Mine has always been harsh to get in gear from stop... I just deal with it... if I can improve it I will try, but kind of nature of big heavy trans.... Shifts great once rolling though...

 

Mine is easy to get into gear at a stop shifts good on the roll but needs to loosen up a bit if I'm gonna speed shift it, since the short shifter I tend to miss 5th a lot

 

3rd gear is the hard one on my tranny. The synchros are shot (the DD helped that along), and it will grind almost all the time now. Reverse is the other hard one, doesn't feel like it totally engages. But thats more of a tranny issue than clutch. I figure if its easy to miss the 2-3 shift, than just lose it entirely. When I do the 3rd gear launch right, it puts a big smile on my face. Sucks when I botch it and let the clutch out too soon.

 

I just installed a South Bend DD with the upgraded hydraulics in my 06 and at first I had the same jack hammer noise that you're talking about when fully depressed, well come to find out, it was because the clutch rod from the pedal was depressing the throwout bearing too far. The aftermarket hydraulic assembly has an adjustable rod so it was easily fixed by turning the rod, after that was fixed, the clutch is barely noticeable contrary to what i've heard. I don't know what to do in your case since you have the factory hydraulics, but I am almost positive that your clutch is engaging to far if it is as loud as you say it is. If you let out your clutch until the noise stops, you should try to see if it goes into gear, then you will know for sure if it is engaging too far.

 

I always go from 5th to reverse. First is very hard to get into from a stop but is butter from 2nd. I shift fastest around 2000 rpms when the tranny's warm.

 

I bang 4th then reverse, find that work best for mine. first is just a slow push and it notches in......

 

Well I was talking nv5600 and you're talking nv 4500 =P