Hi everyone, this is my first post so forgive me if I do something wrong. I just traded for a 1991 Toyota pick up with a 5 speed manual transmission and the 22re engine. I bought knowing it had a really spongy clutch pedal and brake pedal. Brakes I think just need to be bled, by the way I do all the work I can by my self or with a friends help. I won't pay a mechanic unless I absolutely can't do it. Anyways back to the clutch. Sometimes in grinds in to reverse, like I can feel when it is going to and If I put in a another gear first I can put it in and be fine with no grinds of resistance. The clutch is very spongy and feels like it engages almost right off the floor. The fluid in the slave cylinder resovuair( I think I spelled that wrong lol) but the fluid is disgusting. Almost black if it isn't already. The truck was taken care of and is the cleanest I have found. No rust anywhere and 158,000 miles. The clutch seems to work fine while and driving and stopped and doesn't show resistance or grind in any gear. I thought about replacing the clutch master and slave cylinder and then bleeding the system but I don't know if I'm on the right track. My first Toyota, and I have always wanted one like this truck so I want to fix it. I hope it isn't the clutch, one other thing I want to note is when I downshift it is fine but twice when downshifting in to 3rd it has grinded and I don't know if I just wasn't paying attention and didn't have the clutch all the way to the floor or what. Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you so much.

 

I would drain all the fluid out of the clutch hydraulic system see if that helps Then fill with new to the clean fluid comes out.

If it does not then you might want to think of changing things don`t forget the hose the tend to swell with pressure when getting old.

 

Change the fluid if it's "black". Also search the site for clutch bracket fatigue. When you say grinding. Are you clearing the gates first be being stopes and putting it in 1st then going to reverse. And you moving at all when this happens? If it only when moving then that is somewhat common and you should only hit reverse when stopped.

 

Clutch pedal bracket might be cracked, very common. First thing id look at. Then Id do some preventive maintenance if i were you, and flush the hydraulic system, new stainless steel clutch line, new slave cylinder and bleed it with new fluid. Probably like a $50 job.

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Definitely check for a broken clutch bracket first, it's quite common on these trucks.
Look up underneath the dash to where the clutch pedal is attached and push on the pedal and look for any bracket movement or separation. If the bracket moves you won't be transferring enough pressure for proper actuation/movement.

When I first got my truck the fluid was black. When I drained it out into a clear jar it had tiny bits of what I think was the rubber clutch line breaking down. After draining the fluid out and bleeding it the clutch pedal seemed a little firmer but the release/engagement point remained the same. My clutch bracket is good and it was never as low as you describe.

If you change yours out and bleed it but the release/engagement point remain the same you probably have some parts to replace or someone didn't get the adjustment correct when they changed out the clutch master. I'd do the clutch line first, especially if it feels hardened or looks ballooned up a little. Same deal there, if somethings wrong with the line it won't build enough pressure to allow full movement.

 

Thanks guys, i will definitely change the fluid and look at that bracket and hose.

 

Ok so I looked at what I think was the bracket but it didn't seem to have anything wrong with it while pushing the clutch in and out

 

Do you hear a squeaky noise when you push in the clutch pedal? Thats how i realized mine was broken. Took a light in there and saw a crack in the top left corner of the bracket.

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Not that I have noticed and I can't find a crack anywhere but I will look again. Is my clutch adjustable?

 

the pedals supposed to be ~5 5/8" from the floorboard and the pedal free play is supposed to be ~1/4" - 5/8". check the fsm to confirm. you should start with bleeding the clutch system and then adjusting the pedal. dont make the freeplay to little or you can burn out your clutch i think. to much free play or to little pedal stoke and youll have the problem your explaining where its hard to get into gear/grinding.

if your pedal is still soft check for a leak. fluid dropping in master, master leaking where it attaches to clutch pedal or the slave leaking into/near the dust boot. pull back the dust boot it should be dry

 

Hey everyone so i listened very carefully on a quiet day and i can hear a small squeak when i push my clutch in but it sounds like its coming from under the truck as i can hear the echo of the squeak off of my garage walls. I just cant find where to look for a crack from the bracket. can anyone upload a pic of the possible crack yall are talking about.

 

Heres two good threads on it- https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f132...bracket-94633/ http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/toyot.../topics/972866 Sent from my iPhone using YotaTech

 

Thank You