NV4500 Tranny Trouble

[trbankii]

Is it possible and/or recommended to update to the internal slave cylinder? I just really don't feel good about that plastic slave sitting there waiting to get hung up on a rock while off-road...

[Turbo Al]

I don't see why not. I have not had a later model NV4500 apart so don't know what is involved. On the bright side The under carraige of my 1993 looks like WW111 and have never hit the slave in years of harsh use hunting.
Al

[trbankii]

I do a certain amount of "rockcrawling" that just seems to be begging for one to hit the slave...

I figure that if I'm in there and replacing clutch, fork, pivot, etc, etc I might as well upgrade if possible... Suppose it would be a different master cylinder as well?

[6.5 Detroit Diesel]

Didn't know you could get an internal setup. A little late this time as I already have a new slave cylinder, but will keep in mind for next time.

[trbankii]

Damn... Knew that this project was coming up for me but had hoped that it would last a little longer. Driving home today I went to downshift and the clutch pedal went to the floor without disengaging... It had been getting harder to shift lately as well - pretty much as you were describing things at the beginning of the thread...

History: clutch line burst when I first went to look at the truck, seller replaced it; last summer the slave cylinder broke off where the clutch line connects to it; now this...

Knew I should have gone through and replaced everything at the beginning of the troubles, but last year was insane and I kept telling myself I'd patch things up to just get through the current crisis - which turned into the next crisis, and the next, and the next...

Sorry... Just venting...

[trbankii]

Question looking at this page: http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,ca...,parttype,1993

Of the last four ACDelco options I'm reading it as the first of the four is the clutch kit for the dual-mass flywheel, the second is if a single mass flywheel was installed by the dealer previously, the third is the dual-mass kit from the first one with the flywheel included, and the fourth is the single-mass kit from the second one with the flywheel included.

Based on the prices, I'm guessing that is correct but am I missing anything?

Have to pull the inspection plate tomorrow to see what shape things are in and what flywheel I have - although I am pretty much guessing it is the original dual-mass one.

[6.5 Detroit Diesel]

When the clutch and flywheel went on me originally, I talked with a few different places,(Tranny Shops, Mechanics), and the general consensus was that the single mass was better.

Now, on another note. Finally tried driving the truck today. It spent some time in the driveway as I did work on the engine. New glows and a girdle for the valve cover so it wouldn't leak anymore. Had my dad give me a hand bleeding out the clutch. Can't seem to get it to stiffen up. It will seem to have pressure, but then it will get softer. Very frustrating. Then when it is running, you still have to pull it into gear and then with the clutch pedal in, it is engaging and pulling truck forward. Once in gear with the clutch up, it is very solid contact. Won't go into overdrive either. I am trying to figure out if this is due to the slave cylinder not pushing in far enough. I am thinking of taking a pushrod and making a longer slave rod. I dunno.

[Hubert]

I was hesitant to post anything but was curious about the Kevlar. On one thread a while back someone said the bronze was junk and iirc did not think much of the Kevlar one either.

I have read other good reports about the bronze. I have also read amazing stories of kevlar bushings in industrial applications. Not many like the needle bearing. Seeing it chewed up and gualled on the snout of my input shaft made me suspect it wasn't up to the task. Keep us posted how it stands up and how you like the SB clutch. Back when I was looking into it S.B. were still in favor of the DMF for the 6.5 but maybe with more history on the Kevlar pilot bushing they have leaned towards the SMF. They seem to be well respected for clutches.

FYI check out quad4x4 dot com for other good tech on the NV4500.