Well now, it's clutch replacement time!

Well, about two weeks ago I noticed the clutch on my '96 std-cab Tacoma 2.4 started slipping. Just barely, and I'm not going to wait until the flywheel is cooked, or the truck is un-driveable.
So what make of clutch do you guys prefer. Rock Auto has a choice of Aisan, Sachs and LUK clutch kits - all known brands. The LUK clutch is made in South Africa.
I'd guess the Aisin might be preferred for a Toyota. But has anyone had issues with the other two?

Also, my truck is a base model, with no center console, and only a 3" hole in the carpet for the shifter-boot. Do I need to pull the seat, sills, kick-panels and carpet to get the 4x6" steel cover-plate off the tranny-tunnel and remove the shifter?
Of course my Haynes manual shows the job on a 4WD Tacoma, with a removable plastic shifter console. And the only online RWD Tacoma clutch video I found completely skips over the shifter removal!
Thanks.

Happy Motoring, Mark

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...on-your-5-speed-transmission-write-up.338836/

 

Aisin all the way

 

Had the luk for a year now and shes still chuggin along.

 

I have used both the Aisin and the LUK with good results

It depends just on your use

 

Well, After several days of working evenings, sometimes 'till well after midnight, my clutch ordeal is over, and the 'toothpaste' is finally back in it's 'tube'!!

I'm now jealous of you guys with the 4wd versions, as even though your tranny/transfer-case probably weighs twice what my 2wd setup does, you have a REMOVABLE cross-member, and just need to support the unit, pull it back and lower it straight down.

NOT pull the tranny back as far as possible, then rotate it 90 degrees, then try to pull it forward, then down at some crazy angle, until it hangs up on the clutch, the tunnel, and the NON-REMOVABLE crossmember, so you can wrestle with it for a couple more hours, before gravity finally helps you drop it on the asphalt!
Which I had fortunately padded with a big piece of carpet.

Gravity was NOT my friend when I was putting the tranny back in.
Using wood blocks, jacks, other improvised supports, and as much force as my aging muscles & joints could stand without calling 911, it took more than 12 HOURS to get everything back together!

Anyway, I wound up using the LUK clutch and it's working just fine.
Only need to get used to the lower clutch-pedal engagement.
FWIW, elsewhere on this site, there's a link to the Toyota Tacoma factory service manual. It says to replace my clutch, first remove the engine!

Also note - on the factory manual and my Haynes manual, the W59 tranny picture shows only three tranny-to-engine mounting bolts. There's a FOURTH mounting bolt.
It's one of the two big bolts on the right side of the tranny that hold the front exhaust pipe bracket!

Happy Motoring, Mark

 

I would have cut that cross member out then made it to be bolted back in.

Changing a Clutch is not fun by yourself.

You might want to adjust the rod on the Master cylinder more to your liking.

Glad it all worked out

 

Loved the Wright up. Thanks for posting.

 

After all the stories I've heard about rusty, self-destructing frames, you suggest I should have cut up mine? Well, the thought did cross my mind!

With my Tacoma up on ramps there's hardly any room for more than one person under there.
My brother did help a bit, handing me some boards, to help shim the tranny in the right position on top of a plastic bottle-crate, during the final struggle to get it back on the engine.

And my neighbor, who works at a machine-shop, came by after work the next day, and brought me the worlds largest snap-ring pliers, so I could get the shift-lever retainer back in.

By the way, there was nothing left of the old gear-shift saddle, except for crumbs. I finally got to install the new one from Toyota I've had waiting in the glove-box for two years!

Happy Motoring, Mark