6MT throwout bearing and clutch system shenanigans

Not being able to sleep has me trolling the internet again looking for parts. I am planning on replacing my clutch (among other things) when I take on this project and was wondering if anyone had any opinions on which clutch kit I should go with?

I was seeing that some people had issues with the LUK products on these trucks on occasion. With my other Jap vehicles I have had great luck with Exedy products and for the time being was leaning towards that... truck is stock power levels and I do tow often but the stock clutch never seemed to have an issue towing either... curious what others think?

 

My take is if the stock clutch has served you well for your purposes, use the same (new) as a replacement. My Aisin unit has been through a lot and still hooks up reasonably well after 200,000km. For the amount of effort it takes to drop the transmission, I would never put in an LUK product.

 

I'll get you in this one. I'll likely cap the grouping at 10 people MAX as to not bite off more than I can chew. PM me the transmission you intend on using and I'll add you to the spreadsheet.

 

I haven’t checked in for a bit. Very pleased to see everyone chatting again.

As for the master cyl part of this, I’ve been tinkering. Needed to order up some parts and tools. They’re here now. I’m practicing tube bending and flaring a bit. I’m feeling good about how it’s going to end up.

Again. I want to say that the master cyl change is not a necessary change for this all to work. Think of it more as a “stage 2” type of thing.

More info soon.

 

I totally agree here. Stock power levels = Stock Aisin clutch.

 

How is your move to the Tilton HRB setup working, aside from your wanting to re-do the MC? Still reliable & free of any weird noises etc?

I'm getting close to forking out the cash for the parts to do this & hoping that it is "the final fix," long-term, for this pesky TOB problem.

 

Hi.

My setup is doing fine. No weird noises from the TOB. I can’t speak of longevity yet though. I think I’m probably under 10k miles with this setup still. I don’t drive a lot these days.

 

Well this is promising news as I've heard of people developing the chirp in less time than that.

I will be closely following your findings on the master cylinder situation... Bending and flaring tubing is therapeutic IMO.

 

I have 35k on mine. I have a weird issue getting into first and reverse sometimes on startups but I think it’s unrelated to the TOB setup.

Somewhere in between those 35k miles I did replace the clutch fluid as it was starting to get murky. More of a preventative thing but it probably wouldn’t hurt to flush the fluid at some interval.

Other than that no real issues, leaks, weird noises, ect

 

I’ll buy a spacer from you if available. To mate the TOB onto the tilton piston

 

Phoenix friction is who I'm looking at for my clutch... have heard good things from others on this forum, and they're quick to respond to questions.

 

You only need a the adaptor bushing?

 

I have almost 8k on my set up. Other then the clutch with its kevlar squawk
I have no other noises.

 

yea if that’s what you call it. The bushing/spacer to fit the TOB on the tilton piston

 

Yeah. His setup is a bit different. There was a post or two on his setup a few pages back.

 

I’ve got about 120k on the Exedy clutch kit I replaced the OEM with years ago. No issues so far.

I picked up an LC Engineering clutch kit from a member here last year in anticipation of future replacement. Still collecting dust.

 

Thanks for the input. I would go with the OEM Aisin but I wanted to try Exedy since I've had good luck with them in the past. If I'm being really picky the stock Aisin clutch likes to chatter from a stop when it's cold and sometimes rarely even when it's warm. But that's just me being picky.

On another note... Maybe someone can provide some input... So from what I understand the tob is supposed to be spinning even when it's in neutral with this trans (RA60)? Although this isn't typical of a manual transmission? Below is a video of mine, I have the pedal set with a gap so it is not riding on or touching the mc but my tob is always spinning... And the fork and bearing assy. is shaking vibrating pretty good the whole time as well.

https://youtube.com/shorts/7yK-BMmFXNs?feature=share

 

Yep. It’s always going to spin. The OE slave cylinder has a spring that keeps a bit of pressure on the fork to do just that. TSB’s attempting to solve the squeek called for a new slave cylinder with an even stronger spring there.

My opinion is that the squeeking has more to do with the OE TOB design and that tall standoff between the actual bearing and the pressure plate. When things aren’t just brand new and perfect, that extra bit of length allows a bit more wiggling. This increases wear on the quill. Once it can’t hold that long bearing exactly on center against a spinning pressure plate with a bunch of individual fingers under light (slave cyl spring) pressure, we get the squeek.



Just my opinion. Regardless, it is a shitty design. Else, we wouldn’t be here taking about all of this, would we?

 

I wonder if the design of the clutch fork has something additional to do with it. Due to basic geometry it doesn't look like it would push completely straight on bearing/shaft axis of rotation. It pivots on ball & socket way off-center from the shaft. I'd think it has some off-axis vector component in the force it exerts which tends to want to push the TOB & sleeve off-axis as well.

The Tilton HRB solution avoids this entirely, giving uniformly-distributed and 100% axial thrust against the TOB.

 

Chicks dig axial thrust.