I have the above 4Runner and 4th gear has recently crapped out. It will go into gear yet starts grinding and kicks out of gear when I release the clutch.

Clutch in = normal 'feel' all the way into 4th gear.
Release clutch = grinding and ejects shift lever back to neutral or out of gear.

It cannot be forced/worked/sweet-talked into 4th at all. I have read about the bushing and seat of the shift lever but does not seem to be the same symptom as it does not go into gear then "pop out" as I found thru searches. I did check it and there is some minor assymetrical wear, but rotating it did not change anything and the shifter is not loose as others have described.

I think its the sprag gear, but wanted to know if there were any other things to check before it gets dropped.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Can anyone inform me which Truck & 4Runner transmissions are common to my 4 cyl. 4x4 5 speed trans?

Thanks.

 

You have a W56 trans assuming you have the stock trans in the truck. Its a 5 speed EFI trans.

4th is direct through, and i have never seen that gear fail (since its really not a gear persay). Check your shifter bushings. Also, do you have a body lift?

 

Hmmmm...It does have a 3" body lift.

 

$10 says the shifter is hitting the body.

take the shifter surround/rubber surround out and watch the shifter, see if it pops out then.

 

Outstanding. I will check that out asap. Whats the remedy short of removing the body lift?

 

Cut the metal around the shifter, and forgo the shifter surround.

3" body lifts are a bad idea in the first place.

 

Body lifts

 

Got it. I've owned this thing for about two weeks now and it came with the body lift. It has f/r Smittlybilts that make the body lift not so obvious.

I'm not a big fan of body lifts either. I have 33's and 4.88 gears en route now. The suspension lift kit will be done within the next six months depending on available $$$

Thanks for the help.

 

DAMN! I just removed the metal shifter surround and the rubber surround and no change. There was plenty of clearance btwn the shifter and the edge of the opening. I think its going to have to come out.

 

NEW INFO:
It will go into 4th gear w/o issue below 25mph. At 25+ it grinds as described above.