Any third gen manual clutch experts?

Hi Tacomaworld,

I've got a '19 TRD Off Road, V6, 4x4, approaching 70k miles, manual transmission with an annoying chirping sound. I've narrowed it down to it being clutch component related. There is a noticeable but slightly faint chirp when the clutch pedal is not depressed. When the pedal is lightly pressed the sound goes away. I have taken a look at the condition of the fork by removing the window plate in the bell housing. It looked a bit dusty/greasy. I am hoping the throwout bearing is still good. I believe throw out bearing may be good, and I would like some validation here, because I don't hear any scratching or grinding nor are there any weird sensations coming from the pedal that might indicate the bearings are bad when the bearing in engaged. I've done a good deal of reading into this issue. And I've looked at the fork mechanism on a YouTube video where the guy removes his transmission to replace the throw out bearing. I've also seen some videos and a thread on here which seem to indicate the sound is caused by the clutch fork. When I was looking in the clutch inspection window I couldn't find any way to put grease into the fork's points of connection.

With all that said, could this be the clutch fork causing these chirping sounds, and is it possible to grease these points? The thread I find here was for a 4 cylinder which appears to be different from the 6 cylinder. Thanks in advance!

 

If you gently push the clutch pedal does the noise stop?

Don't try to dislodge the fork if you do the trans has to come out.

Typically forks arent the cause of noise on tacoma, they do get cleaned and greased during a clutch replacement, but never as a noise cure.

This seems like a throw out bearing noise.

 

Thanks for the prompt reply. Yes, with a gentle press on the pedal the noise goes away. As soon as the pedal is released, the noise comes back.

Is this a symptom of a failing throwout bearing?

 

Yup, text book throw out bearing. I get it, it's annoying but typically you wait for the clutch to start to fail, or a rear main to start leaking.

If you do decide to do it, make sure to have the rear main replaced, they are known to leak on a small percentage of tacomas, and its a "while you're at it" when doing a clutch.

 

Yup.. TOB chirp. Ride it out or replace the whole clutch setup and a rear main.


You can try greasing the spot where the slave hits the fork. But it’ll be temporary if it does anything at all

(assuming the forks wobbling because if the TOB)

 

Okay thanks for the solid advice. Was hoping to hear there was a chance it might not be the throw out bearing, but I guess it's one of the things that comes with the joy of being able to row throw gears.

 

Do you have any free play in your clutch pedal? You should have maybe 1/4"-3/8" play. Yes is does sound like throwout bearing but adjusting your clutch pedal free play will allow the bearing to fully retract and not lightly make contact producing your noise.

I adjusted mine near 100'000kms and I had no play at the pedal. No noise but as the clutch disk wears the pressure plate fingers protrudes more towards the throwout bearing. Especially once things warm up. Adjust your clutch pedal free play and go from there. I think you need a 14mm and 12mm wrench if I remember correctly

 

Thanks for this tip. I went into the garage last night and tried to take some measurements. I do believe that my free play is out of spec. I measured 1.25". Service manual calls for
(0.197 to 0.591 in.). I also measured the pedal height but I am not sure about the points of reference. Should measurement be taken with the interior carpet removed? Or is it with the carpet in place? I followed the steps in the third gen service manual found on this site. I do think it's from a manual for a 2016, but I'm guessing it's pretty much the same specs?

Regardless, seems like I have some adjusting to try as well. As I understand it, this is to be expected as the clutch wears down?

Thank you again.

 

1.25" would be quite excessive for free play, I find it easiest to look under the dash at the master cylinder rod that goes from pedal to cylinder and apply slight pressure until the rod starts to go in. If you're pushing the rod into the cylinder then you're past the free play. If you tap the pedal with your foot it should almost feel like a "loose pedal"

I should clarify that the main thing you're looking to adjust is the free play at the master cylinder 0.197-0.591" sounds like a pedal height free play number.

Also to take there measurements you usually fold back the carpet

And yes, in short as the clutch disk wears it gets thinner which causes the pressure plate fingers to move toward the throwout bearing more.

Edit:Try checking out this link for the freeplay adjustment https://www.ttguide.net/adjustment-1098.html

 

Thank you! I will try this and report back.

 

Did you have any luck?

 

Hi,

I ended up not trying this because the sound went away without having to do anything. Guess it's a good thing? If it does come back, I probably will try it out. However, with the truck off and windows down, what I do notice is that there is a squeak sound coming from the bottom of truck probably in the transmission. I wonder if the pivot point on the fork is causing it?