Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Dealer can't get Napa clutch slave cylinder to work - Any ideas?

[rickhans]

'98 1/2 Ram 4x4 with 5 speed had shifting problems in low and reverse. Dealer(which knows trucks and is a good dealer) has determined that the cause is the lave cylinder on the clutch. I had them order a NAPA 360-085 instead of using a Dodge replacement but they can not get the air bled. They thought they had it butthe next day the pedal went to the floor.



They said that Dodge only sells the complete matching set, master cylinder and slave, because they are pre-loaded with hydraulic fluid so they don't have to be bled. They don't have a pressure bleeder to use on this, although it might not do any good. It sounds like air is trapped in the slave cylinder, not in the line, or else the cylinder is defective.



I want this cylinder because of the good reports from others on TDR that haveused it. It reduces the pedal pressure.



I told them to put the old one back on. The did say that the cylinder could probably be drilled and tapped and a bleeder valve put on it. However, if the cylinder is simply defective, this would void the warranty and I would be out the $112 for the cylinder plus the labor.



Someone who has had experience with this cylinder please respond and give me some advice. I have towing to do and have been without the truck for too long now.



P. S. Dodge does not warrant the clutch cylinders. It classifies them as "Clutch Parts" which are excluded from the warranty, at least from the Diesel Wrap Around policy.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

There are some tricks to try to bleed the air out of it. I have never done it but lots of good info in the Archives. Search "slave Cylinder"



also see this thread: https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17829&highlight=Slave+Cylinder

 

[Cowboy Medic]

Just out of curiosity, they did not have the trans and clutch out for any reason in all of this did they?



I just had my clutch done not too long ago and the genius at the shop put the fork, that the slave cylinder actuates, in backward hence it was having to travel twice as far to actuate the clutch, resulted in the clutch hitting the floor every time like there was nothing there.

 

[JHerrlich]

When I had to fix mine, my friend and I bled it the best we could. The pedal went straight to the floor and barely disengaged the clutch. After about a week the system bled itself and it's normal again.



If it works enough to be used, try and live with it, and it should return to normal. I hope... .

 

[HVAC]

From Dodge

I picked up the master cylinder/slave combo which was already bled and ready to go. There was no slave cyl available at the time.

 

[CFAR]

Bleed the slave from the input line.



Bleed the master on its output line.



I have never used this method on that particular combination, but it has worked on others.