Slave Cylinder

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Dec 23, 2010 | 02:36 PM

Alfadir

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Dec 2010

Posts: 11

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Slave Cylinder

Hello,

I have a 1998 F150 4.2 and I believe the slave cylinder is going out. I don't notice any difference in the performance of the clutch but I am refilling the clutch fluid reservoir every 4 or 5 days.

After searching around and reading old posts that seems to be what it is. My question is, how hard is this to change myself and is there some guidance to be had somewhere for it? I generally do all my own work so I am somewhat mechanically inclined. Is it best to just change the whole clutch system at once? I got the truck at 134,000 miles in 2005 and had to put a new engine in it thanks to a broken crank rod and the clutch wasn't very worn then and I am now at 170,000.

Thanks!
Dathan

Dec 23, 2010 | 05:12 PM

fordinlinesix

Senior User

Joined: Nov 2000

Posts: 379

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From: Azle, TX

Take the shifter off the transmission from the top. Pull the exhaust from the exhaust manifolds to the connector before the muffler. Unplug the electrical connectors from the tranny, unbolt the rear of the driveshaft, and unhook the hydraulic connector at the slave cylinder. Then just unbolt the tranny, and slide it back and down enough to change out the slave cylinder. It's just 2 bolts. Then put it all together. Just a note, while you have the tranny out, replace the 3 rubber plugs at the top of the tranny at the rear of the shift rails with welch (freeze) plugs. They tend to get old and spray your tranny fluid out while you're driving. 3.75 quarts of Mercon. Clutch is all up to you. Personally if I had the money, I would get a clutch kit with that many miles while you have the tranny out, it will usually come with a new slave cylinder. Don't forget to fill and bleed the hydraulic clutch system.

Jan 7, 2011 | 11:11 PM

Trail_Rider

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Nov 1999

Posts: 1,415

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From: Lower 48

I agree while you've got the tranny out change the clutch, and pressure plate, the new slave cylinder is incorporated into the throwout bearing. Have the flywheel turned also, and I recently found out there is a shim that is supposed to go between the flywheel and the crank to offset the amount that is removed from the flywheel when it is resurfaced.