Clutch kits for 5vz-fe/r150f

Good day all,

I’m shopping clutch kits for my 5vz/r150. I’ve got a bearing going out and I’m looking to replace all major clutch components in the near future. Seems like supply shortages are hitting hard right now so the Marlin kits aren’t available.

Best kit options I’ve found:

OEM from Toyota ~$450

Centerforce II $480 (disc and pressure plate only)

Exedy $182

Luk $195

If I go with an aftermarket kit I will make sure to get quality bearings.

I use the truck for daily commute, some off-road (mostly for woodcutting), and occasional towing. I don’t mind spending a little more if it’s worth it.

Anyone care to weigh in on these options or have alternatives?

Thanks

 

I have heard very knowledgeable people say that the OEM is actually superior to the high performance aftermarket clutches.
Marlin is essentially a beefed up OEM, price same as OEM but is out of stock. I have this one but I worry a bit about the increased pressure causing premature failure of hydraulics and other parts and increased pressure is nice but not really necessary. My rubber clutch line failed shortly after install, now I noticed they have a SS braided line replacement.

People say the Autozone etc clutches are OK, but many decades ago when I used to use these (I was poor) often the pressure plate would fail in 30k miles or so. I'm sure they are better now but no way near OEM.

BTW if you have not already you might consider replacing master and slave cyl, my master failed at about 200k miles.

Also if you are doing this work yourself on the ground and its 4WD, the labor is tremendous and you do not want to do this twice! I had some noise in my transmission and I almost took it in for rebuild on the first clutch replace but changed my mind and ending up having to pull it again for a rebuild a few years later (bad input bearing).

 

Rockauto usually has Aisin clutch kits for the best price, but they've been out of stock for a while.
Looks like Autozone has them available for $259, which is a decent deal for an OEM clutch kit.

Update: Unfortunately it's out of stock at Autozone, so sounds like you could order a specific manufacturers clutch kit from them if in stock.

 

I didn't even know Autozone carries Aisin, I take back everything I said about them...

In the old days they (or equivalent was Kragen I believe) only carried remans from Mexico.

 

I keep waiting for the

$280 Aisin CKT-040 OE Matched Clutch Kit - Compatible with Select Toyota 4Runner, T100, Tacoma, Tundra

Aisin CKT-040 kit to come back in stock, it's been out of stock for probably 6 months.

 

Thanks for the replies.

Looks like I’m going OEM from Toyota.

Only place I found OEM kits is on ebay where they are price gouging so it actually costs less to get the individual parts from the dealer.

 

I put in an Exedy clutch 9~ years and 50k miles ago and I've been happy with it. The pedal feel was a little heavier than stock if that is a concern.

My truck was my daily for a long time so it has endured stop and go traffic as well as a decent bit of offroading on oversized tires. I've even overheated it to the point it wouldn't grab anymore on a difficult trail obstacle when I was running 35s on stock gears. After it cooled down it was good to go and 3 years later I still haven't replaced it. That said it is getting tired and I have another on the shelf to replace it when the time comes.

 

Are you aware of online OEM ordering? I show about $300 for the parts. Where I live online OEM is literally 50% of OTC. All the dealers use the same catalog/web pages and prices seem to be about the same. Make sure to enter FREESHIP code and enter your VIN to ensure correct parts.

 

I was not aware of the online OEM. I see there are a couple of these sites. Looks like they are selling remanufactured pressure plates and discs.

 

Ok. Made some calls. It doesn’t matter if you buy directly from the dealer or use the online oem, either way the pressure plates and friction discs are remanufactured.

So next question is: which is better...new aftermarket parts or remanufactured oem parts?

 

I believe Toyota reman are made to same specs as new. If you really can't decide maybe ask Showstop on TTORA, I think he makes a living changing Toyota clutches.

 

We have a 1999 Tacoma with a 3.4 and a 5-speed manual transmission that strangely has not smoked its clutch, and the old beast now has 186,xxx miles on it. From the research that I have done, people prefer the Aisin clutch kit for a Tacoma that is not used in heavy duty off road applications. Good Luck.

 

For what it's worth, here's a pic of the remanufactured pressure plate I just bought from Toyota. Gotta say, I'd feel better about it if the fingers didn't still look so worn. Seems like of all the components of the part, those should be new.

 

Thanks for the pic you posted of your reman pressure plate/clutch cover. I was considering going with an OEM clutch kit from Toyota. Price thru McGeorge is reasonable at $274 + shipping. But I mistakenly thought the clutch disc and pressure plate /clutch cover were "new" as some other sellers/dealers claim. But McGeorge Toyota states that they are in fact remanufactured, not new parts. Additionally, the OEM Toyota remanufactured clutch disc appears to have plastic spring dampers like the disc in the

$280 Aisin CKT-040 OE Matched Clutch Kit - Compatible with Select Toyota 4Runner, T100, Tacoma, Tundra

Aisin CKT-040 clutch kit. Both the EXEDY & Valeo clutch discs have metal spring dampers which many including myself prefer. Hence, I am still trying to decide which clutch parts to go back with. Like most, I want to get it right the first time. Just for reference, ShowStop over on TTORA recommends Exedy, Valeo, then Aisin clutch kits in that order. He also stated to be sure to go back with a high quality Japan throw out/release bearing even if it does not come in the clutch kit. The OEM Toyota T/O bearing appears to be a Nachi which I prefer. Marlin carries them along with high tensile clutch hardware. .02

ShowStop's relevant post on clutches: "Having done dozens of clutch jobs on Toyota, I've seen a lot of different types of clutches. The Centerforce clutches are good if you want track performance. Outside of that, they are pretty harsh for daily driving and more than you would want for towing or fire road type trails. Your best option would be an Exedy or OEM equal kit. Exedy is probably your best choice. Valeo would be a close second and Aisin after that. The Aisin clutch discs typically come with plastic dampener bushings, so the models with metal bushings like Exedy and Valeo would be preferred. I'm pretty sure the Exedy kit comes with a Japan bearing for the throwout, but if not, you should definitely acquire a quality Japan bearing."

 

I have had Good Luck with my LUK clutches I have installed a few with no problems. I always change the Hydraulics with a new clutch

I have heard the Aisin clutch discs are no longer as good then they were 10 years ago.

I would buy reman clutch parts from Toyota.

It really Comes Down to your driving style .

The real difference is the performance clutches recover faster from getting hot.

They will handle more thermal cycles then a stock clutch .

Good Luck!

 

this is the one I bought with a lightened fly wheel

https://www.lceperformance.com/5VZ-10-Pro-Clutch-Flywheel-Bundle-Kit-p/1056007.htm

 

Just an educated guess, but I think Aisin would be remanufacturing the clutch discs for Toyota to sell. My reasoning is simple. Aisin is/was the original manufacturer of the new OEM Toyota clutch disc and clutch plate/clutch cover that came in my '97 Taco. And both the new Aisin disc and the reman Toyota/Aisin disc have the same type plastic damper spring retainers (below). I would prefer to have metal damper spring retainers instead of plastic. ShowStop recommends the Exedy clutch kit, not the remanufactured Toyota clutch parts, and now I think I see & understand why. It's all about the spring retainers, plastic vs metal. Will keep gathering more info before choosing which clutch kit goes back in my '97 V6 Taco. But bottom line, I think ANY of these 3 clutches would almost certainly be a very good choice for my needs.

New

$280 Aisin CKT-040 OE Matched Clutch Kit - Compatible with Select Toyota 4Runner, T100, Tacoma, Tundra

Aisin CKT-040 clutch kit: with single springs and plastic retainers


Remanufactured Toyota 31250-35352-84 clutch disc: with single springs and plastic retainers


New

$201 Exedy 16087 OEM Replacement Clutch Kit

Exedy 16087 clutch kit: this clutch kit appears more HD with dual springs and metal retainers

 

I just could not remember what the change was with the Aisin clutch discs.

I know plastics have improved but I still think the Thermal cycling the difference between plastic and metal if you really cook the clutch is going to be a problem

 

Lite Flywheels are a great for a street truck or muscle car.

Not so much for daily driving and down right suck for off road.

It is a completely different driving experience .It also depends on just how much weight is removed.


I tried to talk a friend out of going that route after 2weeks it came apart and the stock flywheel went back in. This was about 35 years ago.

 

i guess you haven't looked at my truck in my profile, if I were to have an off road truck i would get a heavy flywheel which they have also.