So after a lot of searching regreasing my shifter, changing all the fluids, and getting a new master cylinder I think I have finally pinpointed my hard shifting as what other people describe as the clutch plate is dragging due to rust on the transmission input shaft. I would say the feeling as I put it into gear is a popping as it moves the clutch off from the difference in speed. Now my question is what can I do to remedy this problem or am I just S.O.L. and need to drop the transmission to regrease it at which point I might as well get a new clutch. I have a 04 S with 92,000 miles on it. Thanks for any advice guys!

 

You might start with greasing the release fork and see if that improves anything. unbolt the slave cylinder, pull the release fork as far out as you can, and use your fingers to grease up the two "fingers" on the fork. Re-install and try it.

Otherwise yes, gotta pull the tranny to grease up the splines.

 

Your clutch must be near the end of it's life by now anyway. You don't want to wait until the friction plate is so thin that the rivet heads start to damage the flywheel. A genuine flywheel for these cars is £600 here in the UK! I resurfaced mine when I did my clutch because it wasn't too bad. Anyway, if you've got rust on your input shaft you'll have to pull the transmission. If your mechanically minded and have the tools, it's not too difficult. Dr Billman has posted many helpful photo/advice on this subject, if you do a search I'm sure you'd find it very easily. Let us know how you get on.

 

Very common. If clutch rod is adjusted PROPERLY, clutch fluid is clean, there is no air in the system, slave and master are good (they usually are ok) then this is your problem.

 

Greasing slave end and fork have no effect on shifting or notchy trans. That only affects pedal feel and pedal noise.

 

I have this problem as well. Kind of blows my mind that it didn't come with grease on it from the factory. Probably won't get fixed until my clutch gets replaced.

 

I'm sure it was greased from the factory, but 92,000 miles and 8 years later, I'm sure some of the grease has been scraped off the mating surfaces.

 

Yeah i figured it was about that time.. Is it hard on the synchro's for the clutch to be like this? It seems like it would have to be. Thanks for the responses guys!