3rd Gen Clutch Shudder

Hi, My names Jim. Just got into a brand new (under 1K) Tacoma TRD Sport manual.

I’m new to Tacoma’s but not new to manual transmissions or general mechanics for that matter.

it seems that after the clutch has been warmed up (20min or so of non highway driving) the truck develops what I could only describe as clutch shudder. The clutch doesn’t slip nor does it give off a smell. And the shudder although mild does increase with time, and in general has increased since I started driving it. I’ve only had the truck two weeks

I took it to the dealer where the service manager drove it, albeit without me in the car (COVID Regulation) and said it feels just like every other Tacoma he’s driven. I know what a new clutch feels like and I know what a smoked clutch feels like. The clutch feels new and grippy with the exception of what I described earlier. It’s hard to imagine there should be any clutch shudder in a car with less than 1k on the clock. The only thing I can think of is the clutch isn’t fully “Bedded in” or “broken in”.

reaching out here to get some insight. Is this a common problem? I expecting too much from the stock clutch? Am I just not familiar with the Toyota clutch feel? Has anyone come across this before? Apologies if this topic is covered in a previous post. Look forward to hearing your insight.

 

Welcome to TW, Jim. I've a 2020 with less than 600 miles on it and I haven't experienced anything like you've described. Shifting is smooth and the gears engage firmly with no shudder. I've considered the ADM (Accumulator Delete Mod), but will wait until I've put a couple thousand miles on the truck to see how it behaves.

Maybe someone else will chime in with an experience similar to yours.

 

I should be clear. Symptoms are not shown in any condition other than right before the clutch grabs 1st from a dead stop.

 

My clutch "shuddered" exactly like yours on slight hills when taking off in first. The truck was brand new and i found it to be very odd. I removed the accumulator and my clutch is perfect now. Havent done it since and the clutch feel has been improved.

 

My clutch has done this since new as well. But mine only does it after it has sat overnight and humidity is high.

After that it seems to clear up.

I just assumed it was flash rust from sitting.

I also bypassed (Dremel) the accumulator and it made the clutch way more predictable but it did not stop the shudder.

 

Maybe check the push rod adjustment. Mine was way loose from the factory. Experiment giving more gas on take off.

 

Great intelligence. Who was the vendor for the ADM?

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/mt-accumulator-delete-mod-adm-and-bs-thread.568303/

Everything you'll ever need to know.

 

I 2nd this. My previous manual car shuddered on takeoff for the first week or so until I got the hang of how much gas to give it.
I think my Taco may have a few times early on when I was a little too dainty with it as well.

 

Go to link on post #8 of this thread. I got a hardline from a member on here, but i dont think he makes them anymore. His username is Trident904.

 

This was my first thought as well but in my experience, not giving enough gas and coming off the clutch too quickly is a whole car shuddering ordeal, not just a clutch. Maybe OP can clarify if this is what he's referring to but if he's familiar with manuals, I doubt this would be an issue to write about.

That, and I can't really reconcile how not giving it enough gas would happen more frequently with time, unless he's changing how he's just becoming more consistent with how he's taking off and applying less throttle as he adjusts to the clutch feel.

 

Yeah, he probably has more experience than me, it just sounded like a possibility.
I know what you mean about too little gas and coming off the clutch too quick can shake the whole car, but my last car had kind of a 'sweet spot' where too little gas and just the right clutch speed would make almost a chewbacca noise and I could feel a slight shudder, but not the full vehicle shudder. I initially thought maybe the clutch was toast since I bought it used, but after getting the hang of it I had smooth take-offs for the next 30k miles.
Every vehicle is different. With the delayed throttle response of the Tacoma I could see a similar thing happening. Like I said, I *think* I had it occur a few times at the beginning before I adapted.

 

ADM got rid of what you describe, albeit in my 2019 mine was hardly a shudder, just a "hesitation" for lack of a better word. Maybe "non immediate coupling" as one would expect is a better descriptor.

 

I dont know man. My clutch and tranny feel solid and are buttery smooth.