if it might be something else. He also said drive it for awhile and see if it gets better. Well after that trip yesterday, it was not better, but I drove it this morning, and smooth as silk So go figure. I will give it another day or so. Thanks again.

Kimrey

 

There has to be a way to bleed the clutch system! It just like the brake system if there is air in the system it don't work! If he replaces the slave cylinder he has to bleed it too first!... So there is a way to bleed the clutch slave cylinder...

Would someone chime in with a bit more knowledge....I never done my Dodge yet... But have done Chevy's, Ford's, & Honda M/C!!!