alright, first post here. i'm looking at at 92 pickup 4x4 with the v6 and manual transmission with 250k miles on it. apparently the motor was rebuilt 100k miles ago, but the transmission is original. am i going to be getting myself into some transmission troubles or are they pretty bulletproof?

kenny

 

I have a 93 Sr5 with the 5 speed. It has 315,000 miles on it and no problems yet...

 

Along the same line of thought here. I have a manual transmission thats going to go in my 90 4Runner when I have the time. Should I get this transmission checked or just replace all the basic stuff (clutch throwout bearing etc) and assume it's probably fine.
I pulled it from a junkyard but it shifts through the gears fine and it seems alright upon visual inspection.
there is a transmission specialty shop near me and I was thinking about taking it to them for an inspection.

 

my truck has almost 280k and as far as i know the trans is original with the exception of the clutch and related bearings and such.

 

other than the clutch these things tend to last forever when the oil is changed properly.

pull the drain plug if you can and see what kind of condition its in. a lot of metal shavings would be an indication of possible issues

 

Probably should have thought of that While I was pulling mine out of the junkyard. I wish I had found this forum before I even bought my truck.

 

I would disagree with MMA_Alex. Input seals and bearings are the norm for going on these trans. Change the fluid and go to synthetic.

 

I have killed one r150f tranny that lost reverse on me but over all they are pretty bullet proof.

Flash
what experienced good or bad have you had from switching form regular grade to synthetic in the tranny and diff's?

 

Changing to synthetic did wonders in the trans. Way better shifting and where I am (Canada) really helped in the cold. I use Lucus 75-90. I lost 2 trans to input bearing failure and a clutch to seal leaking. I now put synthetic in. No failures yet but will see what happends....

 

huh good to know. what brand of synthetic did you use and what grade??

yeha that lucas just kills everything that it goes in I have never used it and I never will.

 

I've got redline mt-90 in mine and it shifts much better when cold (no forcing it into 2nd, etc)

do a search on redline mt-90 theres a bunch of people with similar results

 

Other than the mentioned input seal / bearing issue as stated above, I think these little trannies are pretty tough. Years ago I bought a 1990 standard cab 4x4 with the 22re. The trans was making some noise in 3rd gear (PO towed a small trailer every day for his landscape business). I bought it knowing that I would eventually have to put a junkyard tranny in it.

I drove that little bugger for four years before I was forced to bite the bullet and replace that noisy tranny. That experience makes me think that they are pretty resilient.

 

Depends on what the teardown/inspection costs. I wouldn't pay more than $150 or so to have it opened, have them look at the gears and syncros... At that price, it'd be worth it. Above that, you could use that money for rebuild labor.

The "Basic" stuff you mentioned should *always* be replaced when doing a transmission change. Change the pilot bearing, throw out bearing, and consider surfacing the flywheel and doing a new clutch.

It's just too much labor to have a minor part cause a problem.


Toyota transmissions after 1985 or so are pretty good if regularly maintained.
Shifter bushings may wear - so check those first if you're popping out of gear.

 

Lucus is the brand of oil. Not the additive. I never use additives. If it is broken fix it right.

 

You wouldn't believe the difference that it made when I put in Redline MT-90 gear oil in my transmission. I will smoothly engage all the gear, even in the cold.

 

I didnt know that Lucas make oil too

im just hesitant to put in synthetic after regular multi viscosity oil has been in there for so long. I know it had bad effects on components sometimes.

 

there isnt nearly as much ability to leak as an engine. if it doesent leak with dino it wont leak with synth. Synth has some awesome properties that make it well suited for manual transmissions.

-Ability to flow at low temperatures (lubricates parts while trans is cold when you first start going)
-Reduced Oxidation (longer life before lubrication starts to wear down)
-Ability to better handle heat
etc, etc

and yes lucas makes a bunch of different oil products. as stated above i'd recommend redline mt-90. do a search, and you'll find a number of others who do too.

 

My pickup has 242k and some change, trans is fine.