Ranger - stiff clutch pedal

[dorman68]

Hello,

I have a 1992 Ford Ranger with a 3.0l v6 and 5-speed manual transmission.
The truck runs and shifts great, but I have one annoying problem. The clutch pedal. The clutch pedal is very stiff it is stiff as my dad's old 1966 international 1ton truck, this gets very tiresome in traffic. Is the stiff clutch pedal a symptom of a larger problem or is it just a normal characteristic of this truck?

 

[bluovaldude]

Start by checking the fluid in the resevoir make sure there is enough in there, try bleeding the system you might have an excess build up of air.

How new is the clutch ?

 

[Insanejughead]

That is definitely not normal for a truck like that. My 2.3L 5spd is very easy to use the clutch.

I can't help much, but I definitely give your whole hydraulic system a look over...

I'm wondering if it could be a faulty slave cylinder? I hate internals...

 

[dorman68]

I purchased the truck about 3 years ago. I do not have any information on the repair history of the truck. The odometer reads 9000 miles, I am guessing 109000 or 209000 I don't really know. The previous owner claimed it to be 109000. The fluid level is up to spec and the clutch does not slip at all. The transmission is easy to shift. I am stumped.

 

[MAKG]

OK, can one of you guys explain how a stiff clutch is explained by air in the lines? The automatic "bleed it" advice is NEVER a repair, and it only has an effect for an engagement problem.

ALL release problems are something else.

What you can use the bleed screw for is to determine if the problem is inside or outside the bellhousing. Have a buddy open the bleed screw and push the clutch to the floor. Close the screw while the pedal is still on the floor. This should make the clutch feather-light; if it doesn't, the master is binding or the hydraulic line is plugged. If it does, the problem is definitely inside the bellhousing -- either the slave is binding or there is a mechanical problem with the clutch. In that case, the transmission has to come off and you probably should replace both of them.

 

[dorman68]

Thanks MAKG,

The weather here in Pennsylvania is a little chilly right now. Soon as the weather breaks I'll try your diagnostic procedure.