• Mustang Forums
  • 2005 - 2014 S-197 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • 2005 - 2009 Specific Tech

Grinding gears. Clutch failing? Master cylinder? Slave cylinder?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tugboat123
  • Start date Start date Apr 28, 2019
T

Tugboat123

New Member
Apr 28, 2019
4
0
1
Lansing MI
Apr 28, 2019
#1
  • Apr 28, 2019
  • #1
So, I started noticing some grinding of gears (all gears. Shifting up) when I shift. If I shift slowly, there is no grind. It just takes a brief pause after I shift out of a gear before I shift into the next gear, and then there is no grind. So, I came to my own conclusion that the clutch master cylinder was bad. Put a new one in. I borrowed a vacuum pump from Auto Zone and bled the system. After that, for the first 15 minutes of driving there was no grind. After 15 minutes, it went right back to the exact same issue. I bled it multiple times and the same thing continued to occur. 15 minutes of good driving, then back to grind grind grind. I tried talking to a guy at a transmission shop (I was up there getting a trans part for my lakester that I race at the Bonneville Salt Flats). I asked if he’d take my car for a drive and give me his professional opinion. He kinda blew me off and said “it’s the clutch”, simply based on the symptoms I reported. Now, the clutch is original and has 164,000 miles on it. Yes. 164,000. But the clutch isn’t slipping at all. This car has been VERY well maintained since it was brand new and it has been driven very lightly. Never abused. I’ve never even spun the tires. I don’t want to shell out $1,000 to get a clutch replaced before I’m sure it’s the clutch. Is it possible that the slave cylinder is bad and causing this issue? Did I screw up the bleeding process after installing the new clutch master cylinder? Sorry for the long-winded post. Your help would be enormously appreciated. Thanks!
 
T

Tugboat123

New Member
Apr 28, 2019
4
0
1
Lansing MI
Apr 28, 2019
#2
  • Apr 28, 2019
  • #2
I thought maybe I should put it in a bag of rice, but I’m struggling to find a large enough zip-loc bag. Hell.... if it works to fix phones, why shouldn’t it work on my mustang?
 
R

racerraj

Founding Member
Dec 17, 2001
493
32
39
Dickson, TN
Apr 30, 2019
#3
  • Apr 30, 2019
  • #3
Have you checked the fluid level of the transmission? My 06 GT has 274,000 miles, original clutch. It grinds when the trans fluid gets low. Slow leak at the tailshaft for me.
 
T

Tugboat123

New Member
Apr 28, 2019
4
0
1
Lansing MI
Apr 30, 2019
#4
  • Apr 30, 2019
  • #4
racerraj said:
Have you checked the fluid level of the transmission? My 06 GT has 274,000 miles, original clutch. It grinds when the trans fluid gets low. Slow leak at the tailshaft for me.
Click to expand...
This transmission is sealed. It requires some special procedure to check the level of the trans fluid. According to a google search, I might have to attain assistance from a Ford dealer, as they may be the only place in town with the special tool to check it. But thanks for the input. I’m gonna look into it. By the way, the bag of rice didn’t work. Lol!
 

Dino Dino Bambino

15 Year Member
Jun 13, 2007
1,672
89
79
Cyprus
May 1, 2019
#5
  • May 1, 2019
  • #5
racerraj said:
Have you checked the fluid level of the transmission? My 06 GT has 274,000 miles, original clutch. It grinds when the trans fluid gets low. Slow leak at the tailshaft for me.
Click to expand...

LOL, 274k miles on the original clutch?
Do you only shift gears once/day?
 
R

racerraj

Founding Member
Dec 17, 2001
493
32
39
Dickson, TN
May 1, 2019
#6
  • May 1, 2019
  • #6
Tugboat123 said:
This transmission is sealed. It requires some special procedure to check the level of the trans fluid. According to a google search, I might have to attain assistance from a Ford dealer, as they may be the only place in town with the special tool to check it. But thanks for the input. I’m gonna look into it. By the way, the bag of rice didn’t work. Lol!
Click to expand...
The manual transmission is not sealed. I have done a couple drain and fills.
 
R

racerraj

Founding Member
Dec 17, 2001
493
32
39
Dickson, TN
May 1, 2019
#7
  • May 1, 2019
  • #7
Bullitt95 said:
LOL, 274k miles on the original clutch?
Do you only shift gears once/day?
Click to expand...
LOL... I don't shift hard often anymore. But I still shift a lot. Even downshift to slow down. I beat on it the first 100,000 though. Still do sometimes. I also have a Fox Body with the T5, I figured out how to make that T5 last too (not nearly as long as this though).
 

fun331

5 Year Member
Jul 14, 2018
101
43
38
East Coast of Canada
May 8, 2019
#8
  • May 8, 2019
  • #8
I had a grind in my T5 and was told to try chevy synchromesh fluid. Hate to put chevy fluid in my Ford but it fixed it. The story I was told was that chevy had trouble with the t5 and came up with this fluid. It'll work better than a bag of rice for sure. Is there a t45 in your car? If it's like the t5 there are two plugs on the side of the transmission one above the other. Take a 3/8 ratchet and put the square drive (no socket required) in the top plug. Remove it and stick your little finger in and see if it has fluid on it when you take it out. No fluid equals low. To drain open the lower plug.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

L
2006 mustang gt has high clutch bite
  • leevikisley
  • Feb 22, 2026
  • 2005 - 2009 Specific Tech
Replies
0
Views
201
2005 - 2009 Specific Tech Feb 22, 2026
leevikisley
L
S
Drivetrain Downshifting from 3rd to 2nd issue
  • Scott_S
  • Apr 23, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2
Replies
24
Views
796
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jun 14, 2026
Mindseye007
K
TKX Transmission Shifting Problem
  • KWC156
  • Jun 23, 2025
  • Other Auto Tech
  • 2
Replies
21
Views
3K
Other Auto Tech Jun 13, 2026
427nostang
4
S
  • Locked
Drivetrain Adjustable clutch cable questions
  • Scott_S
  • Oct 31, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
6
Views
439
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Oct 31, 2025
Noobz347
B
2010 V8 4.6 5 speed won't go into gear while running
  • Back road driver
  • Dec 30, 2024
  • 2010 - 2014 Specific Tech
Replies
3
Views
499
2010 - 2014 Specific Tech Jan 30, 2025
89ripper
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 2005 - 2014 S-197 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • 2005 - 2009 Specific Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?