Hey all, first time poster here with a question maybe someone can get me pointed in the right direction on(I've scanned the FAQs here and other sites, and various forums but haven't been able to find another instance of this specific issue).

I have an 03 Ram 1500 2x4 3.7 w/ M/T that's having some shifting issues I haven't been able to diagnose (nor have any of the local shops thus-far). The issue is an odd grinding/squeeling I get when the car is in gear at high rpms (3000+) with the clutch peddle fully depressed (on the floor) while still in-gear, something akin to what you hear if you come off the clutch with the shifter only part-way into gear. I grabbed some video where you can sort of hear the grinding here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMLVx...ature=youtu.be

Everything I can find on forums seems to indicate this is a worn throw-out bearing, but there seem to be a few things that suggest otherwise:
1) it only happens above a certain RPM (3000+), and makes 0 noise if the clutch is put in at lower revs
2) it only happens when in 1st gear, and occasionally in 2nd or 3rd (but much quieter in these cases)


I've had two local shops take a look at it, and neither was able to say more than it might be the throw-out bearing, or possibly some other bearing in the transmission, and they wouldn't be able to say for sure unless they pulled the transmission out.

I've also noticed that First and Second gear are "clingy" and that when I shift back to neutral and/or have the clutch engaged, it takes substantially longer for the RPMs to return to idle than it does in higher gears, on the order of 2 full seconds(I've never noticed this in other M/T vehicles I've had, or if there was a difference it wasn't noticeable).

I've also found that the problem is worst when the engine is cold, for the first 10-15 minutes of driving after starting.

My initial thought was that the clutch was failing, but I've never heard of it happening in such a way that it only effects some of the gears. I figure if it's to the point that the transmission needs to be pulled, I should look at replacing the clutch (since it's still on it's first one, with 120k miles), and possibly some other transmission components, but it seems like throwing parts at a transmission problem is a good way to lighten you wallet quickly.

Any thoughts or suggestions on what the cause might be, or how to narrow down the list of possible culprits would be greatly appreciated.

 

i definitely still think it might be a throw out bearing...

you can check this out by jacking the truck up and put it on jack stands so that all 4 wheels are off the ground.

with the engine running put it in first gear with the clutch engaged and if the wheels turn without you letting off the clutch you've got something wrong with the clutch and/or throw-out bearing.

you are at 120,000 miles on the original clutch is quite a lot... my bet is you are down to the rivets on the clutch disc and your throw-out bearing is SHOT.

Time for a new clutch, flywheel (you might be able to resurface it...), and throw-out bearing.

Might as well change the clutch fluid too while you are doing it all.

Make sure you use only Dodge recommended fluids for the trans, and clutch cylinders...

 

Thanks Izero. I figured that a new clutch was probably in order, but I'd hate to go through putting in a new clutch and button everything back up, only to find out I had a bad synchro or something like that

 

If you had a bad syncro you would be grinding between gears regardless of load.... unless its a higher gear like 4-5 or 5-6 (on 6 speeds)

Might as well do a trans flush while you're at it though...

 

I do agree with Izero, but I think you forgot one bearing that is more prone to the high speed squeel you describe-----the pilot bearing in the end of the crankshaft. If it is that, and you change it NOW!

You might save yourself the price of a new input shaft of $ 1000.00, or something near that. Been there---done that.

If it gets bad enough, it can also damage the end of the crankshaft by seizure, I was fortunate enough not to have that happen. It happened on mine at around 120K.

 

yeah but if it was a pilot bearing he would experience that grinding issue at any RPM... b/c it would create significant drag on the internals between shifts.. but it's a possibility.

If the new throw out bearing, clutch and flywheel don't solve the problem then I would consider the pilot bearing as a possibility right after the syncros get inspected....

 

I guess if I was pulling the tranny and transfer case, and was going through the clutch assembly, I would be highly inclined to change a 15.00 pilot bearing while I was there unless I really liked pulling trannys and transfer cases just for the H**l of it. Especially if there was any potential for scarring the crankshaft----but that just me---

I just hope the OP gets it figured out

 

true... it's worth the time in my opinion too, but I'm not sure that it's the problem.

For $15 it's worth it, hope he sorts it out.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I've got the truck scheduled to go in for a new clutch, fly wheel, and throw-out bearing on Monday, and I'm going to get the fluid flushed and see if they can check the pilot bearing as well.

I'll let you all know how things turn out.

 

Just have them do the Pilot bearing while they are in there... it shouldn't be significantly more $ to have it done.