Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Clutch not disengaging trans, when in gear

[Junior]

Ok guys, reversing truck other day and pushed clutch in and it would not disengage from reverse. Tuck kept going. Have sill the original hydraulics on truck and thinking this is the problem. Truck has 200k on it. Also noticed been a little harder to shift into 1st and reverse at times. Other gears no problems.

Was going to buy the replacement hydraulic slave unit from genos but wanted some thought fist. Oh yeah sb con ofe in truck. Been in there for 75k. miles with light loads. Only did this when truck at operating temp.

Nv4500

 

[RBeard]

When mine did that it was caused by the pilot bearing failing and it welded the input shaft to the flywheel

 

[Junior]

South bends pilot bearing known to crap out after only 75k on it? Heard it could take a lot more then the stocker.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

The clutch, pilot bearing, and throw out bearing are wear items and it is risky to expect them to last 200K+ even with mostly highway driving. The hydraulics are also wear items and I recommend the South Bend HD hydraulics. I would also recommend changing the clutch and bearings before 200K to help ensure you don't have a failure at an inconvenient time.

 

[Junior]

Pilot bearings were changed when I did new clutch. They only have 75k on them that is why I have hard time believing that is problem. Clutch was replaced along with bearings at 130k with SB con ofe. Hydraulics we're not replaced at that time and are still original. Truck now has 200k on it.

 

[Sticks]

Odds are good it's the master/slave system. When mine went out it would start bleeding off when held down which was fun sitting at a stoplight.

Now, having said that, I don't know how you drive so it could be the clutch. My wife learned the hard way about that when she smoked the clutch in her jeep with only 36k miles.

Master/Slave system is cheaper than the clutch, and infinitely easier. This is not an easy or safe one to diagnose without the proper equipment.

 

[gtwitch]

My 99 did the same at about 125k and I chose to use a NAPA clutch kit and wish I had spent twice the bucks and went with South Bend as the Clutch Kit from NAPA is made in China and is junk and chatters terrible when it is warm to hot. The pilot bearing is good and that was the problem in the frist place and I would have been better off to put the OEM clutch plate and disc back in and just replaced the pilot bushing and had the flywheel surfaced. NAPA said they will replace the plate and disc but NO Labor to put it in as I did the work myself and it will be another China kit. Live and learn and read TDR posts!!!



gtwitch in wyoming

 

[mfurrh55]

Mine started to get really hard to put in 1st or reverse on my 01 and i replaced the master/slave cylinder and fixed the problem,Monte

 

[MLee]

As stated could be the Hydraulics at this mileage. Should have changed it at time of rebuild. Mine went out, changed it and it was good till much later I lost a spring out of the clutch, (132K) acted the same way, no release, replaced the clutch unit in Montana. You never know when or where.

 

[Junior]

Thanks guys for the help

 

[Junior]

Guys been a bit but thanks for all the help ended up being the hydraulic slave unit. replaced it with SB and been working great since.