clutch going out

[brandothehick]

i got a 96 b4000 with the 5 speed manual transmission and the clutch is starting to wear down and slip really bad. is there any adjustment on the spring i can do to make it last longer? or do i just need to replace it for about $1000?

 

[kunar]

the clutches are hydraulic, so there is no adjustment. youre just gonna have to bite the bullet and replace it. not sure where you got your estimate but $1000 is really high. it should only be a couple hundred in parts, max. it's not an incredibly difficult job but it is time consuming. even if you pay to have it done, it should only be $6-700

 

[brandothehick]

sounds good thank you

 

[shane96ranger]

the clutches are hydraulic, so there is no adjustment. youre just gonna have to bite the bullet and replace it. not sure where you got your estimate but $1000 is really high. it should only be a couple hundred in parts, max. it's not an incredibly difficult job but it is time consuming. even if you pay to have it done, it should only be $6-700

Agreed. My buddy charges $650 for these with a Luk clutch.

 

[PanamaExpat]

The clutch isn't that bad if you have a dry place with a concrete floor to do it and the proper tools. A good friend and a couple cases of beer help a lot also.

I am doing mine right now and so far I have it all apart. My transmission had some issues so I am rebuilding it too.

LUK clutch kit: pressure plate, disc, throwout bearing, pilot bearing, and alignment tool $90
Flywheel resurface at local machine shop $20
New rear main oil seal: USA made Timken 5288 equivalent $8 (Local bearing shop is often cheaper that auto parts store and way below stealership)
2 cases local beer (Panama) $20

If you need part numbers just ask. It is night time and I have to go out to the garage to get them.

So there ya have it. Right at $150 including beer. Get ready for some skinned knuckles and a few of those choice words that make it all come apart and go back together better.
A word about the clutch hydraulics. That quick connect is anything but quick to disconnect. I ended up dropping the clutch master cylinder and taking it out with the tranny.

Now the bad part.... Once you get the trans out and start looking around if you are like me you will end up pulling the bed, then the cab, and repainting the frame. Wife didn't say much about the bed when I took that off but when I told her that I was taking the body off the frame she gave me that look and wandered into the house. Good thing it isn't our primary transport. Also if you have the problem of the bed being high on a rear corner due to an accident before you got it you can do what I did and get out the torch and sledge and put that bird to rest at the same time.

Anyhow have fun there are several threads on here that give great details about how to do the job.

 

[Fordisthebest30]

shoot while your in there might as well do a 1 piece driveshaft swap

 

[SRich]

Also consider replacing the slave cylinder. I replaced my clutch and two weeks later got to pull it apart to replace the slave. They are only 40 to 60 usually and it is worth it not to take the tranny off a second time.

 

[brandothehick]

sounds good i had a place do it down the street. and i just had my slave cylinder replaced just over a year ago, and they wanted 200 to put a new one in now. so i said no