Howdy folks, I have a 97 ford f250 heavy duty, i have a gooseneck flatbed on it, i pull trailers and haul hay with it, its 4x4, 5 speed with the 5.8 liter engine...Here lately when pulling a small hill in 4th gear about 30 mph, the truck starts vibrating, jumping up and down, its like when you run off the road and hit them rough places to wake you back up when you fall asleep...when it starts, i can downshift to 3rd gear and give it more gas and it'll straighten up and go on...it also has a hard clunk when letting clutch back out after shifting into overdrive...i also have a hard time getting it to go into reverse, it just grinds, it doesn't do it all the time, other gears are ok, some days taking off in 1st it jumps a little like its slipping. You all think it may be clutch or something else going on in transmission?

 

also when shifting from 4th to 3rd on a hill i hear a metal clang when letting clutch back out...U joints are brand new

 

Usually, if you try to lug the motor in a higher gear the engine will start to increase RPM if the clutch is worn(slipping).

When going for reverse, try this: Put in first(or any gear), then slip into reverse. That will stop the countershaft from spinning and allow easier engagement of reverse. There is no synchronizer on reverse, so forcing it will just grind it up.

All the clunking and metallic noises don't sound good and I wonder if there isn't transmission issues.

This does not sound good. More like worn bearings in the transmission, thus allowing the shafts to walk around.

 

I've tried putting it in other gears and then going to reverse, still does the same thing, sometimes it grinds, i dont force it to go in. Sometimes it just wont go in at all or grind...i've tried pulling up and going into reverse fast, sometimes that works. The metallic noise clanging sound only happens on one certain hill when i'm loaded...almost sounds like a u joint, but its not because their all new, just been replaced...The truck has over 258 thousand on original tranny and motor and i haven't put a clutch in it going on 11 years. I'm going to put a new clutch kit in it to see what happens. It could be worn bearings, but i dont have any whining noise from transmission

 

also could this may be bad carrier bearing?

 

This is the ZF5 transmission, witch does have a synchronized Reverse.


Where does your clutch pedal sit? Does it sit lower than the brake pedal? If so, something in the clutch system is worn, and can very well be the cause of your hard to shift reverse.


First thing I'd look at is the little 10$ plastic bushing on the pedal arm where it connects to the clutch master rod. Those love wearing out on Fords, and if left alone long enough, could wear out the metal rod it self, causing you even more problems.



Next thing I'd look at is the aluminum brake/clutch pedal bracket, the whole assembly bracket under the dash. I had this problem with my 1990 F250 Diesel, where for years I had a grinding reverse, until finally one day, the bracket completely broke, and the clutch pedal fell on the floor.

For years, the bracket was cracked, and was flexing everytime I stepped on the clutch, preventing the clutch from fully disengaging from the flywheel. After changing that bracket with a new one, everything was MUCH better and much easier to shift, but reverse did remain somewhat hard at times, cause well the damage has been done.

 

That is NOT your clutch.

A slipping clutch will STINK and the RPMs will increase and the truck will loose speed

 

You say you checked the U-joints. Did you check the springs hangers, spring bushings, sway bar & bushings as well?

 

Thanks, I'll check out everything under the dash tomorrow...Yeah, had new U-joints put in. all the springs and hangers and spring bushings, sway bars are good...I've been thinking maybe it could be a drive shaft carrier bearing thats bad? any thoughts on that?

 

I checked the bushing this morning, its completely shot! Nothing left of it

 

what bushing? on the pedal arm?

 

Yeah that's the one