To tune, or not to tune? That is the question. Manual transmission.

^ THIS!

I've only got about 3,500 miles on my 2022 TRD Sport 6MT, and am still wondering why I'd bother with the ADM and a tune. It's almost as if those two mods are solutions looking for a need.

 

I understand the preference for removing the accumulator, but honestly mine doesn't bother me. The clutch still feels predictable, and if it provides some small buffer for when I'm not perfect, that's a plus in my book. It's also possible to do it for free, or at least economically for more elegant solutions than the dremel.

The tune would honestly have to blow my socks off to justify several hundred dollars for a slightly different feel in the gas pedal. With 33's and the 4.30 gears, it feels perfect as it is.

 

Impossible to rev match downshift perfectly with the accumulator. Accumulator is only in place to help out inexperienced drivers.

Also, my clutch shuddered when taking off in first with the accumulator, removed it and smooth like butter.

Tune is definitely not necessary on most MT trucks. I only did it because of TW and MT guys were raving about it. It did make my truck a lot more fun to drive so I won’t be going back to
Stock tune that’s for sure.

 

Even if you had issues with the clutch, 99% you won’t get covered. They consider it a “wear” item.

Remove that useless thing and enjoy consistent and predictable clutch.

2WD LOW mod is a must if you are towing anything IMHO, it’s a game changer. Even when not towing anything, it came in handy for me.

 

Sorry, not buying any of that; I've never had an issue with perfectly rev matching on downshifts, and have never had any clutch shudder.

 

I also haven't had issues with either, although I don't expect the rev matching to be as crisp as my fun car. Still doable though.

 

I’m sorry but that’s impossible. Shift from 6-4 or 6-3 and you will see. The accumulator will not let you rev match smoothly/perfectly in those cases. Sure you can revmatch with accumulator but the RPMs won’t be bang on.

Why do you think the accumulator exists on the Tacoma?

 

My son has a GR86 and I have the Tacoma; we routinely swap cars so we both have a fair amount of seat time in the two vehicles. Is the GR86 easier to rev match and execute Heal-Toe shifts than the Tacoma? Definitely. Is it difficult to drive the Tacoma smoothly? Not at all.

 

Exactly my point. It’s nowhere near crisp, it sucks really. Why wear out your syncros and clutch?

 

Don't tell me what is impossible, I perform 6-4 and 6-3 shifts almost daily and have never had an issue.

 

You are missing the point of rev matching. Sure you can do it on a Tacoma with accumulator, but you are using syncros and clutch because it’s impossible to be precise with the RPMs with the accumulator.

Rev matching is when you mash the pedal and match the RPMs so your syncros and clutch don’t have to do anything. Can’t do that with accumulator.

 

Haha. Nobody said it’s impossible, read what I wrote. You are not understanding what I’m saying.

But that’s alright.

 

Also, it can be crisp once you remove that useless part.

 

I didn't even learn about rev match downshifting until my 1st gen Tacoma, so I was probably pretty hard on all of my previous clutches in my younger days. When driving, any rev match to 3rd gear and up feels easy and as simple as a small throttle blip timed with the clutch coming out of the engagement point. I've got the RPM's down for my speed coming into 90 degree corners in 2nd, feels plenty smooth on my end if you know where the RPM's should be. This is also the first vehicle I've been able to smoothly rev match into 1st gear in when slowing down to a near stop (rarely do, but it's nice to be able to).

I'm sure we all have slightly different feeling trucks and vastly different backgrounds in rev matching, but it certainly doesn't feel impossible from where I'm sitting, nor difficult really to get a smooth operation. Without test driving someone's truck with the ADM and tune, I obviously can't say for sure if it's easier. I'm not doubting your experience whatsoever, but personally haven't made the leap.

 

On Friday I’ll take a video for you what proper rev matching is, you will see exactly what I mean.

 

Is rev matching the RPM's not throttle based? I don't see how there's any issue with the accumulator with using the throttle to get the RPM's to where they need to be. The only part the accumulator plays is buffering at the engagement point, which I'd like to think I have a good feel on how to handle.

 

Yes, RPMs and engagement point based. Those 2 things should be bang on, otherwise it’s not a proper revmatch. You can definitely do it on a stock Tacoma, but you will be using syncros and the clutch to complete the gear shift, because throttle response and clutch is not consistent. When you revmatch downshift, is it instant? Because it should be.

The accumulator slows down the fluid, making it inconsistent, well and stock ECU calibration tune makes the throttle response not what it should be.

Drive a cable throttle truck with normal clutch and you will see that’s it’s night and day.

 

Have you tried floating gears at all? I used to do it all the time in my 1st gen, but it feels like the 3rd gen needs significantly more oomph to get it out of gear. I haven't experimented with it much myself. The throttle is definitely less predictable than a cable, almost feels like it could use a lighter flywheel too, although I'd rather go heavier if I ever replace it for better 4low crawling.

 

I could float gears easily in my 2007 4.0L ford ranger. My Tacoma? Not so much haha. Requires quite a bit of force like you said, so I avoid it.

On the ranger, I could do it with 2 fingers.

 

Yeah, my 1st gen was a cakewalk to do it. Maybe when this truck gets 150k+ miles on it and loosens up some more I'll start playing around with it.