Manual transmission 4.6 won’t go into gear

Neek

Junior Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2025
Posts
16
Reaction score
3
Location
Georigia
I have a question I replaced my clutch flywheel throw out bearing and clutch cable drove it for like 200 miles then my throw out bearing broke into three pieces took it to a shop to get it fixed they replaced throw out bearing and master cylinder then charged me 600 dollars with a car that won't go into gear does anyone have any suggestions I saw post about shimming the throw out bearing but it didn’t have a shim before and I wouldn’t even know where to find the shims needed
 

Neek

Junior Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2025
Posts
16
Reaction score
3
Location
Georigia
Broken throw out bearing after replacing everything and pressure plate before assembly

IMG_7215.jpeg

signal-2025-05-31-112623.jpeg
 

Midlife Crises

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2019
Posts
2,314
Reaction score
1,826
Location
Fairbanks, Alaska
Very likely the throwout bearing / slave cylinder came apart because it did not have enough preload. It simply pushed itself apart. A shim would be added between the slave cylinder and transmission to adjust the preload on the throwout bearing. The thickness of the shim is determined by measuring the stack up of the parts you are using. The idea is to have the throwout bearing compressed 1/2” or more when the transmission is bolted in place. The hydraulic slave cylinder will adjust itself to maintain light contact with the pressure plate fingers. You can find several thicknesses of slave cylinder shim plates in the Summit Racing Catalog and several Mustang focused venders. Lastly, weather your car came with a shim or not means nothing. The measurement of the parts you are using now is what matters. When I set up my T56 Magnum I used a 1/2” thick shim and I have 1” of preload on the throwout bearing. No clutch issues! The disc hanging on the input shaft is a shim plate.

B76CA09C-2DE4-4C3F-89CE-455AD7E25F16.jpeg
 

Neek

Junior Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2025
Posts
16
Reaction score
3
Location
Georigia
Where did you get your shim and are they universal also it’s not worth getting one untill I know the measurements?
 

Midlife Crises

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2019
Posts
2,314
Reaction score
1,826
Location
Fairbanks, Alaska
Where did you get your shim and are they universal also it’s not worth getting one untill I know the measurements?
I ordered that shim plate from Summit Racing. I found that Ford, GM and Mopar share the same bolt pattern on the throwout bearing when using Tremec based transmissions. This means that a shim listed for a 2020 Camaro with a 6 speed manual will fit a 2006 Mustang 5 speed manual or even a GT 500 with a Ford 6060 6 speed. It is best to order the shim thickness you need after taking measurements. OR. You could order a 1/8” shim and a 1/4” shim and use the one you need. I see no reason you could not use both if needed. Also, the two little bolts that attach the throwout unit to the transmission will have to be lengthened as shims are added. The little bolts are metric and I purchased mine from the local hardware store.
:driver:
 

Juice

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2017
Posts
5,024
Reaction score
2,149
From what I recall, there are 3 different thickness shims available, .060, .120, .180". Adding the smalles makes almost no change as far as engagement point goes.
You will need to center the bearing, shims move it past the machined area.
 

Midlife Crises

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2019
Posts
2,314
Reaction score
1,826
Location
Fairbanks, Alaska
I just checked the Summit Racing online catalog and found a half dozen slave cylinder spacers manufactured be RAM in thicknesses ranging from 1/8” to 1”. They are machined to match the surface of the transmission and the slave cylinder precisely. In an effort to save time I ordered a 1/4” and 1/2” plate and ended up using the 1/2” plate in the mess of parts I used.
 

Juice

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2017
Posts
5,024
Reaction score
2,149
I measured mine, and the tremec shim included with the magnum xl was 'correct'. But if you actually look closly, the throwout bearing operates very very close to 'fully extended'. I easily could have used a much thicker shim, like 1 inch thick.
 

Neek

Junior Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2025
Posts
16
Reaction score
3
Location
Georigia
So I measured it and Pressure plate to engine block 3 1/4. Flat edge of Bell housing to tob 2 5/8. so the shim I would need is 5-8 to make them even? or I wouldn’t need a shim cause travel would be less then 1 in?
 

Midlife Crises

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2019
Posts
2,314
Reaction score
1,826
Location
Fairbanks, Alaska
If I read your numbers correctly, you have about 5/8” interference fit. “Preload”. Depending on how close the measurements are that should be just enough to work but places the slave cylinder at the end of its travel when stepping on the clutch. I would add a 1/4” or 3/8” thick spacer plate between the slave cylinder and transmission to make sure the slave does not overextend.
:driver:
 

bambam 06

Member
Joined
Aug 12, 2018
Posts
232
Reaction score
79
I have a question I replaced my clutch flywheel throw out bearing and clutch cable drove it for like 200 miles then my throw out bearing broke into three pieces took it to a shop to get it fixed they replaced throw out bearing and master cylinder then charged me 600 dollars with a car that won't go into gear does anyone have any suggestions I saw post about shimming the throw out bearing but it didn’t have a shim before and I wouldn’t even know where to find the shims needed
I don't understand, you paid a shop $600.00 to fix it and now it will not go into gear? Take it back to them, $600.00 is a lot of money!
 

Support us!

Support Us - Become A Supporting Member Today!

Click Here For Details

Back
Top