Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Sixth gear pops out with exhaust brake

[dblake]

When I use my BD diesel exhaust brake my transmission pops out of sixth gear. It has done this since the exhaust brake was new. Has anyone else experienced this? For now I can either hold my shift lever to keep it in gear or downshift to fifth before I engage the brake.

 

[petersonj]

You didn't say how many miles on the transmission, but I would be suspecting a worn synchronizer / blocking ring for sixth gear. The issue was probably there before the exhaust brake installation, but went by unnoticed because the exhaust brake puts considerably more deceleration force on the gears when it is actuated.

I have the same setup on my '02 with 245,000 miles and have not experienced the transmission popping out of a gear on deceleration..... yet.

- John

 

[dblake]

I've only got 140K on my rig. Now that I think about it, I remember sixth gear popping out of gear occasionally when going downhill. I thought at the time that maybe I didn't have it in gear all the way. With an exhaust brake it does it all the time now. Kind of annoying I can't use my brake with sixth gear but I don't want to spend a ton of money fixing it either. Maybe I'll deal with it when I do my clutch some day. I was just wondering if this is a common problem or not. Just wondering John, do you still have your original clutch?

 

[B.G. Smith]

In the old days when many automobiles had standard transmissions, if you hung something heavy on the shift lever or rested your hand on it while driving it would wear the shift fork enough to cause the transmission to jump out of gear. bg

 

[petersonj]

I was just wondering if this is a common problem or not. Just wondering John, do you still have your original clutch?

I don't think it is a common problem, but I am not certain. Maybe others will chime in here - and yes it is the original clutch in my truck.

- John

 

[dblake]

I do like to rest my hand on the gear shift a lot. Just an old habit. It's where I have my exhaust brake switch as well as my train horn switch. Always ready for when that idiot checking their Facebook instead of driving cuts me off!

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

I do like to rest my hand on the gear shift a lot. Just an old habit.

It's a bad one. Try to stop. I had to stop too. Good news is it's lots easier than quitting smoking... You're putting small but constant force against the shift fork and the slider. Absolutely causing premature wear.

You don't sit at traffic lights with the clutch pushed in, do you?