Clutch
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Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
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Clutch
I have an 87 f-150 with little over 100,000 mile I'm finding it very hard to shift gears I'm going to attempt to adjust clutch any recommendation also what is the average life span of a clutch. I have a 98 mazada 626 with 170,000 miles on it and have never had any problems. I was just given the truck so I have little knowlege of its workings.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,805
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From: Cape Girardeau MO
Clutch should have a slave cylinder on it. Fortunately, for that year, it is externally mounted to the clutch housing.
Should be self-adjusting for the most part. To make sure - check for plenty of fluid in the reservoir (IIRC, it uses DOT3 brake fluid), then use your toe to pull the clutch pedal to its 'up' limit, then fully depress the clutch pedal. That should be all there is to it.
Clutch lifespan depends greatly on the number of engagements during its life, particularly from a stop. Also, if the truck was loaded quite a bit, this will also tend to reduce its life.
I don't think 100,000 miles would be bad if it's the original clutch and the truck has been driven more toward the actual truck side of service as opposed to the occasional golf clubs and case of beer side of service.
Clutch lining wearing out is generally indicated by slippage under load - the engine will speed up in relation to road speed, may smell a nasty burning odor.
Clutch not fully disengaging may be a reason for being hard to shift. This may be an adjustment problem, or something being bent or out of line.
It could also be something in the transmission, although with only 100,000 miles, that doesn't seem likely unless the fluid is low. I think that model year still used 85W90 oil, so it may be normal stiff shifting for the first few miles if the weather is cool and the truck is cold.
Should be self-adjusting for the most part. To make sure - check for plenty of fluid in the reservoir (IIRC, it uses DOT3 brake fluid), then use your toe to pull the clutch pedal to its 'up' limit, then fully depress the clutch pedal. That should be all there is to it.
Clutch lifespan depends greatly on the number of engagements during its life, particularly from a stop. Also, if the truck was loaded quite a bit, this will also tend to reduce its life.
I don't think 100,000 miles would be bad if it's the original clutch and the truck has been driven more toward the actual truck side of service as opposed to the occasional golf clubs and case of beer side of service.
Clutch lining wearing out is generally indicated by slippage under load - the engine will speed up in relation to road speed, may smell a nasty burning odor.
Clutch not fully disengaging may be a reason for being hard to shift. This may be an adjustment problem, or something being bent or out of line.
It could also be something in the transmission, although with only 100,000 miles, that doesn't seem likely unless the fluid is low. I think that model year still used 85W90 oil, so it may be normal stiff shifting for the first few miles if the weather is cool and the truck is cold.