Replaced Clutch on 2008 Dual Cab - Update

A couple weeks ago I sought advice as to whether my clutch was slipping. Based on TacomaWorld feedback I got the courage to replace my clutch.

I ordered a kit from the US because even a premium one was about half the cost of a standard kit at an auto parts store in Canada. I didn't bother to ask the dealer: the price would have freaked me out and, quite frankly, the stock clutch lasted half of what it should.

Than I searched high and low to rent a tranny jack (I have a lift) in the Toronto Ontario area. No dice. So I bought a China special 500kg telescoping lift for $400.

I pulled off the transmission without too much trouble. The major challenges i had were all the damned wires and there are two bolts on the top you can only remove if you partly lower the tranny.

I removed the pressure plate and the clutch was clearly shot: almost down to the rivets.

I figured I would increase the odds of mating the transmission to the engine by measuring the angle of the flywheel (86 degrees) and adjusting the transmission to the same angle.

Incredibly, the transmission went in the first shot. No fighting, wiggling, etc.. It just went in and I pulled it home with a couple bolts. Because I was working alone I was astonished at my luck.

I should have bought the necessary exhaust gaskets when I ordered the clutch kit because those are one shot deals.

Works like a charm right now.

Thanks for all the help.

 

Well done!

 

Thanks! My anxiety levels were off the charts when I started: I had never worked under a lift before and, even though it was my lift, I had only done brake jobs and oil changes with it.

Then there is the little detail of removing a 350 lb (?) piece of metal, while under the vehicle which is over your head, and hoping 1) the jack actually works and 2) the removal doesn't somehow cause the truck to fall off the lift (even though I had special 'lift jacks').

I probably worked on it for 8-10 hours, all alone, not counting breaks for getting parts and such.

 

Nice. How many miles did you have on the old clutch? Do you have any pictures of the job?

 

I only got 100,000 miles out of the clutch which really bothers me. My previous truck was a 4-runner (same everything except a slightly smaller 6 cylinder) and I scrapped it at > 200,000 miles with the original clutch.

So maybe I was hard on the Tacoma, but I do not usually burn clutches. I read a few places that Toyota had some 'bad' clutches but I don't know if that was the cause. One reason, besides cost, I did not buy an OEM clutch is because of the short life of the one I had.

Alas, I do not have pictures. I took out my camera but once I got going and I remembered I should be taking pictures I was so far into the job I figured it wasn't worth documenting from that point on. If I had to do it again I would definitely take pictures of the electricals because they need to be threaded just right and it took me maybe an hour to figure that out.

 

Good Job. Changing a clutch can seem scary doing it by yourself for the first time. Now go sit on the porch have a beer(or your favorite beverage) and relax. Now other jobs on your truck will seem easy.

 

What replacement clutch did you go with?

 

I got an Excedy online. They had a bunch of choices so I kinda picked half way the price point. Because of the shockingly short life of the OEM clutch I didn't want to get another one. Of course, as far as I know Excedy is an OEM, but at least I tried.

The kit number is [FONT=&quot]W0133-1840147.
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Thank you!