chev2ford

Hey guys, 97 F-150 4.2L manual trans. Got a clutch pedal that doesn't engage until it is about 2 inches from being all the way out. Shifts fine, engages, disengages, and feels good. If I dont drive it for a couple days, it seems good, then when you drive it a lot during the day, it gets worse. Like the fluid is heating up and getting thin, if that means anything. I'm going to try and bleed it and see if it helps. Clutch was replaced a couple years ago and has never been what you'd expect a new clutch to be like. Truck was my mother in laws before... Hoping maybe the clutch master cyl is going out or something. BTW, it is full and no leaks anywhere.

Aragorn

Sounds like you've got a bubble in the clutch line. As it gets hot the bubble expands and you lose pressure to the transmission. Bleeding it should help.

chev2ford

That's great news. Clutch is strong otherwise. Explains why it has never been right either.

white89gt

You need to bleed it REALLY good. Be very thorough on it. The M5R2 and M5OD clutch setups are hard to get free of air. A lot of people bench bleed them.

chev2ford

Will get after it. Is it possible that the clutch is failing also?

Aragorn

While it's possible, I doubt it. I'd get it bled first and then look at it. It took me almost 2 years to convince my parent's that their S10 had an air pocket in the clutch. Once that was fixed the truck ran perfectly.

chev2ford

I hope to get it done tomorrow afternoon. I'll post results. Thank yall.

white89gt

Yes, could also be the slave cylinder too. They like to spring leaks. Fortunately they aren't expensive.... but unfortunately you have to pull the trans to replace it. It sits on the input shaft of the trans.

Bleed it first though, and rule that out.