i am getting ready to replace a clutch in my 97 ford ranger i called the auto zone they told me there are two different type of clutches to choose from i called ford they ran my vin code they told me it had a mazda transmission in it but also said it has either a self-adjusting or standard clutch is there anyway to tell which clutch i have without taking the cluch out i heard the one will have a bigger throwout bearing but i have to take the clutch out to see that.

 

Your tranny is the M5OD-R1. Same as mine. But which motor is in your truck? Sounds like either the the 4cyl or the 3.0 v6.

There's no way to try and identify the existing clutch in the truck without removing the tranny. Functionally they operate the same but the self adjuster obviously require far less maintence. I know the clutch in my truck (94 with 3.0 v6) had a self adjust, and to the best of my knowledge no manufacturer has used a standard clutch in a large scale production vehicle since the 80's. There's NO reason not to get the self adjusting clutch unless its a budget issue, but I cant imagine the $ being much different. Mine was about $110 from O'reillys a couple years ago.