Separating the transmission

I am having trouble separating the 5 speed manual transmission from my 2004 Taco with a 2.4 engine. Every bolt that I see is out. I count 8, that includes starter bolts. Is there one hidden somewhere? I did finally get the lower dust plate off. I looked up in there, I don't see anything to take loose. Its very tight. Right up against the oil pan. The funny thing is I just did one of these very recently, Also a 2004, but with a auto trans. I didn't have this problem. I've got maybe 1/8th" crack at the bottom. I have tried jacking the back of the tranny to various heights, even in the middle, but no help. What am I missing?
Thanks.

 

just get in there and wiggle it up and down side to side. The out put shaft is in the clutch so a little different from an auto trans

 

I have done that. Even using leg power to move it side to side. I guess I need to continue with that process. If it's that hard to get off, I worry about getting it back on after the work is complete.

 

use some pry bars to separate on different areas of the bell housing but be very careful not to damage the housing. And pry evenly on each side. It will budge.
Are you sure you got those top bolts out?

 

When I had trouble removing mine it turns out I forgot one of the exhaust brackets

 

I agree with Jimmy. Use pry bars. I guarantee the thing that is holding you up is the input shaft of the trans is stuck in the inner race of the pilot bearing. When I did a clutch job on a 3rd Gen 4runner, we pulled like crazy wiggling it back and forth and finally the pilot bearing gave way. It broke apart. If I had to do it again, I'd use pry bars to help break it free and avoid the workout of pulling and wiggling like crazy to get the damn thing out.


https://www.youtube.com/embed/5PJPZ5-AK-I


https://www.youtube.com/embed/mrSRBmFZ1wk

 

impatience now could cause problems in the future… while the input shaft is made of pretty stout stuff any extreme angle or pressure could mar the splines, then your disk wont release properly.

 

I do use a pry bar, Usually a medium flat blade screwdriver, then a big screwdriver, by then there is enough room to get the pry bar in there. But it acts like I missed an unseen bolt. I mean it doesn't want to move. Maybe the center shaft is stuck on the bearing. Hasn't seen daylight in 17 years.
But digesting what I have read, I just need to keep after it. I've got about 1/4" an the bottom. So the next step is to get some movement at the top. Did you guys use a transmission jack?
Right now, it may rain for a few days, but I will keep you posted

 

Yes, I've pulled several transmissions and always used a trans jack. It makes it easier. But, what I've found is with the transfer case still connected (if you have a 4x4 model), the assembly is VERY back heavy and negates the ability to use the adjustment knob to change the fore and aft position. If you have a 1/4" gap on the bottom and no gap on the top, you probably have the assembly too high with whatever jack you're using to support it. Drop the assembly down a bit until you have an even gap top and bottom. As long as you got all the bell housing bolts out, the only thing that can be hanging you up is the alignment dowels and the input shaft stuck in the pilot bearing. So, like somebody mentioned, make sure first you got all the bell housing bolts out. Once you confirm that, then you just need to overcome the alignment dowel connections to the bell housing and finally get the input shaft to break free of the pilot bearing.

 

I got it. It was indeed a stuck alignment dowel on the top. I didn't know the name it was called by, but I do now. Thanks Timmah! The problem is there is no way to get in there to pry. I wound up hoisting the engine up about 2" to get the angle. Mine is a 2.4. What a poor design! It seems obvious that ease of working on the truck was not a concern. Or maybe they just figure it is built so well that you would not need to remove the engine, or separate the tranny. I am worried about putting it back together. Here is the tools i used.

 

Good to hear you got it Chris. Way to persevere and overcome the obstacle. This is the part of turning wrenches that a lot of people hate which causes lots of cursing and maybe even the throwing of tools, but overcoming obstacles and problem solving is part of turning wrenches. Happy Wrenching Bro. Hope the rest of the job goes smooth or relatively smooth for you.

 

Thanks Timmah! You are so correct! I will not repeat the bad words I said here, but I didn't throw any tools. That will likely come when I try to put it all back together! There is an extreme sense of satisfaction I get when things finally do fall into place.
Gotta love forum, My kind of folk!

 

I've noticed this several times when trying to do something on my truck. Makes me want to kick the asshole who designed it in the nuts. Case in point, the air bag control module only has 3 bolts holding it in, but you have to remove the heating and air ducts that run under the front seats of the DC in order to get them out How freaking stupid is that.

 

Well said Timmah. Feels good to get it done regardless of how difficult or challenging the process was. I love wrenching and i been doing it for many years really as a hobby and to save money from taking my vehicles to a shop. Plus you get to really know you truck doing it your self. Good job Chris and hope everything goes smoothly back in.

 

Wheat bread, it's more nutritional with more fiber. Or, you could use a blind hole seal puller. This is the set I own:https://amzn.to/2o3YxyH

 

FSM shows pulling up, towards the rear, and twisting a bit, but it seems like it has already separated before that. Might try that though.

 

Put some anti-sieze on the dowel pins before reassembly! It'll make the next removal much much easier. I've been through it a couple times myself. Thankful for the anti-sieze!

 

A friend and I did his 2.4/ 5 spd. last winter. Can agree it was tighter than my 3.4 was on the dowels. Like "What is going on here" stuck, just like yours.

 

Absolutely

 

I agree. I thought there was a bolt hidden somewhere that I overlooked. NOT. You gotta spew out some nasty words and kick it!
Seriously, I have 2-3" of separation all the way around now, Widsr1 diagram is a huge help. i have been waiting for the rain to stop here, and the grass to dry out, but I feel confident. Did your friend use a floor jack? Many decades ago I could lift a tanny like a bench press, now at 67, I must admit those days are behind me. If I am going to need a floor jack, may as well get one now.