Clutch issue?

[MarkEkberg]

There was a previous post about not going into gear.

I have had it happen a couple times over the last year. Today it was weird and a new noise associated with it.

It sounded like really noisy injectors when I started it. Tried to put into reverse, no go. Tried any gear, could not go in. I rolled backwards still could not get into gear.

Shut truck off, and put into gear. Started with a slight lurch and was able drive normal, and noise was gone.

Seems to me like I have a master cylinder failing, but the noise is a curve ball. Maybe a bent shift fork?

 

[RustyJC]

Don't rule out a failing pilot bearing. It sounds like it may have been frozen, thus spinning the input shaft and not allowing you to put it into gear. When you started it while in gear, it might have broken it loose and allowed everything to operate normally.

This doesn't really explain the noise, though.... On Edit: Well, maybe it does. If the pilot bearing is frozen, then the input shaft is going to see all the torsional vibration at the crankshaft itself. It won't be damped by the dual mass flywheel (G56 transmission?), clutch/pressure plate and the damping springs in the clutch disc as it normally would, so maybe the torsionally-active input shaft is rattling the clutch disc on its splines when it is locked to the crankshaft due to a frozen pilot bearing.

Rusty

 

[BigPapa]

I've never heard of an intermittent clutch issue.

 

[Tuesdak]

X2 on above. Check the fluid level in the MC for the clutch. Check the hydraulics as that can be the only other issue otherwise it's time to pull the trans "now" and see what is going on before you walk or do more damage. Improved pilot bearing designs are out there...

 

[Motorhead]

I agree with Rusty... Been there, done that on a diesel VW wagon I owned. Pilot bearing went away and it wasn't real friendly to the trans main input shaft.

 

[Bill Lins]

Improved pilot bearing designs are out there...

I'm going to have to replace my clutch pretty soon- what is the best pilot bearing to go with?

 

[Tuesdak]

Couple manufactures use a sealed ball bearing, HD ball bearing pilot, to replace the needle bearings that run on the input shaft. Requires machining flywheel or flywheel replacement with the pre-installed bigger ball bearing.

I run one from South Bend Clutch.

 

[Motorhead]

Ball bearing here too on my SB clutch. Just make sure that the bearing isn't a cheapo Chinese bearing. On my VW diesel, the needle bearing cage went away and the needles bunched up on the main input shaft. It made it so it wouldn't disengage then broke loose.

 

[AllianceDiesel]

What year of pickup? Trans?

Most likely a pilot bearing like everbody has said but if its a g56, look at your input shaft for lots of play.

Any quality clutch kit will have everything you need, espcially if you get a new flywheel. I suggest southbend and have also used valair with no problems

 

[HHhuntitall]

How long has the truck been sitting? If they sit for a long time in high humidity, or it was humid when you parked it, I've seen the clutch facings rust to each other, as well as freeze together. Starting it in gear broke them loose. If it was a pilot needle bearing seized up, you should still hear intermittent noise as the input shaft wallows around when clutched. If it was the hydraulics, it should still be hard to clutch and shift once stopped. JMO....

 

[MarkEkberg]

Not sure why my sig went away? It is a 03. Truck gets about 6K a year and does sit for lengths of time. Has 212K on it now. I got it with 190K.

All OEM at the moment. I am really not equipped to remove this transmission right now. Assuming this is a pilot bearing failure what damage am I looking at best and worst case?

 

[GCroyle]

Mark,

You've got some good comments and advice so far, but your last comments open up a new door.

Truck sits for lengths of time.

That inactivity allows spline corrosion to creep in and cause difficult selection of 1st or REV from a standing start in particular and yes based on a car I owned it CAN be intermittent. We tore down a '00 7.3L that had spline rust from sitting, A LOT, serviced it correctly, driver said it never shifted so good. It was attention to detail and a clean, slightly lubed spline.

When the open needle pilot bearing cries Uncle, the input shaft can get tore up, yup.

So no mater how you fix it, YOU can spend the pilot life quickly or sparingly. Save it by shifting into N at lights and let the pedal come up. Pilot goes to sleep, takes a break.

Could be either, could be a bit of both.

 

[MarkEkberg]

Thanks. I never hold clutch in on anything including bikes which use a oil bath pilot.

 

[HHhuntitall]

Does it make noise when you clutch it?

 

[MarkEkberg]

When this problem getting into gear happens it is making noise with clutch in or out. Just a slight ticking as if a injector is making noise.

When I shut it down, put in gear and started it, noise was gone.