99 gt hard to get into gear (sometimes)

bucstang1

Member

Nov 6, 2003

68

0

7

central florida

Apr 19, 2011

#1

• Apr 19, 2011

• #1

Hello all. I have a recently purchased 99 gt, I have noticed that after I drive a good distance (30 to 40 miles) It gets pretty hard to get back into gear after stopping at a light. usually I can put it in 4th and work backwards to get it back in 1st but it's getting worse.
It almost acts like the clutch is not fully disengaged, but if i let out on the clutch i can feel it start to engage.
can the pilot shaft bearing be hanging up and causing this??

 

GDawg

Founding Member

Mar 22, 2002

1,469

19

68

Nevada

Apr 19, 2011

#2

• Apr 19, 2011

• #2

I'm no transmission expert but I did take a class on manuals and automatics.

Your problems could be a result of bent shift fork, worn synchros, worn detent balls, clutch adjustment, clutch not releasing all the way, clutch installed backwards (!), shift mechanism binding or wrong gear oil.

I have sort of the same problem but not as bad. My car will lock into reverse sometimes and I have to roll slightly and release the clutch to get it to release out of the gear. I think I have a bent shift fork...

 

trinity_gt

10 Year Member

Jan 31, 2003

3,125

81

99

Canada

Apr 19, 2011

#3

• Apr 19, 2011

• #3

If you put the car on level ground with it in 1st gear and the clutch depressed do you get any sensation that the car is trying to crawl forward at all? If so, the clutch isn't releasing fully. How far off the floor do you have to move the pedal to get that feeling of take-up?

Your symptoms have all the hallmarks of a clutch not releasing. How much freeplay is there in the clutch pedal? Stock or aftermarket pedal quadrant? Original cable?

 

bucstang1

Member

Nov 6, 2003

68

0

7

central florida

Apr 20, 2011

#4

• Apr 20, 2011

• #4

Once the car is in gear it doesn't crawl at all. I can feel the clutch start to grab when the pedal is a few inches up off of the floor. There is about an inch of play at the pedal. It has an aftermarket quadrant and cable ( not sure what brand) aluminum quadrant and a firewall adjuster. Not sure what clutch is in it either I looked in the hole by the clutch fork and saw an orange pressure plate maybe centerforce not sure. I have only had the car a few months all of this was done before I got it. I did drain the fluid and put in Royal Purple.

 

Night Shifter

Well-Known Member

Dec 24, 2005

1,710

27

59

Daytona

Apr 21, 2011

#5

• Apr 21, 2011

• #5

what cable is in the car? same thing happened to me...replaced the cable and all went back to normal

 

bucstang1

Member

Nov 6, 2003

68

0

7

central florida

Apr 21, 2011

#6

• Apr 21, 2011

• #6

Not sure what cable is in it. It was done before I bought it.

 

Night Shifter

Well-Known Member

Dec 24, 2005

1,710

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Daytona

Apr 21, 2011

#7

• Apr 21, 2011

• #7

where in florida you located?

 

bucstang1

Member

Nov 6, 2003

68

0

7

central florida

Apr 21, 2011

#8

• Apr 21, 2011

• #8

In the middle of nowhere.
Citrus County.
50 miles south of Gainesville, 80 miles north of Tampa, 30 miles west of Ocala.

 

Night Shifter

Well-Known Member

Dec 24, 2005

1,710

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59

Daytona

Apr 21, 2011

#9

• Apr 21, 2011

• #9

damn...little bit far off from daytona then lol

 

bucstang1

Member

Nov 6, 2003

68

0

7

central florida

Apr 21, 2011

#10

• Apr 21, 2011

• #10

Yeah Just a bit. I don't mean to go off of my own subject but ... How much work was involved in getting a t-56 in your car ??

 

Night Shifter

Well-Known Member

Dec 24, 2005

1,710

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59

Daytona

Apr 21, 2011

#11

• Apr 21, 2011

• #11

i got the full kit from D&D so it was very simple...i just unbolted my old stuff and bolted in the new...the hardest thing was wiring in the reverse lockout...i didnt really know how so i left in unwired fro about a week....big mistake...looked up and learned how to wire it in and was able to get it in reverse lol

if you find a t-56 from a cobra you'll just need the crossmember for the 56 and the shorter driveshaft and it will all slide in place...i think the cobra t-56 bellhousing even bolts directly to the GT block

oh and you'll need to get a clutch to match the input shaft splines

 

bucstang1

Member

Nov 6, 2003

68

0

7

central florida

Apr 21, 2011

#12

• Apr 21, 2011

• #12

Not a bad idea THX.

 

trinity_gt

10 Year Member

Jan 31, 2003

3,125

81

99

Canada

Apr 21, 2011

#13

• Apr 21, 2011

• #13

bucstang1 said:

Once the car is in gear it doesn't crawl at all. I can feel the clutch start to grab when the pedal is a few inches up off of the floor.

Click to expand...

Is this all true even after the 40 miles it takes for the symptoms (hard to get into gear) or did you just check it in the garage/driveway with it cold?

 

bhuff30

Founding Member

Dec 11, 2001

6,037

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129

Olathe KS

Apr 21, 2011

#14

• Apr 21, 2011

• #14

It shouldn't start to engage that close to the floor I think. It sounds to me like the release is out of adjustment, which is causing it to be difficult to get into gear.

bucstang1 said:

I can feel the clutch start to grab when the pedal is a few inches up off of the floor...

Click to expand...

 

bucstang1

Member

Nov 6, 2003

68

0

7

central florida

Apr 25, 2011

#15

• Apr 25, 2011

• #15

Trinity- Yes it acts like the clutch is not fully disengaged, but when I finally get it into gear I watched the tach as I let out on the clutch. The RPM started to drop when the pedal was about 2-3 inches from the floor. I am confused

 

bucstang1

Member

Nov 6, 2003

68

0

7

central florida

Apr 27, 2011

#16

• Apr 27, 2011

• #16

Does the t45 have a TOB retainer like the t5 ??