ZF6 clutch

6speedsd · Jun 5, 2012

I assume this is the correct place for this, but if it's not it can be moved.

My 04 with ZF6....sometimes when I release the clutch, it seems to grab hard and basically too quickly. Like I barely let out on the clutch and it'll grab and nearly stall the truck if I'm not careful. Most of the time it is a slow gradual actuation like its supposed to be. Just wondering why every so often it grabs so hard. The clutch is stock (as far as I know). Never slipped or anything of that nature. Just seems odd to me that it does that randomly.

6speedsd · Jun 6, 2012

6speedsd · Jun 10, 2012

So is there no one on this site anymore? Or do people just not respond to posts anymore? I haven't been on here in a while, but seems like now you can't get answers or even opinions. Everyone moved to a different site again or what?

96stacked&smoken · Jun 10, 2012

HaysKSFirefighter · Jun 10, 2012

My factory clutch will do this when cold and in low or 1st...I really have to ease out on the pedal or it will catch too quickly and jerk like a mofo. When hot, it wont jerk like that. Feathering the clutch in second will net a smooth departure...every stock clutch I've driven has acted the same. I just ordered a SB475, it will be grabby like stock but not quite on/off harshness so I can tow with it.

6speedsd · Jun 11, 2012

I'm wondering if my slave is on the fritz again. I had it replaced a couple years ago, but starting to have issues again. I may try a whole new assembly and see if that helps at all. My 6spd hasn't shifted right since I've owned the truck. The shifts just aren't smooth at all. Dealership told me it was just normal, of course (was still under warranty at that time). I had a 2000 model with the same trans and it shifted like butter, so it's not just normal that it's not smooth.

And I hate towing with this one. I have to ride the clutch forever just to get it rolling. Which I know can't be good for a clutch. And I'm not towing heavy loads, less than 5000lbs.

Charles · Jun 11, 2012

The manual trans is a sh*t option. No way around that. The plastic master/slave assemblies, plastic fork pivot, plastic throwout bearing clip are all indicative of the level of damn given to the assembly's likelihood of success.

As an aside, if you ride the sh*t out of an organic, full-faced clutch, don't be surprised when it starts fighting back with some bucking and grabbing.

Stick it in low and let the clutch out. If it can't get out of the clutch in low in a second or two without stalling you need a real engine.

HaysKSFirefighter · Jun 11, 2012

Try running some amsoil manual transmission lube in it to help with shifting. I recently drove one that shifted horribly before. Mtl made it shift like butter

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6speedsd · Jun 11, 2012

I've seen people talk about MTL. Never looked into it much. I just put in some new mercron V over the weekend. Might switch to MTL if a new master/slave doesn't help.

Charles · Jun 12, 2012

A new pos plastic master/slave assembly has usually been the cure for sh*tty shifting ZF6's in my case.

The only exception would be when the stock pos clutch fingers were worn to nearly nothing on a truck where the throwout bearing would ride on them. The stock clutch has a pathetic "throw" on the diaphram in the first place. I have never had any real luck with a stock clutch engaging anywhere north of ~.5 inches INTO the floorboard somewhere...