Tough to get in gear (Shifting issues)

So as some of you know I picked up my SRT back in April with only 2700 miles on it. Smooth sailing for the most part except a weird issue that involved not being able to downshift to 5th gear from 6th without first shifting to 4th and then back up to 5th.

In the past few weeks I've noticed the truck getting harder and harder to shift. Sometimes I couldn't even get it into reverse (It would go but it took some muscle). I was fairly certain it wasn't my imagination but slowly but surely I noticed more and more play in the clutch. It was like the catch point was getting closer and closer to the floor (sounds like pressure). I'm right at 5k on the odo at this point.

After reading tons of threads regarding this issue I finally got the truck over to my Transmission man. First thing I'm having them do is flush the fluid in the Master/Salve cylinder and check for leaks, per the general consensus starting out, also I may have them change the transmission fluid for good measure.

Obviously I'm taking it a step at a time but at this point what I'm curious about is if it does turn out the clutch needs to be replaced, what do you guys recommend? I was thinking Center Force.

Also does it sound like the clutch is going to you guys based on what I've described? Hopefully not the later but if it needs to be replaced it needs to be replaced.

Thanks in advance!

Mine was doing that when I first got it, it would grind from 3rd to 4th and downshift also, it was my 3rd gear hub(synchro) that went out, and reverse in my truck has always been a bitch, I almost have to double clutch it to get it in

I replaced my clutch with a southbend from JTSVP.com. I like it a lot and it bites good. A little firmer than stock but for the price, a great clutch. I haven't had a chance to really test the clutch(at the track) but it doesn't slip a bit with high rpm drops of the clutch pedal. My slave went last January so I replace master, slave, and clutch was so near worn out that is why I changed it. I wasn't having any issues shifting till the slave blew in 18 degree temps at start up time.

The first thing I would do is bleed the clutch hydraulics. I have fixed numerous shifting issues in several trucks by doing this. I'm not saying there isn't a mechanical failure of some kind, however I'd do this first because it takes a little amount of time and costs you next to nothing compared to replacing parts.

You have a combination of things going on. Trans needs rebuild for sure. The downshifting issue is internal. Now reason why is that someone had power shifted 4/5 and 5/6 few too many times. Even with only 2700 miles. Are you dripping any fluid from bellhousing area? Centerforce is pretty much all the sell and have used the past 9 years on my own and customer builds. :rock:
Give me a shout and I'd be happy to set you up with what you need.

Hey guys, I've been busy with work lately and just wanted to update.

So I had the clutch fluid changed out and drove the truck a couple days. Full pressure returned to the clutch (feels as solid as the Cobra now). Shifting smoothed out almost immediately. Also I've noticed when the truck is sitting I can now go from 6th to 5th with no resistance at all which is something it wouldn't do at all before. If I go to reverse and then to 5th I do notice some resistance but it does go into gear without double clutching or anything like that. Haven't had it out on the interstate yet so I haven't had a chance to mess with it while its rolling.

My next move is to change out the transmission fluid with some Royal Purple. I've always known about it, just never tried it. I'm guessing it will be night and day vs that 12 year old factory stuff thats in there now (Yeah). I'll let you know how it goes from there.

In a worst case I know I can always send it down to Tick Performance and have them rebuild it if need be in which case I'll probably end up going with a Center Force or Monster clutch, as I was telling Venomous.

Thanks for all the help guys and I'll keep you in the loop!

Dr.Bleed said:

Hey guys, I've been busy with work lately and just wanted to update.

So I had the clutch fluid changed out and drove the truck a couple days. Full pressure returned to the clutch (feels as solid as the Cobra now). Shifting smoothed out almost immediately. Also I've noticed when the truck is sitting I can now go from 6th to 5th with no resistance at all which is something it wouldn't do at all before. If I go to reverse and then to 5th I do notice some resistance but it does go into gear without double clutching or anything like that. Haven't had it out on the interstate yet so I haven't had a chance to mess with it while its rolling.

My next move is to change out the transmission fluid with some Royal Purple. I've always known about it, just never tried it. I'm guessing it will be night and day vs that 12 year old factory stuff thats in there now (Yeah). I'll let you know how it goes from there.

In a worst case I know I can always send it down to Tick Performance and have them rebuild it if need be in which case I'll probably end up going with a Center Force or Monster clutch, as I was telling Venomous.

Thanks for all the help guys and I'll keep you in the loop!

Click to expand...

That is awesome to hear that bleeding and flushing the clutch fluid helped! Definitely keep us informed.

your trans is fine, I'm not a big fan of royal purple at all, don't like the way it foams up

most likely all you had was deterioration, of the fluid, it will happen,
make sure none of the lines are close to the exhaust,

it was a common problem in the first trucks

also leave the clutch alone, its also fine

whatever ya do , no centerforce junk, go with another brand if you do

but honestly don't waste your $$$

also make sure to use high temp fluid in the clutch

When it comes to proven lubricants and fluids surrounding your Tremec T56, it best to start with what Tremec recommends for the T56. DEXRON III. The highest quality equivalent is Redline D4. The grey goo that's in the transmission stock is there to over lubricate and minimize gear noise transmitting through the shifter lever.

https://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=51&pcid=9

When Stinker recommends a high temperature hydraulic fluid to replace the factory clutch fluid, Motul 600 has no equal.

https://www.amazon.com/Motul-8068HL...UTF8&qid=1506605322&sr=8-1&keywords=motul+600

I have (and many other members) put these fluids in my transmission with ZERO issues and a 100% improvement in shifting along with minimizing driveline losses from parasitic drag.

Cheers!

Nope Tremec wants Mobil1 atf ran in their trans. Not dexron3. Say no to Royal purple in any part of truck. And yeah, let them preach bad about Centerforce being they have zero or little experience with them or any clutch for that matter. They simply choose to argue facts. Lol
I've proven it in my own truck and many customers truck that actually have put hundreds of passes on them and drove to and from track every single time! 155,000 miles! Yeah, Centerforce is the bomb to 800ish whp. PROVEN!:rock:

VENOMOUS1 RACING said:

Nope Tremec wants Mobil1 atf ran in their trans. Not dexron3. Say no to Royal purple in any part of truck. And yeah, let them preach bad about Centerforce being they have zero or little experience with them or any clutch for that matter. They simply choose to argue facts. Lol
I've proven it in my own truck and many customers truck that actually have put hundreds of passes on them and drove to and from track every single time! 155,000 miles! Yeah, Centerforce is the bomb to 800ish whp. PROVEN!:rock:

Click to expand...

Interesting, so does he still need to rebuild the trans as well to fix that lingering stiffness ??

If you're bringing it down to replace the clutch, might as well get it built and upgrade the hydraulic system if funds permit. Anyone can diagnose your trans over the internet, but you don't really know what's going on until you take it apart and look inside.

SRT10VENOMOUS said:

Interesting, so does he still need to rebuild the trans as well to fix that lingering stiffness ??

Click to expand...

It wasn't for the lingering stiffness bud, it was the downshifting/upshifting 5/6 issue. Seen it many times from power shifting 4/5 5/6.
No amount of fluid or bleeding will fix that boss :driver:

VENOMOUS1 RACING said:

It wasn't for the lingering stiffness bud, it was the downshifting/upshifting 5/6 issue. Seen it many times from power shifting 4/5 5/6.
No amount of fluid or bleeding will fix that boss :driver:

Click to expand...

Well glad thats not my trans .... although my T56 does not have a 6th gear, shes a 5 speed.. .. so not worried about the 5/6

VENOMOUS1 RACING said:

Nope Tremec wants Mobil1 atf ran in their trans. Not dexron3. Say no to Royal purple in any part of truck. And yeah, let them preach bad about Centerforce being they have zero or little experience with them or any clutch for that matter. They simply choose to argue facts. Lol
I've proven it in my own truck and many customers truck that actually have put hundreds of passes on them and drove to and from track every single time! 155,000 miles! Yeah, Centerforce is the bomb to 800ish whp. PROVEN!:rock:

Click to expand...

I can appreciate sharing personal experience with other lubricants. I'm also a fan of Mobil1 products and run the 0W40 in my truck. However, I would trust Tremec to know what's best for their (our) transmission. Please see here...
Product Literature

Select and download TRSM-T56-0711 PDF and refer to page 6-3 (47 / 48) for recommended lubricant specification.

Redline D4 and Mobil1 Syn. ATF both qualify as replacement fluids for Dexron III and IIE. However, I prefer the GL-4 gear protection spec and the fact that when you compare technical specifications, the Redline D4 is a touch thinner cold and a touch thicker at 100*C (hot). Just all around solid, proven protection for our T56.

On the clutch, I have no opinion since I still run the stock clutch and hydraulics (other than the discussed fluids). I don't beat on it, dump it or do burnouts. I also never had a slip or shifting issue either.

Cheers!

There's lots of good oils out there and Royal Purple is one of them. I changed out everything to Royal Purple in my truck and it works great.

NVR2OLD said:

There's lots of good oils out there and Royal Purple is one of them. I changed out everything to Royal Purple in my truck and it works great.

Click to expand...

it actually is , but like all things, and people its one I'm not a fan of, a lot of folks have had good luck with it, but a lot have with amsoil also

Interesting topic, just throw my 2 cents in the mix. Ive run royal purple syncromesh the last 3 years, but it is time to change out the fluid and I was thinking of going to atf anyway. I never had a problem with the syncromesh accept for a very rare occasional grind on a 2-3 shift when it was cold, I blame the fluid not being warmed up enough.

The original issue was specifically going from 6th to 5th gear. 5th to 6th gear was no problem. (The other shifting issues were directly related to the idea that I essentially didn't have any clutch pressure)

So Monday morning I did have the tranny drained and replaced the stock junk with Royal Purple Synchromax. Drove it to work about 30 miles away and I was still having the issue with it not downshifting from 6th to 5th. On the way home I decided to give it a shot again. At first it felt like it was locked out as usual and then all of a sudden it slid into 5th. In my excitement I shifted back to 6th and tried to shift into 5th again. Same deal, hesitant, but ultimately slid into 5th. So then I shifted to 4th drove a short bit, to 5th, drove a short bit, to 6th, and then back to 5th. Basically every time beyond that point now when I shift from 6th to 5th gear it goes in just as smooth as any of the other gears. In a nutshell it shifts just like the T56 in the Cobra and thats exactly what I was looking for.

I'm a happy camper now for sure! I appreciate all the input! Thanks guys!

Good to hear that worked out for you:rock: