Clutch engagement question

[Scooby]

My 04. 5 was in for a rear end howl. The tech thought it was coming from the transmission since you could hear the noise while rolling with the clutch disengaged.



Apparently they checked the torque specs of something (I'm having a brain fart and can't remember what the heck it was). Now the clutch seems to engage softer - if that is the appropriate word... What I mean is that when I used to upshift, I would occassionally get a clunk and now I don't. The point where you know the clutch feels fully engaged as you release it, now seems a little hazier feeling. On the bright side, that clunk is gone (although I did learn to shift without getting the clunking noise). My shifting feels more like the smooth shifting engagement of a car.



I'm just worried that the clutch isn't grabbing as well as it did. I only have 7000 miles on the truck.



Any thoughts?

 

[rbattelle]

Just my opinion...



The clutch is hydraulic and non-adjustable. I don't know what they torqued down, but if the transmission is working better now then I wouldn't worry about it. Give it a couple weeks and you won't even remember what it used to shift like.



-Ryan

 

[Scooby]

Thanks for the reply Ryan. The shifter feels a little tighter than it did and I feel a little more of a "grind" when the transmission is really cold too. Could the thing they checked be the pilot bearing?? Or should I just shut-up now and stop making myself look stupid?



Or could those lot monkeys have glazed the clutch material by racing the truck around and doing burnouts? Or am I paranoid and perhaps the entire thing is just in my head because they messed with my seat position and I can't seem to get it back in the right spot!

 

[rbattelle]

Thanks for the reply Ryan. The shifter feels a little tighter than it did and I feel a little more of a "grind" when the transmission is really cold too. Could the thing they checked be the pilot bearing?? Or should I just shut-up now and stop making myself look stupid?



Or could those lot monkeys have glazed the clutch material by racing the truck around and doing burnouts? Or am I paranoid and perhaps the entire thing is just in my head because they messed with my seat position and I can't seem to get it back in the right spot!

Hee hee! First of all, you've definetly joined the right club. If I had a nickel for every time I read something here that made me absolutely paranoid I'd have enough to buy another truck by now!



In my experience, the NV5600 shifts much notchier when it's cold. I find myself having to shift much more slowly, probably to give the synchros more time to do their job through the molasses that is the transmission fluid. Things smooth out when warmed up.



Did they pull your transmission? That would be the only way to check the pilot bearing. The pilot bearing is mounted in the center of the flywheel and the transmission input shaft sits in it. I'm attaching a drawing to illustrate the bearing. Imagine the "alignment tool" is the transmission input shaft.



Anyway, the bearing is also non-adjustable. There is no torque spec for it, and the only thing you can do to service it is replace it.



I wouldn't be concerned with them glazing your clutch. Even if they tore up their parking lot doing donuts with the parking brake on and starting in 5th gear it would take them hours to ruin your clutch. Okay, I'm exagerating, but you get the point. It's entirely possible that if your seat is not where you're used to it you might not be pushing the clutch all the way to the floor. When it's cold, shift smooth and easy, and be sure to fully depress the clutch. Also check your clutch fluid reservoir to be sure it's full (up to the step in the reservoir - you'll understand when you see it). My 3rd gear is the "grindiest" (is that even a word?) when cold. I have to be a little more careful going into 3rd when it's very cold, and sometimes I still get a little "clunk" noise when it goes in. I am unconcerned.



And never hesitate to make yourself "look stuipd". How many horrible failures in history could have been prevented if someone had simply asked a "stupid" question.



-Ryan

 

[Scooby]

Thanks for the diagram - I'm a visual person and that sure helps. Clearly then they did not do anything to the pilot bearing. I'm sure they didn't drop the transmission on my behalf.



I'm definitely hitting the floor with the clutch on each shift. My 2nd gen was actually the only auto I've owned... but shamefully I've never done any transmission or clutch work myself - so I wouldn't know a pilot bearing from a muffler bearing . I'll check the fluid level. I just notice a little more of a grind going into 3rd and (now) 5th when the truck is cold... . moreso that when I dropped the truck off.



But I have to admit that the transmission feels tighter and a little crisper when it warms up... so I like it then. Anyway, I guess I'm not really worried about it yet... Thanks for the info!