This truck is a 1998 xlt super-cab with a v6 4.0. It has almost 180,000 and has been rebuilt. The previous owner said that he had this problem and got a piece replaced (a bushing of some sort) and it fixed it, but was poorly done so it was only temporary.

The problem is that while driving and even at a park with clutch fully engaged I will occasionally have difficulty getting into gear. When I try to shift into any of the gears, 1-5 and Reverse, it feels like I am hitting a wall. After trying a few gears it will finally pop in as if nothing ever happened. There is no grinding of gears besides if I trying shifting into 1st too soon while stopping. I have taken it to a shop and they said they couldn't get it to do the problem which is likely if they only drove a few miles. They also checked fluid levels and everything.

There seems to be no rhyme or reason behind when it happens. Hot days, cold days, cold start or been running for a while.

I had heard that there is a bushing that the gear shift rod (??) rides on that if it is worn it can cause it to not connect properly. If this is the case what is it called?

There are a set of bushings that the ball of the shifter rides on. This will only make the shifter sloppy tho.

What is happening is that the clutch is not fully dis-engaging. So either low fluid level (clutch master cyl.) Air in the line or a bad slave cyl. Its possible the slave is going bad and putting air in the line.

I would first start by bleeding air from the system. Open the bleeder on the slave, place a container to catch fluid. Then open the master cyl. and run about 3-4 resivours thru. DO NOT LET THE FLUID RUN DRY!

When you have a steady stream of fluid, close the bleeder and see how it does then.

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It could also be that the brass synronizer rings are worn and sticking to the gear, and after jacking with the shifter they come loose.