What have you done to improve your 6-speed manual?

That is what I have been hearing is the clutch and the thow out bearing are the issues, plus the tranny is clunky too I guess. Seems that there is a thread posted on 6 speed problems every other day anymore lol

 

Yeah, I know. The work truck is an 09 4cyl 5 speed. I would love to have that trans behind the V6 in my personal truck. That thing feels solid. My six speed feels likes it's going to grind every time I shift. Occasionally it actually does grind. Thanks Toyota. Next time I will read up a bit more before I drop my money. Damn shame, it's a very good driving truck other than that, and I spent a long time chasing down this exact set of options in a used truck.

 

I put Mobil 1 oil, stage 4 clutch ( stock flywheel ) and Trd short shifter. Worked great!

 

when I need to shift into 2nd...I shift into 2nd....then I either shift to 3rd..or 4th...depending on the situation of course...from there I may shift to 5th or 6th....I tend to use 1st to get the truck moving..

sometimes I eat bbq while pretending to be a dinosaur

 

Think I have found my next mod. Should fix all my issues. Thanks!

 

I had to put a u-bolt on each rear leaf pack because otherwise when the axle unwinds during a quick shift the thing won't want to go into gear.

It's otherwise not a bad transmission. 99% of the time it does what I want it to do. No TOB noises as of yet.

I've driven far worse, although none that had such a short final gear for the engine size. True my Honda would spin 3600 rpm on the freeway at 70 mph but it would still get 38 mpg when it did it because it was only a 91 cubic inch engine. The truck, not so much.

 

I love it except when I'm in bumper to bumper traffic. UHG !

 

Getting the manual is a no brainer. Can't stand how the auto acts with the gear hunting and when the cruise is on. Any slight hill with the cruise on and next thing you know the truck kicks down and is screaming at 5000 rpm, lol! With that said I have only done two things to improve the 6 speed. I changed the fluid to Amsoil manual trans fluid and I learned how to drive it.

I moved the seat back more and got away from my old train of thought. I always took the clutch pedal to the floor in other manuals. With this truck it shifts smoother if you don't take the clutch pedal to the floor. Also shift around 2500 rpm. And actually the more you hammer this trans the smoother it shifts. It shifts better at redline than 2000 rpm. So on moving the seat back, YMMV but it worked for me.

 

Haha. You posted this exact copy a few weeks ago? Hehe. Sorry, I guess I didn't find it. Promise, I really didn't see it.

Thread's going well BTW. I'm liking what I'm reading about the fluid choices and the different short-shifters.

 

Shift slow and you will be happy with it.

 

The 5 speed is an Aisin (Japanese) and the 6 speed is a Getrag (German).
I have a 5 spd and I have driven the 6 spd.
While the 6 speed feels more like a truck tranny (good), I don't like the gearing at 1 and 2.
I also don't like the throttle control.

 

i too have changed fluid and learned how to finesse the trans. with about 115,000 miles, its smoother, but i dont have any problems now. i used to get frustrated because it would grind, but when i learned how to really drive a manual, that went away.

-throttling on the downshift to synchronize engine and trans rpm is a great skill to learn.
-if you do rely on the synchros to do all the work, u need to ease it in gear if the rpms have a big 'gap' when doing so
-i read that anytime you dont completely disengage and engage your clutch, it causes excessive wear. is that not true?

 

That last statement is true, but it doesn't really mean that not pushing the pedal all the way down is not fully engaging/disengaging the clutch. Depends on the car really. While I always push all the way down, some cars have the clutch fully actuate before the pedal is all the way down.

 

URD short shifter + just as important, a heavy aftermarket shift knob to help with momentum of shifting. I also got the TSB for the clutch squeek

Also, changed out the fluids with royal purple at 30k and 60k. Approaching 90k soon and will replace with RP again.

 

Best six speed mod ever!
http://www.marlincrawler.com/transmission/parts-upgrade/heavy-duty-shift-lever-ball-seats

 

TRD short shifter and Redline MT-90, works fine for the most part. I will grind 4th into 5th and 5th into 6th if the RPMs are too high. I have 136,000 on it, I could see buying a spare low mileage tranny and building it up a bit when this one is toast.

 

Hey TacomaWorld,

I like reading all the opinions on the 6 speed.

Since 115,000 miles (Summer of 2010) my 6 speed has pulled a trailer with a zero turn/push mower/trimmer/etc near 15,000 miles (ESTIMATE!!!!!) with no issues at all. I am 21 now and started a small lawn care business as I work my way through college.

I have been browsing recently looking for reviews of shift knobs to replace my stock 6 speed one. The leather stitching on it is worn out and is falling apart, plus I just want a new cleaner looking one. (PM me if you have any honest input...good or bad!)

--> My truck has 145,000 miles the original clutch (which is on its way out )
> Only mod to it is the URD SS kit at 100k.
> At 108k I forget the exact definition, but the trans was dropped because the shift fork dropped a bolt randomly which led to the truck being stuck in fourth gear lol.

Anyways, I have not had any problems with the 6 speed other than that, the only thing I dislike about the transmission is it takes skill to back up a trailer uphill in reverse slowly (driveways/parking lots/etc.).

All in all, I personally never knew so many people were unhappy with the transmission, and for some reason I have always been happy with it!

Happy Holidays Taco World!

 

Love my 6spd BUT only after:
Most recent throwout TSB (no problems in over 10k)
TRD S Shift
TRD shift knob is the perfect weight too
Overall, I'd say it's as good as any with those mods. All my driving is in the city these days being in Florida, so skipping gears is a habit. Bad or good I don't know?? Can't remember the last time I didn't run from 3rd to 5th or 4th to 6th...

Just like the truck, I had my grumbles in the beginning but after years of mods, it can't be beat!

 

Best way to deal with a 6 speed is learn how to use it.

 

Could you/anyone verify this fixed the problem of the shifter feeling so loose when in gear? I love my truck, but when in any gear, if you did not know the truck it almost feels like as if it were in neutral.

Bash away, but Im 21 and thought that maybe the actual shifter was worn out and needed replaced or something.

Any constructive answers or experiences with this "mod" are highly appreciated.

Thanks guys,
Corey