So here is the background. Was at the local dragstrip having some fun on 1320. Make a few runs, 3 in a row, then a good break, then a fourth, after the fourth I came to a stop for a minute, and all the sudden the tranny was very difficult to get into any forward gear while idling, and IMPOSSIBILE to get into revers (very bad grind). With the truck shut OFF it will go into any gear, no problems at all. Also, the hard shifting gets better as speed increases. I heard no bad noises from my truck during any of the runs. The truck runs just fine once in gear.

Any one else with an idea what I messed up? I was thinking maybe bad pilot bearing or something with the hydraulic system with the clutch, like one of the cylinders maybe? Hydraulic fluid is topped off. Also the tranny fluid was changed less than 7500 miles ago to MTL so it ain't the fluid.

How hard is it to get to the pilot bearing?

 

And no there aren't a stack of floor mats under the clutch

 

I notice this after a hard run on the street (or towing heavy). I thought it might be a friction/heat issue with the Con-FE getting too much grip. Always seems to go away after a few shifts in normal driving and my clutch still holds after 50k miles with 1000 lbs of torque

 

Classic complaint for failed clutch cylinder. Replace master and slave as assembly.

 

Do they have these at NAPA or should I get them elsewhere? And about how much we lookin at price wise? Part #?

As for the Con-FE I was really hoping it would be that clutch. Its a newer clutch and I never really laced into the thing, I didn't do boosted launches or nothin....

We'll see what its like with the new cylinders.

 

Forget it - I found a dodge house in town with a smokin deal on the assy. Going to pickup it up now. I'll report back later tonight and we'll see if its the cylinders. I sure hope so! I really dont want to split the tranny to get at that pilot bearing.

 

OK, just need a bit more help. Got the assy from the dodge house, its all back in place except for one thing. The assy came in 2 pieces, with a "plug" sorta looking thing to connect the two halves together, looks just like the SB one

(see here --> http://www.southbendclutch.com/dodge.html )

How do these go together? I just tried to push the male into the female end, but it didn't want to stay in. Should I push harder to get it to lock? Also there is a plastic collar on the male end, what exactly am I supposed to do with it?

TIA

 

push harder till it clicks

 

Thanks. Thats what I was figuring, but I wanted to hear it from someone else. Anyways, I took the truck out for a spin, all is back to normal. Clutch pedal feel is a touch lighter, which is nice. Everything feels about the same.

I'm kinda glad this happened though, cause while I was under the dash I noticed the power wire to my Comp was getting worn, and only a few strands were left of the wire! Looks like the PO didn't put it in a very good spot when he installed it.

Thanks for the help!