Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) clutch cylinder?

[Irontrader]

Yesterday I had a case where my truck was in neutral and I couldn't get it to go into any of the 5 gears or reverse. I ended up shutting the engine off, putting the trans in gear and restarting the engine. Seems to me that when I cranked the engine the truck started moving even though the clutch petal was pressed. After it started the rest of the trip was okay.



This morning driving to work it started out okay, but the further I went it became harder and harder to get into some of the gears. I was able to get into all the gears but it wasn't a smooth shift in some cases.



The last part was when I was trying to park and needed to back up. Couldn't get into reverse until I shut the engine off then it went in fine.



I know there is a hydraulic slave cylinder for the clutch linkage, but don't know if they fail or leak.



I've heard of the pilot bearing being a problem for some people and wondered if it would have the same behaviour.



With 115k miles on the truck, I'd think the slave cylinder is more likely the problem.



Anyone else have the same problem?

 

[Rob Thomas]

Yes, the slave cylinder does go bad, it hasn't happend to me, yet, but it has happend to Steve St. Laurent, he says it's an easy replacment. It comes fully assembled, you remove it from the firewall and the bellhousing, and replace the whole thing, less than a $200 part, if I remember right, from the dealer.



Later, Rob