'03 clutch problems

[MHowell]

stock 2003 QC, SB, 6 speed, no towing.



Lately with growing frequency, my clutch doesn't seem to be engaging properly. Occasionally, I'll be at a stop and depress the clutch pedal and it will easily go to the floor and I cannot get the transmission into a gear. I can then release the clutch and try again, usually this works. This also happens from time to time when switching between gears while moving. On one occasion today, I was shifting into third to take a turn into a parking lot. While the clutch was depressed, I shifted to third. Before I let the clutch "out" the clutch was already released. My foot was till to the floor, but the clutch was out. This has only happened once.



The truck drives fine otherwise. It stays in gear and drives down the road without slipping or falling out of gear.



What is going on??

 

[NIsaacs]

I would guess your hydraulics went south. The master or slave cylinder or both. Kinda common on these trucks.



Nick

 

[Slow Six]

Could be the pilot bearing. When they get dry (out of grease) the bearing seizes and when you push on the clutch the input shaft keeps turning thus the feeling of no clutch. If this is the problem you will want to fix it ASAP to prevent further damage. My experience with this is that by the time this happens the release bearing does not have much life left so I usually change the whole clutch assembly. The last time I put in a complete South Bend clutch c/w flywheel and hydraulics. Their pilot bearing is better than stock. Driving habits like holding the clutch in while sitting at lights etc. greatly reduce the life of the pilot bearing. There has been a lot of threads on here about this and a search will yield a lot of info for you.

 

[SRadke]

Could be a couple things, I'd guess clutch master cylinder. 90% chance I'd say.

 

[MHowell]

where is the clutch master cylinder? How easy to change? Slave cylinder?

 

[jelag]

The clutch master is on the fire wall along side the brake master cylinder... if you've never cleaned/flushed this system, that might take care of it... brake fluid will absorb water, and with the heat can create an air bubble... (water boiling) the air bubble compresses but won't allow the slave to move... thus no release... when you pump the clutch pedal you might be pumping it up and the extra pressure is keeping the air bubble compressed...

They are usually replaced as a set... .

 

[AABEN]

Duble clutch it when shifting. See if this will help you. === Good luck ===

 

[MHowell]

the clutch totally went out on the drive home last night. I was able to get a master cylinder/slave cylinder kit from the local *******. I didnt have time to order it online. I replaced it (surprisingly easy) and that solved the problem.

Thanks for all the input.