My clutch went out suddenly this weekend and I need some help diagnosing the problem. It happened when I was coming to a stop at a traffic light. I pressed in the clutch and about when it went to the floor there was a very faint, fairly deep popping sound and the pedal went dead. I pulled over thinking I had blown a line between the clutch master and slave but the master is full and there is no fluid to be found anywhere. I was able to start the truck in gear and drive it to get off the road so I am pretty sure the clutch is good. The truck idles in neutral with no sounds of scattered parts whick also leads me to believe the clutch is okay.

Is it possible something failed inside either the clutch master or slave cylinder that would cause a loss of pressure with no signs of fluid loss? If so how do you tell which is bad? I really don't want to drop the tranny if the problem could be external. Also, what is a good source for hydraulic clutch parts? Any help is appreicated.

 

Sounds like the clutch master cylinder went bad, it's "bypassing". Can you "pump it up"??? The Dealer is where most guys get the hydraulic parts, they have a whole unit that does not require bleeding, a real nice feature.

Tom

 

I can't really "pump it up", there does seem to be some (very little) pressure there, like it is by-passing within the system.

 

Looks like you need to go to Dodge and get your wallet out. Buddy's V10 did the exact same thing, he put the Dodge replacement unit on it, good to go to the next gas station!!!!

 

So the clutch master and slave cylinders come as a complete unit, all in one?

 

Separate units

They are probably available as an aftermarket unit. Check NAPA.

 

www.enterpriseengine.com has the cheapest prices on master and slave units new OEM.

 

I had trouble with the throwout bearing cutting off the clutch fingers. That may be your problem also.

 

Wherever you can get it the cheapest, do it. Just make sure there is no bleeding required, a real PITA unless you have a vaccum bleeding tool.

Tom

 

I'm curious, how are you able to bleed the clutch hydralics with a vaccum bleeding tool?

 

Kinda hard to explain, I have done in on several late model Chevy's, it's the only way to get all the air out of the system. Basically you use vacuum at the slave cylinder nipple to pull air/fluid out, either with a pump or using the vacuum supplied by the motor with a separator.

 

I ordered the hydraulic assembly today. I hope to have it back on the road tommorow. Thanks for the help everyone.

 

just had the same thing happen to me yesterday.. dodge sells master/slave/line harness together as one assby. little over an hour to do the work myself and saved some cash.. took care of the problem..btw $199 for all, even comes with fluid so no bleeding. looked at buying the slave seperate but it was around 100 from NAPA and my/may nothave fixed the prob.. good luck

Brad

 

Well, I installed the new master/slave cylinder assembly and nothing changed. I still have no clutch. I'm stumped, I can still start the truck in gear and drive it and there is still no noise like anything is broken inside the bellhousing. Could the throw-out bearing be stuck, pressure plate gone bad, what? I really didn't want to have to drop the tranny but now I have to. Any ideas what it could be? I have to travel the rest of the week (in a rental car now) but I'll be able to work on the truck this weekend. Any help will be most appreciated. BTW, the truck only has 67k on the ticker.

 

Yes, your pilot bearing is frozen. You will have to fight it some to get the trans back out. Your input shaft will be somewhat scarred up. The pilot bearing is a thin needle bearing deal where the input shaft pilot rides on the bearings. You will either have to replace the input shaft or go to a sealed bearing which will require the flywheel to be bored out.

The only other chance for the problem is if the fingers are cut off but it does not sound that way.