YOUR Manual Trans?

I have the manual 5-speed in my 5-lugger and it is a little more noisy/clunky than I'd expect. Heavy-duty transmissions don't have to be unrefined. I'm sure the manual transmissions in my previous V8 Mustangs (an '87 LX 5.0 with a Borg-Warner T-5 and a '96 Cobra with a Tremec T-45) were built to handle more torque than the ones in these trucks, but they were much smoother & quieter than this one (and they were considered fairly crude by sports car standards).

As long as it's durable, I can deal with it.

My biggest related complaint so far is the cheesy squeaky bushing on the clutch pedal pivot. This has apparently been an issue for quite a while (2005?) and Toyota still hasn't addressed it.

 

As everyone has said the Toyota manual tranny has always been a little rough, even the one I have in my old 97 has always been that way. However it has been over 140k and never had a problem. As for the 6 speed in my TRD OR I installed the URD shift kit (awesome piece of gear) and changed the fluid to Valvoline Synthetic and it now shift much shorter (URD), quiter and smoother.

 

I have a 09 Access Cab 4 x 2 MT. I did find it hard at first but relizing that you do not have to force the next gear, I just give the shifter a slight push and she goes into the next gear no prob. Love the feel of the clutch. Better than the Mazda B3000 I had.

 

My transmission clunks into gear usually too. I noticed its worse after I have been driving down the high way. If I dont wiggle the shifter a lot before trying to put it into first, it clunks in and the truck even moves a bit. but this is only once the truck is warmed up and I come off the highway, come to a stop then go to put it in first. Maybe I need a tranny cooler?

 

I don't think you can install a cooler on a manual trans, but you might try synthetic gear oil.

 

Toyota tried to tell me they don;t make that!

 

make what?

 

synthetic gear oil

 

I would suggest any auto parts store will carry Mobil 1 synthetic 75w90. A lot of guys on TW like to use Redline mt90. It's made specifically for manual transmissions.

 

hmm, actually now that I think of it my old vw didnt have any fluid in the tranny i dont think. do our tacos?

 

The clutch and the transmission takes some getting use to. After that, it's all gravy. Also I replaced my trans and transfer case oil with redline mt90 and the shifts were smoother. Worth the $30!

 

I have an 08 6 spd. I have noticed the following that seem out of place:

-Clanking and banging when the truck is out of gear going over bumps
-A great deal of resistance and an audible grinding noise every time I shift to 2nd
-1st cannot be selected until after the truck has come to a complete halt. Even slowed to 5mph, I cannot put in it 1st
-The clutch pedal does squeak and requires lubricating every month or so.

The only other modern manual trans pickup I have owned was a 5 spd Ford Ranger that showed none of the previous.


I will find the thread and link it tonight, but there is another discussion here that makes me very worried about my 08 6 spd's durability and logevity.

 

is this easy to do...any link on how to change the oil (gear oil) yourself?

 

It's fairly easy to do. Although you will need a gear oil pump to fill them back up.

 

Make sure you remove the fill plug first. If you drain the oil and for some reason can't get the fill plug out, you will have an empty transmission with no way to fill it.

 

I always loosen both before actually removing one. It's a good rule to follow but I've never had a problem removing the fill plug in any of the vehicles I've worked on but there can always be a first time.

 

Good advice...This is an old mechanic's first word of advice! If you can't fill it, don't attempt to drain it!

Also, the cluck you hear when in neutral while coasting is more than likely the drive shaft slapping. Lubing the grease zerks on the drive shaft eliminates 50% of it, but the ring & pinion gears in the rear axle have more backlash in these model of truck than must out there; causing the drive shaft to make some racket. This is the other 50% of the racket. I'd call this normal for the Tacoma. As long as you grease the shaft, it should be fine.

 

Have you tried rev matching when you shift? Helps by meshing the gears at the same speed.

Josh

 

Thanks for responding to my post! I think you may be right. I'm not sure what you mean by lubing it up? Can you provide me with more detail please? what type of lube? where do i apply it? is there any brace i could buy to fix this problem? and why does it only do it in N?

 

I noticed not being able to shift into first either on my 5 speed, I thought it was me not shifting right.

I remember on a civic/integra/legend I could shift into first no problems.

Anyone have an explanation for this?