When I got home today I went to back into my parking spot and couldn't get my truck in reverse, or any other gear for that matter.

I've been suspecting something was going to go wrong because the last few weeks or so when I push the clutch in it sounded like bb's rolling around in a metal coffee can. Since I have owned it (2 yrs) the clutch has seemed funny anyhow, as in I really have to feather it so it doesn't grab and stall out.

So I've visually inspected what I can so far. Master cylinder fluid is at a proper level and I pulled the inspection cover on the transmission. I didn't see any fluid and reached inside and there wasn't residue in there either. I observed the throwout bearing pushing the clutch cover fingers in when the pedal is pressed and that is about it.

Just wondering about some additional checks I can perform to pinpoint the problem, as well as how to fix it and get rolling again.

1999 Ford Ranger 4x4 XLT
3.0 V6
134,xxx miles
No modifications

 

Sure there is no air in the system?

 

When I bought my truck it had 75k on it and the clutch slave cylinder was dragging. You push in the clutch and let it out and nothing would happen then all of a sudden it would engage and wham. This was very aggravating driving in traffic. The slave is made of plastic and it distorts over time causing the clutch to not work. This happened again when the truck had about 200k on it. I put an all aluminum slave in it this time so maybe that problem won't occur again that is assuming the truck makes it another 100k. Advance autoparts had the aluminum slave. The original clutch was in it till 200k, I just replaced the slave. You probably have a bad throw-out bearing as well.

Perry

 

Sounds to me like the master has partially failed, or there is air in the system. replace that making sure to properly bleed the system. Check youtube for a good how to video.

 

My 98 made the same noise and had the same symptoms. It started out just making the rattling noise. Then it started getting hard to shift and in the end, it wouldn't shift at all. It ended up being the pilot bearing. The bearing piled up and bound the transmission in put shaft. New bearing, slave and clutch solved the problem for me.

 

Sounds just like air in the cylinder. But I doubt its in the Master. More like in the slave. An air pocket can easily become trapped in the Slave Cylinder.

 

Rattling BB's sounds to me like a throw out bearing that has no lube. The ball bearing will start to rust, the race get pitted, and clearance will grow. Once there is enough, you'll hear it over the sounds of the engine. As the bearing turns, there will be 'good spots' or good *****, and when they move they'll go over rough spots, rattle around and make noise.
If there is enough clearance, the throw out bearing face may start to rattle on the fingers of the clutch plate causing noise also.
With a hydraulic clutch, the bearing is touching the clutch all the time the engine is running, very slightly, so it will have more turns than the older style cable or lever & arm linkages, which could be adjusted to leave the TO bearing slack from the clutch plate.

tom