The key to those upper bell housing bolts is to lower the back end of transmission and get ~3 ft of extension and go from behind the transmission. You can see the bolts once its tipped down and easy to reach with the very long extension. Piece of cake!

"9 of them are good enough lets be honest" is all i took away from this

Thanks for the video, lots of good info, mine is a 95 with the 4.0 v6. Let my brother in law borrow the truck for a couple weeks and he absolutely smoked the clutch, never again.

BOTTLE METHOD: if you wanna bleed your clutch or brakes by just opening the bleeder and pumping brakes/clutch, your suppose to get a clear plastic or glass bottle and a piece of tubing thats fits tightly on the bleeder. drill a two holes in the bottle cap but make sure one of the drill holes is same diameter as the tubing. add some brake fluid to bottle (doesnt need to be much fluid just enough so the tubing can be submerged), now screw cap on, slide tubing through cap, and attach the other end to the bleeder valve. open the bleed screw and pump your brakes or clutch. this method is the fastest, cheapest, and easiest. good video

you made me laugh a ton man, funny but super informative and all the right angles. Definitely like how you explained what not only worked but also what didnt.

Thank you so much for taking the time to make this very informative video. It was very understanding, visual and useful! Most vids have awkward camera angles, misleading info and lacks a lot of detail.

just bought a 91 ranger for 125 dollars thanks for the video! this is the only thing wrong with my new truck lol!! what a steal!!!

There's a much easier way to put the fluid back in the transmission instead of pumping it in on the side. While the shifter knob is out, pour it right down in the transmission there.

I've done my slave cylinder once before and it's a much older model, but this is a great video on explaining how to do it and how to notice the difference in the types. Thanks for the video it helped much.

oh man trying to decide whether I feel like doing this myself or finding a place that I can afford. great video.

The pilot bearing going bad is a common problem on Rangers that see a lot of hiway (high speed) driving. I ve had 12 of them (currently on #13) and travel South Texas in them-Atleast once a year (usually around 90k) a pilot bearing fails. I ve gotten to the point I just buy bearings and keep in the truck-normally the rest of the clutch is good to 180-200k (lacking abuse or hard use). Best combo is the 2.3l and 5 Spd-avoid the auto trans. Second best combo is the 3.0l V6 and the 5 spd-especially in extended cab trucks. I wish the Aftermarket would step and produce a better bearing. FWIW-if you use hi temp Marine Grease on the pilot bearing (lightly) during assembly-it helps. Good video-having done this job half dozen times-I agree with you=farm it out to someone else for $3-400 if you can afford to do so.

Very informative video! Thanks a ton. Slave cylinder took a shit in my 06 3.0. Ive done plenty of clutch jobs before, but it's always great to watch a video like this, to eliminate what learning curve I might run into. Thanks again, and merry Christmas! I'm doing my clutch job this weekend 👍

You crack me up ! Yeah , who needs those stinking extra bolts anyway ! I really appreciate that you give ALL of the bolt specs , complete with size AND torque specs ! There are several guys out there making ok DIY mechanic vids but , almost invariably , they just about NEVER give that much needed info . Thanks a lot for the vid . Looking at a '98 Ranger with 195k that's pretty straight and only $800 . Just needs a clutch . I've done a half dozen clutch replacements but at 54 years old ... I may just pay someone this time . Thanks again .

Bad ass video, simple, clear instructions, good humor and real mech attitude lol.

Excellent video! I really appreciate your honesty and humor- I have done this before and had the same problems and made stupid mistakes- thanks so much

Thank you for making this video. I have to replace my 2007 Ranger clutch this weekend. I am actually excited to get working on it. Never replaced a clutch before.

Really great info. Especially your comparison between the older Rangers ( I have a 2000 ) as opposed to the newer ones. Excellent camera work too by the way. Reluctantly, I would pay someone to do it.

You did a really good job on this video. Very easy to understand. I like your approach and explanations. Keep em coming.

Been doing this for the past week appreciate the video helped alot. I have a 2003 ford ranger edge 3.0 manual transmission. And I also have to top 2 bolts, found that if you remove the passenger wheel and the cover you can get to the bolt up top on the passenger side fairly easy and after 3 days as well the top bolt was easy to access from behind the motor, didn't have to remove any mounts. Once again thanks for the video.

Excellent camera angles and lighting. Well done!

My type of fitter (mechanical engineer) top marks for honesty!

Thanks for the video. I’m halfway through this job right now. I found if you have about 5 feet of extensions and a wobble adapter, you can sneak over the top of the transmission to get the top two bolts. It’s a bit of a pain, but way easier than going in the way described in the video.

im halfway in to my replacment.. time to go get the pilot bearing out. not excited lol as nothing in this process has been easy , well the starter came off easy but thats about it lmao...its kinda a big project, this is my first time doing this, thanks for the video

this is hilarious. love the honesty, love the comedy.

Well done! Thanks for giving me clue about what I'm up against.

Oh man, great synopsis, thanks for posting this video.. This looks like a completely ignorant job to perform. I had a similar situation with a motor home toilet that required a set of ratcheting combination wrenches.. Happy to hear that they may come in handy down the road again! Thanks again!

Great Job. Being an expert on anything takes a lot of painful time to get there. I am about to do my Ranger and know how much it can suck. But that's fun.

I love the honesty..cuz its real. Spent 2 days getting a bearing out, 3 days fighing the top bolt.. haha efffff. Good work my friend

Thanks. I think this video is gonna help a lot. About to start slave cylinder replacement on my 88 Ford Ranger

Pilot bearing. Bread combined with a torch and PB Blaster worked for me. Big bolt with tape on it and a small sledge.

Thank you for showing how to do it!!

Good job. Great video. Starting mine in the morning. Rest info. Thanks Mike from seattle

Most V8s have six bolts connecting the transmission to the motor. Dropping the crossmember and letting the transmission drop in the rear makes those bolts easier to remove. Great video!

This is super duper helpful, thank you

good job bud thanks for your help. I have a 96 mazda b2300. same motor an transmission.

this helped us emensly on are 1990 ranger thank you

Thanks for the video!

Thanks! I have a 2003 2.3 ranger and it has started to make rattling noises when I step on the clutch. I suspect it is the pilot bearing. Your video will be sooooo helpful when I get around to do this!

thanks Alex for the video, it is very useful

Awesome explanation!

god i love this guy

great video man

Excellent video man! I have the exact same truck. Subscribed.

Really good video thank you

Thanks, awesome video!

One of the best videos I've seen, thanks!

Great Video!

Great vid man

Drop trans crossmember, put tail of trails on floor jack let down easy, use several feet of rachet extensions, laydown by rearend and show that bolt whos boss. FYI this works on most trans jobs good luck

i got the late 90s or early 2000s model and the top bolts were done with just a wrench. but getting the transmission is the bane of my existence at the moment even with two people

Great Support Video! It takes a certain someone to work off the floor....

Thanks 4 this video helps me.

Thanks. I enjoyed your video. If you are ever around Grand Junction Colorado, I will buy you a beer. :-)

great video

Got 228,000 miles on mine before the pilot bearing went out. Doing this by myself for the first time and I'm learning SO much. Decided to take a break when I found out that the bearing is obliterated because I can't get the damn thing out.

I'd like to know WHERE DO THEY GET THESE CLEAN VEHICLES

Integrating the transmission and bell housing seems to be what makes this such a tough job. As you stated, the transmission isn't that heavy. I used to do this using ramps on the front, back wheels on the ground with the parking brake and wheel chocks. Once the driveshaft, externals and bolts were removed, it was just a matter of laying on your back, putting your knees under the front of the transmission and grabbing the tail piece with your hands, pulling it back until it was freed, then rolling to the left and laying the tranny in the grass (shade tree style). THEN you removed the bell housing to get to the innards. Putting the bell housing back on was easy enough. I admit that the transmission was a bit tougher, aligning it up and getting the shaft into the right place. It usually only took one or two tries (and not too many dirty words). Just work the transmission back onto your knees, roll right to lift it back in the ball park and push it back in with your hands. ( I seem to remember wishing that I had some shin guards.) I haven't done one with the integrated bell housing yet and it "Looks" heavy. If it was like a transmission from the old days, it would be. Seeing that it's made of aluminum, maybe not. So, since I'm not 16 anymore and not quite as strong as I used to be, I may try using a jack but it sure seems like adding one more item to get in the way in a fairly tight space. (When I did my 1984 F-150, I didn't even need to use ramps, just the parking brake. I did it in my parking space at my apartment complex back then. (The neighbors never even knew).)

Just a tip for anyone who is having trouble with the pilot bearing removal: use a heat gun on the high setting and aim in the area around the bearing to loosen the bearing from the crank, the key is to heat whatever is holding the bearing (in this case the crank end) so the metal will expand and loosen its grip on the bearing. Then proceed to use a slide hammer and the bearing should pop right out, if it doesn't, apply more heat and try again. You can also use a small hand torch, but I prefer a heat gun so I don't melt or warp anything on accident. All bearings can and ideally should be removed and installed with heat. Hope this helps someone!

Stupid bearing. Thanks for the video!

Those two top bolts are accessible via a longgggg extension from the back side of the transmission. If you move back and use a light, you can see them and use a very long extension to remove and attach them back again. I did mine and that worked well.

Thanks man,i wil main tomorrow (wish me luck ja).

I have an 2002 ford ranger. it has the new bolt pattern. also it's worth mentioning the 3 bolts on the passenger side that oppose the others.

Bro finally someone who is going through what I’ve gone through. I’m doing the exact same job on my 2002 2.3l ford ranger and man it’s been a complete nightmare. I’m on the dremel step of the pilot bearing because nothing else has worked. But unfortunately for me I also plan to replace the oil pan gasket and that’s a whole nother ordeal in itself. Suffice it to say I couldn’t agree more with what you said in the beginning, if I could’ve paid someone else to do it, it would’ve been totally worth it.

Dude you sound just like John C Reilly. Great helpful video though, thank you.

The pump bleeding method is you have someone pump the brake pedal or clutch and after several pumps depress pedal to the floor, then you open the bleeder valve then close it, then release pedal and repeat

Good job

Couple of notes. My ranger is 98 2.5L. The starter is on the passenger side by the oil pan drain. Bearing slide hammer pulled the pilot bearing in about 45 seconds. Removing the passenger fender made getting the bolts much easier. Harbor freight trans lift is $120.

you should replace the rear crankshaft oil seal while your in there since you've gone to the work of getting the transmission out

Good info

Good video...Im a realist and you stating if you can find someone to do this job for $300 or $400 dollars labour do it! HELL YA

After watching, I decided to pay someone to replace my clutch,lol

When you hear people pumping brakes or clutch, its generally with the bleeder closed. The pumping forces the air out of all the areas and towards the bleeder or reservoir. Pump pump pump, hold, release bleeder a touch, close, repeat till no air bubbles

Dang dude, I'm taking it to the shop! lmao

Bro the congratulations had me rollin🤣

Isaac Puerto Rico okey fra Good teacher👍👍🐝🐝⚒

By far the best ranger clutch replacement and bleeding video on KZfaq. Just replaced my clutch and hydraulics, this video was the best and most informative reference.

Dreading on doing mine. Having shift issues unable to get into gear. Then other days its like butter... 08 rwd sport. 279,000 km

Great video. Very informative. I'm gonna pay somebody else to do it.

Got one of these to do today, safe to say I’m shitting bricks rn

After I watched this video,I decide to sale my Ford ranger,.

Great video how was you clutch reacting?i have a 2003 ranger 2.3 and can’t get it in gear while truck is running but when off I can.hope you found the 3rd stater bolt.video was simplistically easy to understand

I love your first comment , Pay someone.

The bread trick you have to use bread and grease together.Then you pound the bolt in to it.

Many thanks is bro !!!!

Brother there’s a little ring once you replace the main seal some people use bread to knock loose and replace.. I have a 94 and I don’t see ho it would pop out.. is that needed ??

finally some one who speaks the truth, I hate thiz video;'s ,yea its quick do this do that boom your done,noooooo,it does work like that "lol" good video my guy,this is more what people need to see....

tip for refilling the trans fluid instead of using a pump under the car open the fill hole have someone watch it and fill from inside the cab through the shifter faster and easier. if you wanna do it alone same process just check amount needed and fill it, check when you reach manufacturer recommended amount and see if its leaking add as needed.

Hello, thank you for this vidéo. I have a question, what Can I do with my Ford ranger 2004, it starts but cannot move when ot is hot.

is there a piece behind the clutch that holds in the pilot bearing or should the pilot bearing come out without removing the clutch.

How long did this replacement take you? Actual days or hours would be good. I'm close to replacing my 94's clutch and need a time frame of downtime.

Big Omission: clean the surfaces of the pressure plate and the friction disc THOROUGHLY with a non-oily solvent (I use lacquer thinner myself).

Never heard of the "piece of bread" trick- doesn't seem like it would work that well. For old Chevys we would pack bearing grease in the hole then use a steel rod a few thousandths smaller than the pilot shaft on the end of the tranny input shaft. As you tap on the rod the hydraulic pressure on the grease gets behind the pilot bushing & forces it out.

Hey I have a question im doing this in my truck right now same truck and the pressure plate do the dowel pins have to be lined up because I put the six bolts in and torque them but the dowel pins holes aren't lined up do I need to take it back off and line them up or no?

What did you use to get the pilot shaft bearing back in??

jacks are for girls, I put these transmissions in by myself with no jack, also if you would've dropped the crossmember and let the tail shaft hang down you can get to the top center bolt with a swivel socket and a long extension.

97-00 M5-r1 Transmission Housing to Engine is 28-38 ft lb per shop manual.

Attention: The 3 torx shifter bolts are T30 not T25 on a 2000 2.5L 2wd.

Hey I took my cluch pedal off and can't see where it hooks back up to .Can you please illustrate it on you tube .thanks.

Thanks for this. I assume the steps will be the same for a 5 speed 2008 v6 4.0l 4x4 Ranger?

Did you notice a difference between standard trans fluid vs. the GM Syncro mesh fluid?