Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) 98 clutch/ manual transmission issue

[BlameCandida]

I have a 1998 12valve CTD with the 5-speed manual transmission and 4-wheel drive. I have never had any engine issues, and until this year, no transmission issues except for my 3rd synchro, which sometimes gives me trouble shifting from 2nd to 3rd. Last month, the hydraulics went out on my clutch, and I had it replaced. Since then, my truck ran fine, and I had no issue with the clutch and transmission.



Today while driving, I was unable to shift from 3rd to 4th. I just got a grinding sound when moving the shifter. It got worse during the drive, until I had issues with every gear. I had trouble upshifting (2nd to 3rd, 3rd to 4th, 4th to 5th), and with downshifting (5th to 4th and 4th to 3rd). I had to release my foot from the clutch and redepress it in order to shift. It also took more force than normal to move the shifter into 2nd when taking off from a dead stop. I parked the truck and then tried to reverse. I was unable to get into reverse without going into another gear first, and then going to reverse. There was also definitely a burnt smell coming from the truck when I got out.



So what kind of problem am I looking at here? Is this a clutch issue or a transmission issue?

 

[K.L.Schumacher]

I am wondering if your pilot bushing bearing is giving you some problems. I have had my 96 3500 4x4 trans out a couple of times for clutch replacement and when out some parts for the clutch slave pivot assembly were badly worn so they were replaced. Oil up and clean and proper type. Possibly a problem with your shift tower on top of trans.

Throwing some ideas at you . Kim

 

[Dieseldemon]

Hydraulics failure Clutch is draging.

 

[rMetzger]

I think, judging from your "handle", that the transmission has a yeast infection.

 

[BlameCandida]

I've been driving the truck minimally for the past few days until I can get it into the shop to get looked at. The transmission has been shifting okay most of the time, as long as I am careful to shift slowly. However, after I parked it, I noticed a pretty bad oil leak. The oil pooled toward the front of the engine, as it was dripping down from the steering elements. I'm not sure where the ultimate source of the oil is though.



As I mentioned before, a few weeks ago I had the clutch hydraulics replaced. I don't know if this is from an installation error, or some deeper problem causing the hydraulics to fail.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

So, what did you find? Was it an input shaft seal leak on the trans?

 

[BlameCandida]

At first it seemed like just a fluke. After the day that I posted on here, I didn't have the issue again until about a week ago. It was after a pretty bad death wobble incident, so I guess that knocked something loose in the transmission. This past week it comes and goes intermittently. Some days I'm struggling to get it into gear, and other days it shifts easily.



I took the shift boot off to get to the shift tower, and I do see that some fluid has leaked out. Whenever I get death wobble, I see the whole transmission rocking from side to side (knocking against the sheet metal in the floorboard). That can't be good for it.

 

[Missouri Mule]

I would check out your trans mount/bushings.

 

[BlameCandida]

It took me long enough to get back to this thread, but I've spent the last few weeks getting ready to drop the transmission and take it to get serviced. I bought the bearing, seal, and synchro kit from Standard Transmission and Gear. I was going to do the job myself, until I realized I'd need a special wrench to take off the fifth gear nut, a socket to hold the mainshaft, and a large gear puller to take off fifth gear.



So the plan right now is to take off the driveshafts and transfer case, drain the transmission, and take the gear case to a shop near my dad's house.



The parts kit I got has the synchro parts, 4 sets of tapered bearings (input shaft, rear mainshaft, and front and rear countershaft), the input thrust bearing and needle bearing that go between the input shaft and mainshaft, and 4 seals.



One seal is the countershaft front case cap, two more are the input and output seals, but I'm lost as to what the fourth seal is. It has a number N0243 and is about 1-1/4" ID. Anybody know what this is for?