Transmission Problem

[gchas]

I have a '97 2500 5 Speed with 39000 miles. This morning, rather suddenly, it was nearly impossible to get it into reverse. I also noticed that there is a little more "friction" than usual getting it into 1st and 4th gears, but reverse is rediculous! I literally have to jam it into reverse gear with considerable force, then I can feel the truck "buck" very slightly. Obviously something is wrong. Any one have an idea what may be causing this problem? I'd like to get some advice before I take it into the shop... . for which have little confidence and even less respect. Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

[Ken]

Sounds like your clutch is not fully disengaging, but may I suggest to take it to the dealer immediatly before damaging your trans. And also til you could get it fixed I would put it in reverse before starting the truck

 

[SMorneau]

I have heard that a bad pilot bearing will cause hard shifting. This is the bearing in the flywheel that the pilot shaft from the transmission turns in when the clutch is disengaged. If this is your problem and it gets really bad you can expect it to seize and pushing the clutch in will have no effect. Pretty scary! I guess you had better be ready to stand on the brakes and turn off the ignition.



The pilot bearing is a roller bearing and many people have it replaced with a bushing. South Bend Clutch has a kevlar bushing that is supposed to work great.



Hope this helps.

 

[danandamy]

Always start with the simplest stuff first

Check to make sure the slave cylinder at the transmission itself isn't leaking. If it's not check to see if it's traveling far enough. It sounds to me like your clutch master cylinder (the part you actually put fluid in) is giving it up. It's just like when your brake master cylinder starts giving it up. It will start bleeding pressure off and not fully disengage the clutch. That's where I'd start.

 

[gchas]

As it turned out, I had a dual problem. The clutch master cylinder was replaced and that solved the problem of "creeping. " And in fact the shifting was easy until things got warmed up, then the old problems surfaced. So we tore into the clutch housing to examine the clutch. Some of the springs on the pressure plate were misaligned about 1/4 inch and there appeared to be one high point on the contact side of the pressure plate. My mechanic friend said this could cause the hard shifting, but the "expert" at the clutch reconditioning place said the problem was still in the hydralics, not in the clutch. We put a reconditioned clutch and pressure plate in (along with new bearings) and everything works fine. So it is apparent that there were two problems at work. All is well that ends well. Thanks for all the tips.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Hey GCHAS - Thanks for the update!!!!!



Too many people ask questions and never reply as to what resolution worked/what the actual problem was!!



Dan

 

[ageorge]

I had the "tough to go into reverse" problem many thousand miles ago. right after the dealer had put in a new transmission. My problem was the teflon(or maybe nylon?) piece on the shift fork inside the trans was not there in the new trans. Dealer yanked it back out (as I watched) and found the problem. Put in the part, and all has been well since. Probably not the usual cause of the problem, but does happen.

 

[gchas]

Thanks for the reply, ageorge. I originally posted this as a transmission problem as I am rather a dunce when it goes beyond basic things, like changing oil and fuel filters. As it turned out, it was a clutch and hydralics problem. And, as Murphy's Law would dictate, it occured just after the warranty had lapsed. But the good news is that clutch problems are generally a bit easier to solve than are transmission problems, especially outside of the warranty period.