1998 ranger 3.0 4x4

Noticed recently more and more that i sometimes have slack when i start to push the clutch pedal down about 1 to 1.5 inches before i feel the pedal get tight and actually start to move the slave and the pushrod down.

Sometimes it is very tight no slack at all. Pushes the master and rod down right away.

Its not an air bubble it feels like it is in the pedal pivot point or in the beginning of the master where that plastic rod goes into the master cylinder body.

Thoughts...?

Any one else had this or similar happen?

Rickster

 

The slaves are the weak spot.
Get ready to do a clutch job . Don't skimp on cheap parts either.

While you have the truck down , pull the cam syncronizer. Use the search button at the top of this pane and enter cam syncro . This may or may not apply to your year truck.
Inspect it now instead of crying about it later.
And it will make you cry.


And welcome to the forum.

 

Thanks I already did a clutch job about 20K ago. new slave, clutch, P plate etc... master cylinder is original though so maybe it now is just worn out.

I did replace my cam synchro and sensor too. Mine was squeaking at start up and got a CEL code for cam sensor in the past, got that all taken care of.

 

If you replace the master , be sure to bench bleed it before you install it .
The way it mounts in the truck makes it trap air and almost impossible to bleed.

 

Yes i know about that, there is a youtube video of that, a guy properly bench bleeding a ranger master and installing it.

Thanks

 

my truck has started to do this the last couple of weeks. sometimes i feel resistance right away and sometimes it is almost all the way to the floor. The clutch was barly engaging (the gears would grind a little going into gear and as soon as i let pressure off the clutch the transmissoin would engage). i check the clutch fluid and it was fine and then i checked the trany fluid and it was half a quart to a quart below the fill hole. Would this have damaged something in the transmission to cause it to act up?

 

No your (ATF) manual trans fluid being low would not cause your clutch pedal to change feeling and cause the problem you and i are having. the manual trans takes a total of like 3.8 quarts total of ATF. 1/2 qt. won't hurt anything. Anymore than 1.5 qts low might start to cause damage over time. Good luck!!!

I am going to keep an eye on mine and track if it keeps getting worse and if it does i am gonna point the likely culprit to the master cylinder and have it replaced, bleeding them can be a pain and i might just have the dealer do it depending on cost.

 

knock on wood but mine hasnt been acting up ever since i posted this so hopefully it was just going through a spell.

 

My push rod that compresses the clutch master broke and I found that it is 1-1/2" longer than all available replacements that come with the master cylinder or the safety switch. It's a 1998 Ranger 4.0 2wd, has anyone come across this before. Our local ford dealer, when given the VIN said they no longer make the rod. WTF!!! Where would I go to get one other than having an aftermarket modified to length.