clutch work

[me.guevara]

Hey everyone!

My clutch is starting to slip, so I know that I'll have to drop the gearbox to see what the deal is. I've got the Haynes and Workshop manuals, so I have a good idea of what is involved, but was hoping to know if there are any pointers from yawl.

While I have the gearbox down, is there any other PM I can do?

TIA!!

[RageRover]

What do you plan to replace? If it is slipping look at the pressure plate surface and see if it is good enough to reuse, then again, it might be best to replace the pressure plate, clutch disc, and if you really want to, the pilot bearing.

I was told a trick on how to remove that silly little thing; take tissue paper and jam it in there and take a socket that will fit the hole and press hard, and believe it or not, the pilot comes out. An old instuctor showed us on a 350 Chevy.

Look also at your flywheel, and if it is near shiny as a mirror, use emory cloth to rough it up a bit and to clean it so the new clutch has something better to grab to. If it is really rough and beat up like an old brake rotor, you might have to remove it and take it to a shop to have it resurfaced.

You can use brake cleaner to clean the surface of the new pressure plate and flywheel, kinda like a brake job.

That's my 2 cents. Have fun man!

[me.guevara]

Thanks Rage! I'm not sure why it's slipping, so I don't know exactly what I'll have to swap out. I'm afraid of replacement parts here, though. A buddy of mine is travelling down on business, so I want to have him come with the parts I need. I just may do all three of them you mentioned.

The Workshop Manual says I'll need a clutch centralising tool (LRT-12-001). Can I get the job done without it?

[Disco Mike]

Not knowing what your mileage is on the truck and how hard you work it off the road, I am going to suggest you buy a complete kit and replace everything. Don't reuse parts, that is like using a condom for the second or third time, it doesn't work.
Check the slave for leaks, bleed the clutch fluid, and resurface the flywheel if there are any hot spots showing.
Check and replace the engine rear main seal if it is showing any seapage as well as other seals such as the trannt front seal.
Remember after the job is done, break the clutch in easily to assure long wear.
Mike

[pavel]

RageRover - your pilot bearing removal trick sounds very good but I don't follow how it works...Is the loose fitting socket forcing the tissue paper against the back edge of the bearing and pushing it out, or is the tissue paper simply filling in the gap between the socket and the bearing working surface (making a real tight fit). Could you explain a bit more please! Thanks.

[RageRover]

Pavel, what the instructor did, was just randomly jam tissue paper in the hole, and start pushing hard on the socket and the tissue pushes out the back of the pilot bearing and forces it out.