95 Clutch Issues

[herbi]

I have a 1995 4.0 Liter which is not heavily driven at this point. Roughly 6 years ago I had the clutch replaced as well as the slave. In the time since the truck has only been driven around 25k miles. After the clutch was replaced it seem OK, but not great. It was driveable, but seemed to noticeably deteriorate a bit. Now it is to the point of being almost undriveable. I had the clutch bled a few weeks ago and it seemed sort of OK - although a bit tough to get into 1st. However the following day it seemed maybe 10% worse, so I suspected that it was regressing to the point of being undriveable. Sure enough it is back to horrible. To me it does not seem like it should need a clutch replacement after just 25k miles when the original clutch lasted 120k miles. The repair shop specializes in clutches and has a good reputation, but I am wondering if I possibly received a shoddy rebuilt clutch or maybe some connection or cracked line could be sucking air into the line?

Probably not something I will be able to DIY repair - but any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[SenorNoob]

Aftermarket seals just aren't as good as 90's OEM. Is the fluid low? Any visible leaks?

 

[Brain75]

is this a M5OD? did they replace the slave cylinder?
I have pretty much accepted that everytime you do a clutch you do the slave cylinder too - they are notorious for failure in the M5OD's...

 

[Jazzer]

What are the symptoms, low pedal engagement?

Could be bad master or slave cylinder, or air in system.

 

[herbi]

Aftermarket seals just aren't as good as 90's OEM. Is the fluid low? Any visible leaks?

The fluid is not low now and over the time since the clutch was replaced I do not remember it being low. The shop said there was air in the line when they bled it. I have not seen any leaks, have not gone under to inspect. I am not very knowledgeable so am not sure if it would be something I can see on my garage floor like an oil leak.

 

[herbi]

is this a M5OD? did they replace the slave cylinder?
I have pretty much accepted that everytime you do a clutch you do the slave cylinder too - they are notorious for failure in the M5OD's...

Yes it is M5OD. They talked me into replacing the slave cylinder when they did the clutch - which is partly why I feel a little annoyed it has only lasted 25k miles. Not that it matters.

 

[herbi]

What are the symptoms, low pedal engagement?

Could be bad master or slave cylinder, or air in system.

Yes low pedal engagement - to the point it is about undriveable now. They did bleed the clutch around a month ago and it worked sort of ok at first, but began to have slight deterioration almost the next day. Sort of 5 percent worse day by day. I am guessing it may be sucking air into the line, but maybe it is in the clutch or slave cylinder. I am pretty stupid on the engineering of the system.

 

[Jazzer]

Not stupid, just something not in your experience yet.

Sounds like the clutch master cylinder is bad if the slave cylinder is okay.

 

[SenorNoob]

Seems like for air to get in, fluid has to get out somehow. Even the static pressure of the fluid is likely higher than atmospheric.

 

[herbi]

It does seem strange to me that the oil level in the reservoir has never dropped at all. I wish SeaFoam would fix my problem.