The truck is a '91 hardbody. KA24E/5-speed.

Lately, when coming to a stop or slowing down...when I apply my brakes, the truck kinda shudders and the rpms drop a bit...and then it recovers. But, when it does this, my gear shifter gets kinda stuck in whatever gear i'm in (usually 1st or 2nd). I have to wiggle the shifter, or pull real hard to get it back into neutral or another gear.

Just wondering if anybody has experienced this? Any ideas?

I've been tracing vacuum lines looking for leaks, but everything looks good so far. Could the brake master cylinder be a culprit?

That doesn't sound like a master cylinder problem. Is it hard to put into gear after you fight it out of gear? does it do it apsolutly any time you use the brakes?

no, it goes into gear just fine after I get it "unstuck"

it only does it when I apply the brakes and i'm almost at a stop.

i'm almost wondering if the diaphram in the brake booster is leaking. that would explain why it only does it at low speeds. sound reasonable?

Yeah that might cause it.

Now, the shifter getting stuck is strange. It only does it when the rpms drop etc?

yeah, it's kinda hard to explain.

say i'm pulling into a parking spot. I start to slow down, and then suddenly the truck shudders a bit, I eye the tach, and it's dipping down to about 750-800rpms. Then it recovers, and the rpms shoot back up to about 1000-1100rpms. now i'm stopped, but the shifter is kinda stuck in gear even though i'm pushing in the clutch.

and, it doesn't do it all the time. it's gotten more frequent.

The brake problem sounds like it could be your vacuum valve on your brake booster hose. Check the line going from your brake booster to your engine. Verify the line is free of cracks and holes. close to your fire wall you'll see a check valve. This should be a one way valve. ensuring one way air flow, not allowing any airflow to return back.

When there is a hole in brake boost vacuum line and you apply your brakes, engine will drop RPM's lower than normal. usually causing your engine to idle a little rougher.

If your brake booster is shot you'll know. It will be much, much harder to stop your truck. You would be running only off your brake master cylinder.

Your gear shifter.... My truck will never go into first unless I'm under 10Mpg. I've never has a problem with the shifter getting stuck, especially when stopped.

I can't comment on the brake thing but I have found to stop the trans from hanging up in gear that putting the trans in neutral well before coming to a full stop (especially when the drivetrain is cold) seems to have eliminated this problem for me. Make sure your engine and trans mounts are good too. A Military buddy of mine likes the idea of replacing the stock rubber (swelling and probably rotting-from the inside out and reducing line pressure) clutch hose with a braided stainless line that won't expand, maintaining pressure to the clutch.


Take care.


Steve

quote:

Make sure your engine and trans mounts are good too