Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Clutch problems

[AggieJustin]

I've got a Southbend OFE that was installed in January. The pedal pressure is pretty smooth and light. But for about the last month there have been a few occasions where I can feel a little bit of resistance at the bottom of the clutch travel (right before it hits the floor). It's hard to explain what the resistance feels like... basically its like a little grinding or that it's sticking some. It doesn't happen consistently, sometimes it pops up after long periods of driving without stopping, sometimes it happens during stop and go traffic. Ideas? Could it be the master or slave cylinder starting to fail?



The other problem is that sometimes when stopped and idling, I can hear a squeaking noise coming from the area of the transmission. If I just barely touch the clutch pedal, the noise stops. I can release the pedal and it will usually stay quiet.



Could these two problems be related? Anything specific I should be looking for?



Thanks,



JM

 

[jelag]

The first noise your talking about when the clutch pedal is down doesn't come to mind... .



The plate load on a diaphram type clutch is a bell curve... . and the guys at south bend have been know to modify the cover to get the clutch into the top of the plate load bell curve based on how much HP you have... ... . this can mean less life.....



This being said..... as the disc wears... ... . the fingers on the diaphram move towards the rear of the truck... ... If the clutch wasn't set up right to start..... and the fingers are now riding the bearing when the truck is at idle..... what you are hearing is contact of the two parts..... and they are rubbing against each other... . as you press the pedal... . the rubbing stops and the bearing now starts to move... ... and the noise goes away..... as you release the clutch pedal the bearing retracts and the air gap between the bearing and fingers means the noise goes away.....



going back to your first noise..... if we assume that I'm correct in the slight noise you hear with the truck at idle and the bearing housing is riding on the fingers part of the time... . than we could assume that there is finger damage... and when the clutch pedal is down to the floor... ... the roll over of the fingers might be such that it is also making noise... ... ... and thats what your hearing... .



To really know the answer I'm guessing we'd have to drive the truck..... Do I personally think you have a slave / master problem... . nope, not as long as the fluid is clean... ...



Hope this was some help...

 

[AggieJustin]

Thanks Jim.



The first problem isn't really a noise that I'm hearing, just some feedback on the clutch pedal at the bottom of the travel. Since the pedal was isolated from the clutch itself by the hydraulics between the master and slave cylinders, that's why I was thinking that it was a cylinder problem. The fluid is still clean, and the level hasn't decreased any.



The squeaking noise at idle does sound like some metal on metal contact, and it only takes a little pressure on the clutch pedal to stop the noise.

 

[rkressg]

You did change the throwout (clutch release) bearing did not you? Were the bearings packed with grease when the new one was installed? Did you properly torque the pressure plate bolts? These are some questions that might seem basic, but are sometimes over looked.



Noise at the bottom of the clutch swing. Did you change the Pilot bearing also, or atleast regrease it? That is only engaged when the clutch is disengaged, which can squeak if dry.



Your clutch master could be starting to let go, but that is usually associated with a clutch that will not stay disengaged.