Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) New Clutch is only as good as the installer

[OPoole]

Wanted to give a heads up to TDR guys looking to install or have a clutch installed. I had a truck come in here last week for a South Bend OFE upgrade the stock clutch had started to slip. Installed the new SBC and wraping up the job when i notice the slave cly would not meet up to the bellhousing had a 1" gap. You could have pulled it together with the bolts. The problem was the slave cly would not return back to zero and was holding the clutch fork half way causeing the stock clutch to slip (like you had the pedal pressed in half way) and would have done the same for the new SBC. This is the 1st time i have seen this you should be able to push back the rod to 1. 5 or so. Here a picture the black line shows where the rod should be back to zero. . hope this helps save someone a clutch!

 

[telliott]

thanks for the information, good to know. So did you just have to replace the slave cylinder?

 

[OPoole]

Yes. . new one from mopar.

 

[LUnderwood]

Just goes to show you why buying your parts from some of these bedroom salesmen is never a good idea! Buying from a reputable parts dealer can save lots of headache as it probably did this fellow! I'll remeber this one! Always Check your slave cylinder!

 

[South Bend Clutch]

OPoole,



Awesome of you to catch this!Oo. Oo. Oo.



This might explain why some of our clutches have been slipping when there was no reason.



If you would have popped the cap to the reservoir would it have relieved the pressure to the slave? I know there are some pin holes in the master cylinder the are suppose to allow the hydraulics to breath and have heard they can get clogged.



This is great information. Thanks for taking the time to post it.



Peter

 

[OPoole]

Peter, I remove the cap made no diff. Something inside the slave is blocking it from returning back to zero. If i get time today i'm going to cut the slave into to see whats going on in there. I will start stocking one of these from now on i had to drive a hour one way to get him a new one, Thanks Olee.

 

[RobertP]

was that with the upgraded hyraulics?

 

[OPoole]

This was his stock slave.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

We all see regular posts related to clutch problems of various brands and types - and I often suspect the real issue is far more related to problems OUTSIDE the actual clutch, but more related to how the install was done. Just because an installer - the buyer of the clutch or his installer - knows which end of a wrench to get hold of, doesn't mean he has all the answers where clutch installation and troubleshooting problems is concerned - precious FEW would have caught the problem this thread related to!



Good catch!

 

[JKinney]

I would like to drain my clutch system and refill with new fluid.



Is this possible? Is it recommended.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I would like to drain my clutch system and refill with new fluid.



Is this possible? Is it recommended.

I don't think it's recommended - and not even easily accomplished on our '02 trucks - there's no provision on the slave cylinder I'm aware of to properly do the job...

 

[benhall]

The system on the 02's is a unservicable part. Once it's no good, you toss it and get a new one. I had to replacemine back in Jan 06, as it would lose pressure and start to disengauge the clutch. Not good when your sitting in an intersection.



Ben

 

[JKinney]

I don't think it's recommended - and not even easily accomplished on our '02 trucks - there's no provision on the slave cylinder I'm aware of to properly do the job...

Gary; When you installed your new clutch did you replace the slave?

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Gary; When you installed your new clutch did you replace the slave?

Nope - it was working perfectly before the clutch change, and still is...

 

[Cummins724]

I took my slave out today & my slave looked exactly like the one in the photo, but it pushed in easily all the way to the tip. I am going to change the unit anyways to the new Southbend unit. I thought the slave was the problem, but realized that my clutch blew apart.