Premature Clutch Failure?

Has anyone with the 6 speed 6 banger had premature clutch failure?

I've got right at 20k miles on my 2017, and the clutch engagement point is 1"-2" MAX from the top of the travel. I feel like it has been getting progressively worse over the past couple thousand miles. The shared reservoir is full, and I don't seem to be missing any fluid.

I don't do much towing, and most of my miles are highway. I pulled off the inspection cover on the transmission and didn't see much of anything. The cover and spring look perfectly clean and the inside of the bellhousing doesn't seem to have an abnormal amount of dust or buildup. I wiped my finger on the inside and got a little bit of black grime, but nowhere near what I would expect from a toasted clutch.

As far as I know there are really no adjustments to be made. Free play is nearly non-existent.

For reference I have been driving manual since I started driving 15 years ago. I put 145k miles on the original clutch in my 2003 Elantra, and 50k+ on a 135k mile '98 Accord with the original clutch as well. I'm not ruling out my driving habits, but I feel like I haven't abused this clutch. Certainly no worse than the other two cars in highschool and college.

 

The clutch engagement is ridiculously high on these trucks. Are you sure it's gotten any worse?

 

That's my sticking point I guess. I got a 2009 Jetta with a 5 speed a few months ago and have been putting miles on that mostly. Obviously it has a totally different feel. Even still I find the clutch in my truck extremely difficult to modulate with only 1 or 2 inches of usable travel. But maybe my muscle memory is just off from driving the car.

 

Yep, same here. Release is stupid close to the top of pedal travel, same now as when it was new.

 

Going back and forth between my Taco and a '97 Civic, the Taco clutch always takes getting used to. In my experience the Taco clutch likes to be ridden a bit, otherwise the clutch accumulator seems to dump the clutch.

 

My 2015 didn't catch damn near till I took my foot off the pedal and my 2017 is close to the top also, just normal for these trucks.

 

I am so used to the taco clutch, all the other clutchs suck and take a few for me to get used to.

 

Wow. I guess I just got so used to it and then drove a vehicle with a proper clutch. Glad to know I'm not going crazy.

I'm due for the last Toyota are service so I will ask them to take a look just for good measure.

 

I’ve always adjusted my clutches to have an engagement point closer to the top of the travel range. Always made for easier fast shifts. What’s the problem with having it like that? Is it just a personal preference?

 

Out of curiosity do you use reverse a lot? I reverse up my driveway which is on a hill in order to get into the garage and I have wondered if this is a bad idea since the hill is steep. My fear is my truck will end up with what you are experiencing.

 

I guess I would prefer a larger friction zone. But sinci I had apparently gotten used to it and driving the car unlearned my brain who knows... Lol!

 

If the clutch pedal position stayed closer to the floor, at the end of its rather long travel, it would be a lot better.

 

Not really. I stopped backing up my driveway (also on a hill) because of reverse being so tall. When I do pull my trailer and need to back in, I will get it straight in the driveway and shift to 4lo and back up straight to avoid burning up the clutch. Reverse is my one HUGE gripe with this truck (Since I have the OV tune). It is wayyyyyy too tall.

 

Honestly this is the first M/T I've owned with engagement as high as this (also my first Taco). Meh. Used to it now.

 

Agreed. Reverse ratio is a mystery in these trucks, who the hell signed off on that lol?
I just can't see a reason.. can any of you? Off road? anything?

 

None what-so-ever. I have no need to be able to go 40mph in reverse.

 

Yea, honestly I thought this was one of the easiest clutches I’ve ever driven, other than the 93 civic I had a long time ago. I think my scale of difficulty is skewed by the various mechanical cable clutches I’ve owned in Mustangs that required superhuman strength to depress, or the four puck bronze unsprung hub clutches that couldn’t be slipped at all ... today the performance cars all have double, or even triple disk clutches, but I’m too poor for any of that fancy shit. By comparison to that stuff I’ve owned I thought the Tacoma was amazing lol.

 

Always be prepared

https://youtu.be/mE9iV92z0dc

 

This is a little off-topic, but it's my thread so screw it....

What was the result of removing the accumulator near the slave cylinder? Has anyone done it and how did it work out? Did anyone do a writeup?

I actually did basically the same thing on that 2003 Elantra because the clutch wouldn't engage fast enough and it would slip.

 

Oh it's easy, that's for sure. I'd like to know how it feels without an accumulator though