I have a 2007 B4000 4x4 5-speed, currently at 52 000 km (about 36 000 miles).

The last couple thousand kilometers I'm getting that lovely little sound - you know the one - when you let the clutch engage sliding into first. Yay for doing my pilot bearing : /

I'm an apprentice mechanic, so I can do the job myself if need be, but for the next couple months the truck will still be under warranty. I might take my truck back to the dealer for the first time since I drove it off the lot for this one ...

But before I do I want to know how common these things are. Do the pilots go all the time? This is my first time hearing it on a Ranger, as my shop does mostly BMW and Mercedes ... is there an upgraded part through Ford or the aftermarket?

If there's something awesome from the aftermarket then I'll do the job myself, but if the generic Ford part is all that you can get then I'll let the boys at Ford do it for free ....

I just hope that this isn't something I'm going to have to do every 50 000 km. For me that's one year of mostly highway driving. When the tranny gets pulled the friction surface is going to look brand new : /