clutch pedal release & shifting issues
 

I have a 2011 Dodge RAM 3500, 6 speed M/T, G56 trans, 6.7 diesel, 4x4, 150000 miles, used to run hot shot. I just replaced the clutch with a stock replacement from AutoZone. 13" dia clutch that came with throughout bearing, flywheel, clutch, pressure plate. The unit came assembled and said to install it just like that do not take it apart. Clutch install went smooth. Also replaced the clutch master / slave cylinder and bleed the system. The clutch lines look okay. The issue is the clutch pedal goes to the floor and is a little soft but the main issue is it will activate about 1/2 inch from the floor and it is hard to get the truck into 1st or reverse. 2nd gear is doable and the rest of the gears shift just fine. A few times I could not get the truck into first gear or reverse at all. This issue was the reason I replaced the clutch because it was going to the floor and would not shift at all. It almost feels like the clutch is not fully engaging / disengaging. I don't smell any clutch burn and it is not getting hot. I can put it in 1st gear and start the truck and it does not jump forward.

Sounds like you need to re-bleed the system, trouble shifting into first and reverse is likely the clutch failing to disengage, those gears have the lowest reduction so they put the most strain, and all the others are likely easier because the output shaft is spinning once the truck is rolling helping the syncros to line up.

I am getting another slave cylinder tomorrow. I just hope that I don't have a transmission issue. Any recommendations on bleeding the system that would help get all of the air out of the system?

When you fill the master with fluid hold it an angle that will allow any air in the bore to exit, and do the same with the slave, typically this is done before either is bolted in to make it easier to keep them angled. Once it is installed I typically allow them to gravity bleed through atleast one volume in the master cylinder before proceeding with pressure bleed. Just make sure when you pressure bleed that you never allow master to run dry and never let whoever is helping you allow the clutch pedal to travel up with the bleeder open as either could allow air into the system.

Thanks for the info. I got it bleed good last night and I drove it home and it was shifting great, could not have asked for better. This morning I got up and tried it again. This time I hooked it to my trailer and drove about 30 minutes. When I stopped I could not shift into first, second, and reverse. I finally got it back home and removed trailer thinking I might see improvement but it was the same. It would not shift into anything below 3rd gear. Could the sysetm still have air in it and it just did not get bleed out? Thanks for the info and help. I am total lost on this and I don't have any money left to take it to a dealer. Could the transmission be causing this issue?

sounds like you might have a leak in the system somewhere, with new master/slave cylinders I would first check the lines and make sure they are tight, then go nuts with the brake clean on both the master and the slave, check both ends for leaking.

Also make sure you have the correct fluid in the system, dot 3-4-5 don't like each other, some will shrink o-rings, some will swell o-rings... IF ya don't start over, with new master, lines, and slave...

thecaptain beat me to it, check through the whole system, the fact that is was driving fine then overnight it returned to the same condition sounds like contamination