Hey guys i’m new to this forum and I was wondering if y’all can help me. I have a 2000 Ranger 2.5 with a M50D 5 speed. Recently I fixed the ac on my truck, when the ac is on I have a chatter like noise coming from the transmission when you press the clutch it goes away. When you turn the ac off it also goes away. I recently replaced my tranny, clutch, flywheel, pressure plate and throw out bearing not too long ago. The noise is only present when there is a load (ie. the ac) I’ve used a stethoscope to pin point the noise and it’s coming from my bell housing. Brand new compressor and no internal noise coming from that. Just really confused on what it could be. Only thing i changed that wasn’t oem was the clutch i went with a aftermarket one could this be the problem?

 

Hi, welcome to the forums.
It's been decades since I've had to change a clutch system so my memory is a bit vague but it sounds like it might be the pilot aka pinion shaft bearing. One of the few things on my 2000 2.5l 5 spd that I haven't had to work on yet is the trans/clutch system, but it's only a matter of time.
Here's a quick video to watch...


Did you change your pilot bearing? Either way, did you lube it before installing the clutch system and trans? Like I said, it's been awhile but I think the pilot bearing should be changed and lubed prior to clutch/trans installation.
I do remember having a particularly difficult time back when I was 16( I'm 65 now) on my Dad's 60s era school bus converted into a camper. That clutch project was a bear to get done, and it's also when I learned two valuable lessons;
1) Make sure the pilot bearing is fully and correctly seated in the end of the crankshaft "before" installing a transmission weighing as much as, or more than me. It wasn't seated and I broke the pilot bearing trying to tighten the trans bolts and had to pull everything back out. I was bench pressing the bus trans in and out so it was no easy task.
2) Use a clutch alignment tool. I didn't, and when I was struggling to bench press that big old trans up and in, the clutch plate slipped out and dropped about a foot onto my throat, it wasn't a good day. Yep, I got throat punched by a bus clutch plate while my hands were full with the trans, I would have called foul, If I could have talked lol.
Anyway, If you didn't change your pilot bearing, change it and save yourself some expensive repairs down the road. If you did change it, it's probably either; Dry, not fully seated, or just bad out of the box. It happens more than it ever did with all the imported aftermarket parts we have to use on these trucks these days.
I'm sure some of the other guys will be along eventually to improve on what I have so far for ya, but I think there's a good chance it's the pilot bearing.

Also, here's a thorough rundown on both our engine and the transmission:
https://www.reddit.com/r/fordranger/...25_liter_ll25/

I hope any of this helps, and my trip down bad memory lane with that damn school bus was at least mildly entertaining.

 

I really appreciate it man, and to answer your question i did change my pilot bearing and use a clutch alignment tool i also lubed it to make the installation process a lot easier. Faulty pilot bearing? or maybe I didn’t seat it all the way in.

 

With the sad state of most imported manufacturing these days it could be just a bad bearing. Or it's possible it's not fully seated and sitting crooked.
Like I said though, it's been decades since I messed with one. I just wanted to post a reply so you weren't left hanging, thinking nobody was going to respond.
Did you thoroughly "pack" the bearing like you would a wheel or axle bearing? Or just rub some grease on it?
It's been so long I can't remember for sure, but I think they should be packed, not just lubed up externally. I could be wrong.

 

I’ve installed multiple pilot bearings before and i’ve never packed them with grease just a small amount on the bearing itself and some on the input shaft.

 

Then you would know better than me.
I just checked the Ford official repair manual for 2000 Rangers and all it has for pilot bearing installation is "Install pilot bearing into the crankshaft" Really Ford? No info on greasing the bearing, nothing on how far in the crankshaft to seat it, nothing. So that was no help, sorry about that.
Now I'm wondering how far to seat the pilot bearing when (not if) I eventually have to do my clutch assembly. If it's driven all the way until it's bottomed out, there's probably no space for a puller next time.
I'm not sure why Ford didn't elaborate on this in the repair manual used by Ford mechanics. I've also found little online regarding proper seating depth.
I'll list a couple of videos here that at least mention it.


Here's a video using a puller to install the pilot bearing without hammering on it. Maybe this would help it stay aligned during installation.


And just to be sure, when you installed your pilot bearing did you make sure the o ring was facing the transmission and not the engine?

 

This was exactly my problem upon installation, when i removed the old bearing i barely had enough room to grab onto the outside part of the bearing, so i didn’t want to seat it fully against the crank so maybe i just didn’t push it in all the way.

 

It's possible, but without any instructions from Ford on how to properly seat the pilot bearing you might want to contact someone in your area and ask them. A friendly garage owner or mechanic might tell you, it doesn't hurt to ask.
The guys in those videos I linked to mentioned where they stopped tapping or pressing it in, but who knows if that's the actual spec.
And double check to make sure the o-ring is facing out, toward the transmission. I'm sure it's very common to install the pilot bearing backwards without realizing it.
I'm not saying you did in your case, but it wouldn't hurt to look once you pull the trans again.
I hope you get it sorted out, especially if it's your only vehicle. Mine was down for a year before I got it back on the road at the end of June so I know how much it sucks to go without transportation.