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Clutch or Tranny?

1K views 17 replies 9 participants last post by  demarpaint 
#1 ·
For about the last month, I have noticed an increasingly difficult time to get the gear shifter into 1st or even 2nd gear...
Like when you come to a stop light and you gear down or have it in neutral while waiting for the light to change..... then shift into 1st... it goes but doesn't engage all the way and sometimes you have to let the clutch out a little before it'll go in all the way...

Is it the clutch wearing out? or syncro's out of the tranny?

95 YJ 153k miles 2.5 4 cyl with the 5-speed...
 
#2 ·
For about the last month, I have noticed an increasingly difficult time to get the gear shifter into 1st or even 2nd gear... Like when you come to a stop light and you gear down or have it in neutral while waiting for the light to change..... then shift into 1st... it goes but doesn't engage all the way and sometimes you have to let the clutch out a little before it'll go in all the way... Is it the clutch wearing out? or syncro's out of the tranny? 95 YJ 153k miles 2.5 4 cyl with the 5-speed...
I've been having the same issue with my 88 Wrangler Sahara..
 
#4 ·
Does it grind going into first and/or reverse? Did you you try bleeding the clutch? The brake fluid used in hydraulic clutches degrades over time, and takes on moisture, which doesn't allow the clutch to fully release. That would cause difficulty going into the bigger gears like 1,2 and R, or grinding. The first thing I would do is bleed the clutch to replace the fluid, and see if that helps. If it doesn't help it could indicate a worn clutch or bad syncros. How many miles are on the clutch?
 
#7 ·
Does it grind going into first and/or reverse? Did you you try bleeding the clutch? The brake fluid used in hydraulic clutches degrades over time, and takes on moisture, which doesn't allow the clutch to fully release. That would cause difficulty going into the bigger gears like 1,2 and R, or grinding. The first thing I would do is bleed the clutch to replace the fluid, and see if that helps. If it doesn't help it could indicate a worn clutch or bad syncros. How many miles are on the clutch?
No I haven't tried bleeding the clutch... not sure I can even do that... it has 153K on the original clutch as far as I know...
It didn't really start until I went wheeling a little bit and climbed a little bitty hill in 4-hi... probably spun the clutch a little bit... but its been getting a little worse over the last couple months.
I kind of planned on getting a new clutch installed since I'm headed to Moab in June...
It doesn't really grind... but if I go from neutral and try to go to 1st I have to let the clutch out a little bit in order for the gear shift to fully slide up into the shift gate....
Just don't know if it could be something with the transmission...?
 
#6 ·
My 88 has 128k on it, I'm not sure if the clutch has ever been replaced.. There's no grinding or anything though. I was going to try and bleed the clutch but the bleeder is rusted right on, is there anyway to install a new one? Or any good methods of breaking them loose?
 
#9 ·
I don't hammer the trans or the clutch in this thing at all ever.... I doubt it's the shifting fork.. but the again I've only driven it 2500 miles... the P/O may have dicked it up a bit... never know..... I think it must be the clutch...
Hope so anyway... I will check all the tranny mounts and all that just to make sure nothing is in a bind.... then I'll replace the clutch and see if that fixes the problem...
this jeep is just too smooth for this problem to be that big a deal...
 
#10 ·
For the 95 YJ, you can try replacing the clutch slave and master cylinder. I had a problem where if you held down the clutch pedal, the clutch would slowly engage, so the slave was letting out. Replaced the hydraulic unit, and it's been smooth shifting ever since.

Might be worth the hundred fifty bucks and about 45 minute install to check before ripping your transmission apart.

As for the 88, there is an internal slave there, so you'll be getting into your transmission either way ..

Good luck!
 
#11 ·
For the 95 YJ, you can try replacing the clutch slave and master cylinder. I had a problem where if you held down the clutch pedal, the clutch would slowly engage, so the slave was letting out. Replaced the hydraulic unit, and it's been smooth shifting ever since. Might be worth the hundred fifty bucks and about 45 minute install to check before ripping your transmission apart. As for the 88, there is an internal slave there, so you'll be getting into your transmission either way .. Good luck!
If you go that route buy the a master clutch kit (having trouble remembering off the top of my head if that's it's name). I got my LuK clutch kit for $135, they wanted $115 for the same slave that comes in the clutch kit...you can figure out which one I got lol
 
#12 ·
Demarpaint's clutch bleed is a good idea, it might be worth a shot before ripping things apart. I did it to my PU truck and I was amazed at the improvement, it completely eliminated grinding going into Reverse. I was going to pull the trans and do a clutch with my Shipmates. I'm glad I didn't. If you do a clutch check out the Centerforce II clutches, they're great.
 
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