What have you done to improve your 6-speed manual?

Ok gentlemen, I started this thread a little over a year ago. Can't believe it's been this long.

I've been looking to buy a Tacoma for over 3 years now.

Well, I finally bought one 2 weeks ago. And yes, 6 Speed Manual, 2013 TRD Offroad, Double Cab 4x4. I'll post up a thread about the truck soon enough.

In the meantime, here's a photo of the truck:



Now, after driving it for 2 weeks I can comment…

1. The transmission is not bad at all. Yes, it feels like a truck, not like a sports car, but it's still fun to drive.

2. The clutch is actually much better and much more fun than the featherweight kit in my Miata. I like some weight to a clutch. Also, the engagement and disengagement points are very user-friendly and forgiving. In contrast, in my NC Miata, if you don't let the pedal out in the perfect moment in relation to the revs, you get lots of noise and shudders. In that sense, the Taco's actually easier to drive.

3. The lever does feel like you're rowing a canoe as the throws are super long.

4. Even with the long throws, the shifting is very smooth. Less notchy than my NC Miata (which is known to be a very notchy 6-speed transmission - not to be confused the 5-speeds trannies in some car, or the 5-speed trannies in the earlier Miatas that were ultra-buttery).

5. Overall, I hope it stays this way for a long time. Either Toyota has updated this transmission for 2012-2013, or it has never been a bad unit at all. I'm extremely happy.

6. To all the naysayers of rev-matching and heel-toeing. The truck responds VERY WELL to both. The throttle pedal is very easy to find with my heel when my toes are on the brake. And because the flywheel is of course much heavier than in my Miata, the revs don't drop like a rock… So it makes rev-matching in slow-motion VERY easy. Now, I'm not talking about driving a truck like a race car. All these techniques can be performed on the road doing regular driving at legal speeds. Heel-toeing is not mandatory, but for heave's sake, even on a truck, you should learn to rev-match. It's much nicer on the clutch, tranny and engine when downshifting and makes for a very rewarding driving experience. Not to mention, a smoother ride for your passengers when you rev-match correctly. (no jerkiness).

However… There's always room for improvement. So below are the only thing I'm going to do to it.

1. URD Short Shifter - I'm hoping this will reduce the throw. It could definitely afford being a little shorter as it feels like quite a reach specially when shifting away to 5th gear.

2. 3" Shift Extender.- I know, a longer extender will increase upper arc length of the throw, but I'm hoping the URD short-shifter will compensate for the extender. The lever does feel like it's a little too low. When reaching for the lever, I always feel my wrist is bending down too far to reach it. My wife, feels the same way about it the shifter when she's driving, so it's not just me. A short extension should reduce the strain of reaching down to hold the shifter, while the URD short-shifter should reduce the throw and compensate a little for the extender.

3. Weighted metal ball knob. This is mostly for looks, but a little extra weight to the shifter wouldn't hurt.

4. For now, I think the stock fluid is just fine. When it comes time to replace it, if I have found the shifting to have degraded I'll look into options for much higher quality fluids. Otherwise, the stock stuff is just fine.

That's it for now. If I have more to say about it, I'll chime in later.

 

Put in synthetics in all my gear boxes and left it alone in my 06.... it isn't all that bad

 

Kite.. I have a 2012 taco , last July. 6 spd v6. like you said.. same for here. only thing I am going to do is add the 3 inch extender on it. allready got a chorme door knob for shifter.
I had been a fan of manual.. ford truck, tempo, dodge daktoa, 97 taco and this. also snow trucks.. no stranger to 10 spd shifters.

 

I have to admit, if the Titan came with a manual I probably wouldn't be here! My sister drives a 07 trd sport 6 spd and that's ultimately why I went with the tacoma..

I've read a lot about the short shift kit, seems to get mostly good reviews. especially for the price. I'm going to get one even though I really have no complaints about how it shifts now..

 

Just do the URD SS first. It does shorten the throw, and make it less sloppy and more crisp like it should be, but due to the spacer you install it also brings it up an inch or more. Shorter throw and it sits a bit higher. It was just enough for me (I'm 5'8") and a night and day difference on my 2012. My favorite mod or close to it.

 

I have a pic by pic of the install process in my gallery somewhere if you need to see anything as well.

 

Oh cool! That's good to know. An inch might not be enough, I measured that we needed a full 3 inches. But I'll still do it first and not buy the extender and see how it feels. My wife wants a ball shifter, which are typically low compared to most other handles… So I might still have to get the extender, but we'll see. Right now, it's mostly her driving the truck anyway.

I'm interested in seeing that pic by pic install process.

 

what's the deal with parts of the urd kit falling into the trans?

 

The ball seems to break off, twice!
Went w/TRD SS no problems

 

eek! Almost ordered the urd kit but changed my mind

 

Crap I just ordered one

 

I've had mine installed for 2 years and no problems with it falling off. I made sure I used enough locktite so it wouldn't.

 

first of all let me say I love my truck. And to the OP, so far I have done the URD throwout bearing/sleeve and stock clutch. Now for those who have said you can't compare the taco to a car, I'm proud you said it. Yes Toyota built the truck to pull and offroad so gear ratio doesn't bother me. I like to be able to just press the gas to pass a car or two, instead of downshifing to do the same. I have owned 8 Toyota's and 1 jeep cj7, all stickshifts but 1 and that was my Tundra. The jeep was a 3 on the floor all others were 5 speeds. I'd have to say the best shifting of all those was my 94 v6 and my 01 v6 which both were R150F's. I put the old 94 through all the crap the 3.0 could give it and it is still holding up 300,284 miles later- never been apart. I test drove a new Nissan 6 speed before I found my truck and I was not impressed at all. It felt really loose and sloppy, more like driving a ford or chevy manual. I love driving straight shifts and in my opinion the RA60 is a good feeling tranny compared to the competition. And for those who can only complain about their 6 speeds, then sell it and give someone else a chance to enjoy it, and go get a dang can't make up its mind automatic.

 

First post on TW, but I had to chime in. This 2013 Taco is the first truck I've ever owned. Predominantly I have been a FWD Honda guy.

I have only had the '13 TRD for a few days now but right away I was noticing that the gear changes felt clunky and "toothy". (Just feels like the syncros don't line up perfectly or something) It's certainly no where near as smooth as any honda I ever drove. I thought there may have been a problem with it but from the sounds of things, that's just the way this transmission is. I basically just slowed down my shifting dramatically, rev matched while downshifting and well, it gets me there. As previous posters have pointed out, it's not a BMW M3, it's a truck.

My TRD Short Shifter is being installed on March 28th so hopefully that will make a bit of a difference and I think it would definitely benefit from some synthetic gear oil when due.

I loved GM Syncromesh in my old hondas, anyone know if there is a similar product for this trans?

 

^^^ Well, hondas are usually the standard for shifting feel. Hard to compare. Just get used to the truck. It's a great transmission I think. My last post was a few weeks ago and my wife and I are still loving the manual in the this truck.

Right now, I'm driving 2 Miatas and the truck, all sticks. They're are all different, specially given the Miatas are complete different generations. Loving all 3.

Just get used to the truck. But do let us know how the TRD short-shifter feels to you. That's still a mod I want to do soon.

 

I have the TRD SS
and I love it

 

^^X2 the TRD Short Shifter is awesome!

 

URD SC.

 

Awesome, did you get the TRD shift knob or are you still running stock? Im wondering if it has extra weight, or just the different look.

As for the SS, it was funny that when I bought the truck no one in the dealership had ever heard of it. I had to point it out on the website, even the parts guys hadn't heard of it. All I know is I have one in my Integra and it's one of the best decisions I ever made with that car.

 

Wish the trd ss was a little cheaper :/