My 98 Terrible Taco 5 speed transmission problems

About 10k miles ago I lost 1st gear. So I picked up a used trans out of a 97 4-runner. New Clutch, Flywheel, slave cylinder Shifter bushing and seat and Royal purple fluid. All was good and then I lost 2nd gear. Took it to a very respectable trans shop that rebuilds manuals. (98 SR5 V6 5 speed R150F is the pickup in question) Guys says it sounds like bearings in the trans. Just out of the blue I lost 2nd gear. It feels like it goes in but not all the way and when it does it just grinds without engaging. 4th gear works but it's noisy when using it. 1st, 3rd and 5th are pretty quiet besides the regular gear wine when taking off in 1st. That normal? It just sucks I spent all the time and money prior to only wishing I had done what I'm doing now. The trans shop is going to tear it apart so we can figure out what's going on. Since it's very similar to what happened to me before I'm curious and I will post up what the culprit is to hopefully help others out. Seems there is quite a bit of info on these first gen trans. Ranging from "Damn strong and never break down" to "keeps popping out of gear" and "will not shift" Are these prone to bearing failures? I only have 171K on my pickup. Seems low to be having these issues. The truck does have 32x11.50 tires and I commute mostly and pavement pound. Not a lot of off-roading.

 

Does anyone else have any experience with the bearings int he R150F going out? is it common?

 

When I talked to the Toyota Dealer they said the clutch pedal is not adjustable on my pickup. Nothing to adjust is there? But... It's odd I have had this happen to 2 R150F trans. I commute and hit the interstate a lot. I drive it normally without beating on it.

 

I'm going to try that. I wonder if the dealer is just telling me that to steal some $$ from me. TRDS

 

To adjust the clutch? All you do is loosen the lock nut on the push rod and spin the push rod.

 

Awesome - Thanks for the info! You guys know your stuff! I love this site. I did almost the identical to the guy in the post you put a link to. Everything is new except the master which doesn't leak and feels fine.

 

well - I tried the adjustment thing, followed the FSM and although the pedal needed adjusted a little and I made the master push a little more fluid it still does the same thing. Second feels like it partially engages and then just grinds without hooking up. Tuesday next week will tell me more after it's all torn apart. Who knows - maybe something fell in there and got stuck. lol Probably looking at a full rebuild with new synchros and bearings is my guess.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/dead-r150f.449726/page-2#post-13212177

Link back to the dead r150f thread. It was the shift fork bolt.

 

The bolt just sheared off. I did have someone drive my pickup not to long ago. Moved it for me. I could see it being stressed if you forced it to hard but still.. I think it might of been a bad bolt. The transmission shop said that is not something you see very often or at all. The trans did come out of a used unit with unknown mileage though. So who knows.

 

dang pickup will be in pretty good shape after this! All the new parts I've put on it. Can't get rid of it!

 

We need pics man....

 

I should get it back this evening. I'm hoping. I might take pictures of it. Kind of pissed at it right now! lol