McGregor

Hey guys,

I'm a new member and this is my first time posting. I really dig the site and enjoy seeing everyone's rides with all the sweet mods and upgrades, and have learned a lot about my 86 4wd xtracab just from reading the many different posts. So here's my situation...My slave cylinder went out recently and I found various posts on here addressing that issue, so I replaced it, but now the clutch won't engage. It just acts like it's trying to catch with a clunking sound. After inspecting the clutch pedal for fatigue/cracks and finding nothing, I took it to a local import repair shop and the owner said I need a new clutch. I am looking to replace it this weekend at my buddy's shop and he has a lift. Im just wondering what else I should replace while its apart, maybe the rear main seal but I'm not sure how involved this is and all the parts/gaskets I should get. Any help, part numbers, or advice would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

McGregor

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

Welcome!!

Can you give a better description of the problem.

A bad clutch can cause it to grind and make all kinds of noise in general just not go into gear.

Not much of a clunking sound .

I would hate to see you pull it all apart to find something else.

McGregor

Thanks. When I push the pedal in, it makes a clunking sound and won't go into any gear.

McGregor

Fluid level is normal.

McGregor

The mechanic said the clutch went when the slave went out.

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

Did you have clutch problems before the hydraulic failure at all slipping clutch or hard to get into gear??

Sounds more like a clutch release bearing issue or the fork broke or came loose.

Thing is the transmission needs to come out once it is out sort of foolish not to do the clutch .

Good luck .

McGregor

No, it wouldnt go into gear all of a sudden while driving and the slave cylinder lost fluid. No symptoms at all.

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

You did get the correct slave cylinder??

Then bleed all the air out so it moves fluid not air.

McGregor

Yes I did and bled it properly using a vacuum pump.

McGregor

Not sure what else it could be

thefishguy77

iTrader: (1)

Seems like you have some pretty good responses. Don't know what else you are looking for. Sometimes when you bleed a clutch system. They need to be bleed more than once. Not sure why but it does seems to come up every so often. If you feel confident that you have it bleed properly and still no clutch then it might be time to pull the tranny to do a clutch.

You could check for clutch bracket fatigue just to cover all bases before you pull the tranny. As for clutch part numbers and such that is more personal choice. Some people will tell you to go completely stock. Some people say use a centerforce dual friction. Most of us say what do you want your truck for. Daily driver part time wheeler? Mostly wheeler some daily driver? Pulling heavier loads? I went with a marlin crawler 1200 pound clutch. Feels stock but has a little bit more durability. (Wrong word to describe it I know). If you search a bit on best clutch for your application you should be able to get an idea of whats out there.

Hope this help. Good luck.

muddmadness

No you're in the right one just goes quiet some times. Then it goes crazy and everyone is on. Just depends on what everyone is doing not to mention the holidays

jhoop23

Hey guys I'm also new! I had the same problem with my 96 tacoma this year. I replaced the slave cylinder and the master and still did not fix the problem. So I replaced my clutch and she works like a champ now! Glad to see I'm not the only one who runs into problems like these.

McGregor

We bled the system about 20 times. I initially bled it over and over, because it still wouldn't work and I was thinking it was getting air in somehow, then a few times more when I had it at my buddy's shop on the lift with the vacuum pump and it still didnt engage. Thats when I took it to the local import auto place and the owner said I needed a new clutch. So I got a clutch kit on Friday and will be putting it in this weekend with help from my 2 mechanic buddies.

muddmadness

Check for clutch pedal bracket fatigue and or cracks that is what happened to me, it can't hurt to look at it you never know.

McGregor

I had read earlier about the bracket failure so I inspected the clutch pedal bracket right after the slave went out, and didn't find any cracks or fatigue. I thought for sure that's what it would be, and definitely hoped it was that versus the clutch going out.

muddmadness

Have you tried to gravity bleed it yet, it works. If you can look for the Toyota Bible definition on how to do it. I will look at my old posts and see if I can repost it for you. You can also find it on Pirate 4x4 online you might have to join the forum but there is a lot good info in the Bible about our trucks.

Double D

Bleed it with two people. Bleed it again and again. Then have someone press the clutch pedal in for you once it's tight and snug, and watch the fork engage. I bet its a bleeding issue. It can take more than any brake job to bleed these clutches. I fiddled with mine for a long time before it got right.

If you never had the transmission out, and clutch apart, I would put money it is a bleeding problem.

thefishguy77

iTrader: (1)

Well be doing a new clutch you will know you have eliminated that possibility. And as a bonus get to bleed the clutch again. And again.

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

I can`t figure out why you people have such bad luck bleeding hydraulic Clutch Systems.

When I change any of these it is every thing but the steel line.

Just like with the rubber brake hoses the clutch one can also swell up under pressure perhaps enough to make shifting difficult.

I never think of this as I change the rubber hose at the same time.

Bleed one time perhaps opening the bleeder two or three times done.