can someone confirm my diagnosis?

[GingerKid]

The m5od in my truck is hard to shift into gear sometime. It won't grind, but it won't go into gear until the rpm falls to where engine speed matches the speed of the trans. It doesn't do this all the time though. This is a slave cylinder going out right?

Edit: also when shifting to gears at low rpm (1000-1500) there is a growling kind of noise. The noise also goes away if I let off the throttle. I now it's not the throwout bearing since it only does it with the clutch engaged. Pilot bearing? Input shaft bearing?

 

[fordman4488]

Just a guess and could be wrong, but almost sounds like syncro's to me

 

[GingerKid]

I would have thought that too, but it isn't a consistent problem. Some days it's perfectly fine all day, other times it shifts like crap all day. Some days it's half and half. Wouldn't synchros cause it to grind at least a little bit too?

 

[GingerKid]

No one else has any thoughts or suggestions on this?

It's starting to rattle more now. Before it would only do it for a few seconds when I shifted into a gear at a low rpm, not it will sometimes rattle at 2k-2.5k, but only if I'm on the throttle. If I let off it goes away. If I get back on the throttle it usually comes back.

 

[creepinjeepster]

I would still say the synchro's are still a possability. Have you tried bleeding the clutch to make sure there is no air trapped in the system?

 

[GingerKid]

No I haven't, but that's definitely something worth trying before I drop the whole trans. I probably won't get to that until the weekend though, so I'll update then.

 

[schmoo]

synchros don't all go bad at the same time.
when one goes bad, it affects one gear.
sounds like clutch or pilot bearing. if
you are not loosing fluid, it is not
the slave cylinder. as a single acting
cylinder, it either works or it leaks. if
air is getting into it, there likely isn't
enough flow to keep it purged. that
could be the master cylinder or not
enough stroke from the clutch pedal
arm. you can re-bend the arm and make
a dimple where it hits the floor to regain
some stroke.
i already know this is contrary to popular
opinion, no need to tell me.

 

[GingerKid]

Would the pilot bearing going out cause my shifting issues too or just the noise?

I did check the master cylinder fluid level and it was a little low. I haven't noticed any puddles where I park, but I also haven't looked either. I'll start making sure I do that. I'll check the fluid level tomorrow again to see if I lost any.

Clutch seems fine, I haven't noticed any slipping. I can ask the PO when the last time it was replaced though.

 

[SMTGREG]

The pilot bearing will make noise when the clutch is pushed in and the truck not moving. The input bearing will make noise with the pedal up in neutral and will change with engine speed. Check the fluid level in the trans.

 

[GingerKid]

I changed the fluid in the trans a few months ago, and this noise was there both before and after I did that.

EDIT: based on what you're saying, it sounds more like the input bearing. Except that this noise doesn't seem to happen in neutral, only under load. Possibly another bearing in the trans?

 

[SMTGREG]

What gears are loudest? Does the noise go away in 4th gear (direct drive)?

 

[GingerKid]

Well I get a bad rattle/growl shifting into second and third at low rpm. Then sometimes in fifth or fourth it will rattle/growl at constant speed but not as bad, as long as I'm even slightly on the throttle. First is the only gear I haven't noticed noise in yet.

 

[stx4.0]

I had a pilot go out with me one time in traffic and it would not let me engage any of the gears at all.I had to literally grind it and force it into gear.I thought it was a clutch problem but when it was torn apart the clutch was fine but the pilot bearing came out in little pieces!

 

[GingerKid]

Did it make any noise before I went out or was it sudden?

 

[GingerKid]

OK I checked the clutch master and it might have lost a little fluid, hard to tell exactly. I will have to pull the engine soon to change the oil pan so I'll just have to make sure I can get someone to drive me to get parts when I figure out what the problem is.