Archived Clutch Disengagement ?

[rkressg]

2001. 5, 4x4, 6-speed, 61,000 miles, 6,000 on this clutch towing, no heavy abuse.



Tonight while driving, my clutch started to act up. It was acting like there was air in the slave. When I depressed the pedel, it would go to the floor and you had to pump it up to get enough pressure to put it into gear. Is there a way to bleed the slave cylinder? Do I have to replace it? The pedel feels soft and spungy as you drive. When you try to release the clutch when backing up or in a low gear, the clutch does not want to release.



The truck has 61,000 miles on it. 6,000 miles ago, I replaced the clutch assembly (new TST ceramic disk, pressure plate, release bearing, pilot bering, machined flywheel) and have had no problems with it until tonight.



Could the weather have something to do with it? It is ¡Ö30 degrees outside and showing heavliy.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

-Rich

 

[marksmith]

I'll go out on a limb and say that I would point a finger at a master or slave cylinder. It sounds like the problem I had on a Nissan Frontier. I replaced the slave and she worked great after that. Just my $. 02. Maybe someone will pitch in with their thoughts and how to isolate which cylinder it is. Hope this helps

 

[ronco]

Sounds like the clutch master cylinder is bypassing (internal leaks around the seals). Check the fluid level. If it's OK, I say clutch master cylinder. Master cylinders with problems won't always lose fluid. Slave cylinders tend to leak outside the housing if they are bad. Look at the back of the master cylinder, if it is wet, there is your problem. If you decide to bleed the system, pump the clutch pedal slowly, or you will aerate the fluid and never bleed it. I hope I have helped and not confused.



Ronco

 

[Mike B.]

The master cylinder on my 99' started to leak at around 100k miles. It started to drip fluid on the clutch pedal. The master cylinder and slave cylinder are sold as one unit. I don't remember how much it was but it wasn't cheap!



Mike

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

My master cylinder started leaking around 90,000 miles. It was a tiny leak but acted exactly the same as yours. In my case no fluid was visible. But if I pulled the safety switch back (it's inside the cab of the truck right on the master cylinder rod) there was a small sponge there that was wet. At the time I replaced mine you couldn't purchase the master cylinder seperately and had to replace the entire assembly as said above. The entire assembly was just over $200 as I remember it. I think that SBC now has the master cylinders available seperately.

 

[DennyDay]

Clutch Slave

Mine just started doing the same thing - Master cly. is leaking internally on mine. Join me in getting the check book out to the tune of about $150. Anyone know of an after market?



Denny

 

[rkressg]

Everybody, thanks for the information.

I ordered a new master / slave from the dealer on Wendesday. They can not get until next Tuesday and the closest dealer with one in on the far side of Ohio from me. O-well, it is still drivable, just a little fun when you pull out

Hopefully this is the cure :-{}

Thanks,

-Rich

 

[rkressg]

I changed the master / slave last night. It fixed the problem. Thanks for the help guys.

-Rich

P. S. You can remove this post now.

Thanks Oo.