CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

'84 K5 Build (Midlife Crisis)

Sad day over here…. Something is bound up in the clutch/input. Got the hydraulic bled and has full throw but still no release. Truck will climb right over the wheel chocks. I can look through the inspection holes in the bottom of the bell housing and watch the pressure plate release the disc. I’m thinking the input shaft is locked up in the pilot bushing. I dont know….
:(
 
Does the hydraulic line have a mechanical adjustment at one end or the other? If you can take a fly wheel turner and turn the fly wheel then the pilot bushing is not holding anything up.
 
That sucks. But I agree with the assessment. If the clutch is disengaged you shouldn’t have any drive. I wonder if the bushing went in a little cock-eyed and it’s bound up. I would have thought if that was the case it would have fought you stabbing the trans in.
 
Does the hydraulic line have a mechanical adjustment at one end or the other? If you can take a fly wheel turner and turn the fly wheel then the pilot bushing is not holding anything up.
No mechanical adjustments. We just pulled the trans and magnum mount bolts and loosened the transmission to bellhousing bolts about a half inch. Put a jack under the engine to support it. I pushed the clutch pedal in and it pushed the trans backwards against the bolts easily. That tells me the splines or input shaft aren’t stuck. Maybe the clutch disc is stuck in the pressure plate?
 
If the clutch is not disengaging you might want to check if you have the clutch disc in backwards. Clutch discs are marked which side faces engine.
 
Last edited:
If the clutch is not disengaging you might want to check if you have the clutch disc in backwards. Clutch discs are marked which side faces engine.
10-4. I’m aware of that but I suppose at this point anything is possible. Maybe I’m retarded or the sticker was on the wrong side.
 
Dumb questions. You went with the integral release bearing right?

The clutch part numbers are different between the integral release and external hydraulic release bearing.

I’m wondering if you got the wrong version. The release bearing heights are different between the two. I’d double check the part numbers.
 
Dumb questions. You went with the integral release bearing right?

The clutch part numbers are different between the integral release and external hydraulic release bearing.

I’m wondering if you got the wrong version. The release bearing heights are different between the two. I’d double check the part numbers.
This is what I bought. DF097310
Looked it up for a ‘98 c3500
 
That should be the one. You can’t tell by looking at it if they boxed it wrong though.
Yeah, hard to say at this point. I can watch the pressure plate fully release the clutch disk through those 3 inspection holes in the bottom of the bellhousing. It must be bound up by the hub area I’m guessing. :dunno:
I already pulled both shafts back out and unhooked the shifter cables. Got the t-case ready to come back out. At least that won’t fight me like last time…
 
I think I heard once it only takes like 0.030" clearance between the disc to release a clutch. If your pressure plate is releasing it's gotta be something else.
 
I think I heard once it only takes like 0.030" clearance between the disc to release a clutch. If your pressure plate is releasing it's gotta be something else.
That sounds good. When my brother pushes the pedal to the floor, I can stick a flathead screwdriver on either side of the disc. Without actually measuring it, I’d guess .020-.030 airgap per side.
Also when looking up in there, the segmented friction side of the disc is towards the flywheel which looking at my old clutch that’s correct.
 
Does the pilot bore of the flywheel match the center of the clutch disc? Big trucks always ran two different sizes so you got used to watching out for that one.
 
Does the pilot bore of the flywheel match the center of the clutch disc? Big trucks always ran two different sizes so you got used to watching out for that one.
Well, that’s one of my thoughts where it could be hanging up. When I installed the disc with the alignment tool, it sure seems like it slid right up to the flywheel no problem. It does seem to feel like in memory that the pressure plate bolts felt kind of long in the tooth as I was tightening them down in a crisscross pattern. Maybe the disc hub is tight in the pressure plate? I dont know, hopefully I have time to get it apart this week
 
Top Bottom