Standard Transmission, clutch shudders

Hi:

I have a 2007 SR5 4WD, 4 litre V6 with the Access Cab and a standard transmission. I purchased it used a little more than 2 years ago with 150k miles and a brand new frame. It now has 180K miles.

It's been running very well but ever since the day I bought it, starting in first gear is pretty rough. The truck stutters as the clutch is engaged which, if I'm not careful leads to quite violent bucking. It is less noticeable when the truck is cold but seems more problematic as the drive train heats up. Starting from a stop on a steep hill can be quite challenging sometimes as I have to be really careful with the clutch.

I know it sound like I don't know how to drive a standard but I've been driving standard transmissions for 46 years. I've had multiple sports cars, sedans, pick-up trucks and motorcycles, all with standard transmissions. They're all different but learning the difference is a matter of minutes (or seconds). If this had to do with the way I drive the truck, it seems to me that I would have figured that out in less time than 2 years.

So, the question is: Has anyone else experienced this? Is it an indication that the clutch is going?

Any other suggestions are welcome!

 

I experience the same thing in my 08 except only when it’s cold and/or wet out. After the drivetrain heats up it’s not an issue.

 

My 08 has same issue only at first stop sign only when wet and rainy. I'm thinking condensation?? Its annoying

 

Yup I think so. My Subaru used to do the same thing.

 

My 07 xrunner does the same. I suspect that's just how it is, some standard transmissions are easy and don't do it, some do. Sometimes I'll just stomp it and try again.

I put an aftermarket clutch in my supra, after it shuddered badly.

 

OP, first of all welcome to the forum!

Let's see. 180k miles and it has had a previous owner. If this were mine I would look to see if the disk might be contaminated by oil from the engine rear main seal or transmission front seal, or anything else dripping down the back of the engine. Oil on the clutch is a great place for chattering to take place. Warped/burn spots on the flywheel can have similar behavior.

If it does indeed have 180k mi. on the original clutch. It has served you well. The chatter is not going to get better by itself. Again, if this were mine, I would pull the old and put in the new. Rock Auto has a good price on Aisin (this is OEM Toyota) clutch kits. And just for fun, I would also replace the engine rear main seal and resurface the flywheel.

 

I'm assuming none of y'all have done the accumulator delete mod. That's really the rat bastard that causes shutter especially when cold.

It'll also help if you have the original plastic clutch master cylinder to trade that out for the superseded or FJ cruiser clutch master that's cast aluminum.

 

I’ve done the accumulator delete mod and replaced the leaking master cylinder. Next I’ll be replacing the slave cylinder. I’m getting a squeaky spring noise from the clutch so I’m hoping the new slave cylinder will cure it but I’m not very optimistic. Squeaking clutch there seems to be many cures people have done.

 

A shudder will be the clutch itself. Fiddling with the hydraulics isn’t going to remedy that.

I’m betting the truck has had the clutch replaced at some point in the past. And, at that point something wasn’t done right. Could be that machining the flywheel properly was skipped. Could be that a less than high quality clutch was utilized. Who knows. It doesn’t matter either. Drop the transmission and replace all of it with OE Aisin stuff. Not the LUK junk. Have the flywheel cut by a machine shop that has a proper flywheel machine (NO LATHES!) It’ll work great and will last 100k plus.

 

I've also got this same issue, 2007 OR. It's real shit when it's cold but as it warms up it works perfectly

 

My 2014 has done it for a while now but is otherwise functioning normally. It only does it for that first take off of the morning, when I'm starting out on a steep hill near my house. Then it's fine. I just figure it's from a little light surface rust, first thing in the morning.
When I can, I just roll that stop sign. When I can't, it shudders pretty bad. I'd be willing to bet I'll get another 50,000 miles out of this clutch. It's stock with 113,000 miles on it.

 

ClutchMasters HydroTOB claims to reduce or eliminate shock associated with stock clutch engagement

 

Hot spots on the flywheel will also cause this issue.

 

Hey ya'll. Just started having issues with my first gen (2001) and it sounds pretty similar to what being discussed here. I'm driving a 2.7 standard transmission with a new-ish clutch, less than 5 k on it if I remember correctly. The shuttering happens when cold and I'm letting the clutch out, mostly in second and third.
It has been wet out lately...

I was about to start going through air sensors, clean the throttle body, check the compression, vacuum leaks... I didnt think about the clutch.
Has anyone been able to resolve the issue? Any advice would be helpful and much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

 

Just an interesting anecdote...

I was recently towing a trailer with about a 4,000 lb load (including the trailer) and I had to cross a short bit of lawn that was pretty soggy from a lot of recent rain. As luck would have it, the trailer bogged down in the lawn and I had to ride the clutch a bit to get out of it... burned the clutch just a bit.

Since then, the clutch has been a lot less ornery... it seems I may have "turned" it down to a better surface. Is that possible?