Over the last month, it's gotten harder to shift into any gear, 1st being the worst, while the truck is running. Can I lubricate something or is something worn out?

Thanks

 

first i'd check your trans fluid, could be low. if not, i'd say your clutch isn't disengaging all the way anymore or your loosing syncros.

 

Sounds like symptoms of the slave going out on ya. You can try and bleed the system but usually that is just a temporary fix.

 

x2.

 

x3, don't know why that didn't occur to me.

 

Yeah it's the slave cylinder. You'll have to drop the trans to replace it. It's like a $50 part.

 

Whereabouts did you get yours for $50? Even the cheapo aftermarket ones around here are $80 to $120. Not sure about OEM.

 

this is not a slave cylinder problem. i am having the same issues right now. the truck needs a clutch. this is a very common issue of either a bad pressure plate or clutch disk. slave cylinder would be all the time problems and most likely not slowely getting worse. at a stop i cant put my truck in gear but once its rolling it is ok

 

Sounds like slave to me. You have to pull the trans either way, inspect the pressure plate while you're in there.

 

Had this type of problem when I bought my truck. Trans fluid had never been changed...simple drain and fill (Once a month for 3 months to get all the metal shavings and other gunk out). Check the trans fluid first, it's a lot cheaper than dropping the trans for a clutch job.

 

I'm having this issue and my clutch is barely a year old. I just changed the fluids today as well. Still the same some times it's easier than others. Others it won't go in at all. I've even noticed that it's as if the clutch is not disengaged when I try to go into gear even with the pedal all the way to the floor. I've seen a youtube video about how this ranger needs to be bench bled then have the slave installed after bench bleeding. I would imagine my shop did this bit maybe not. I'm also concerned it maybe the synchronizers though it seems to spool up(tries to roll foreward) when pushing against them with the clutch out.

 

Would bad slave cause grinding noise while already in gear? Don't think so but I'm hoping I don't have to rebuild the trans

 

One thing that has not been mentioned is the pilot bearing. I had one go out earlier this year. I typically just had difficulty in getting it in first gear when stopped. It was inconsistent and not always a problem. One evening while going home it started trying to take off while stopped with the clutch pedal pushed in and in gear.

When I took the transmission and removed the clutch, little needle bearings started dropping. I found the pilot bearing was destroyed. Apparently some of the needles would get sideways sometimes and bind on the transmission input shaft. I put in a new pilot bearing and it work like new again.

 

Well what did ya find out.
I had this same issue and it WAS the slave cylinder, Here's why.
The slave of course engages and disengages the clutch.
On a 1996 this is a Mitsubishi transmission with the slave cylinder internal in the bell housing which does require the tranny to be removed.
I was stupid and replaced only the slave, then 40K miles later the pressure plate locked up and I pulled it all again.
My advice is shop around, I see everywhere a slave cylinder is about 50-80 bucks.
I pulled the tranny in 5 hours and replaced in 3.
Do highly consider doing it all. That way it leaves nothing to go wrong.
The grinding or hard shifting is due to the transmission not being fully disengaged from the engine. I would not worry about the transmission being in need of a rebuild that Mits is rock solid. Good luck

 

Hey bud,

I am having a very similar problem with my Ranger. Same thing - hard to get in 1st from time to time when at a complete stop. Today, I started to hear some grinding noise coming from the clutch area whenever I moved the stick anywhere towards a gear....no in neutral...just whenever I am pushing the truck into gear....i start to hear this grinding noise.

Anyways, I just wanted to confirm the solution with you before I go any further.

 

Who are you asking, 3 different people had the same problem in this thread, none of them have been here in a long time.
1. hasn't been here in 7 years
2. hasn't been here in 3 years
3. hasn't been here in 4 years

 

If you can shift your vehicle into gear easily while the truck is off, but not while running, then it is 99% a clutch engagement issue, either from a dying slave cylinder, master cyl, or air in the lines.

It can also be a sign of a bad pilot bearing, or other transmission bearings. Synchros usually present themselves as "grinding"

 

This thread was very useful for me in 2024.