8.1 / 6 Speed Manual Clutch Problem
 

Hello everyone.
In 2002, I purchased a new Chevy 3500 crew cab dually with an 8.1 and a 6 speed manual transmission. I know there weren't many made with the manual tranny because it was difficult to locate one.
At about 50,000 miles, I was on a trip to New Mexico and had been driving for about 12 hours when the clutch got really mushy. There would be a lot of slop between pushing it and it engaging. If I got of the interstate and slowed down, it would immediately go back to normal.
I've been having the problem on and off....Now the truck has 90,000 miles on it.
It just got really bad now to the point where I had to start pulling it up from the floor with my foot.
One GM dealer says to replace the master & slave cylinder.
One says the clutch plate.
And the dealer in Oklahoma where I bought the truck said that it's neither....He said there was a problem with the tranny fluid overheating in these and that I need to get an aftermarket auxillary pump and cooler that will keep it cool and then this won't happen.
Does anyone here have experience with this issue?
- Dave

I would say the master cylinder and slave cylinder is going bad. And if that doesn't fix it I would look at the clutch itself. I have never heard of tranny fluid in a manual tranny needing a pump or a cooler. But then again you always learn something new...