Hi! Bought my first truck recently, 1986 22r 2wd. Second sweetest little blue thing on 4 wheels. Anyhow, my question is about the clutch. I think the clutch is out, gone, dead, not working or what have you. Pedal goes straight to the floor and you can't put it into gear unless she's turned off. Now, please hold your tongue, I said I was a newbie, I don't know anything about clutches. I can change oil and I've done a fair amount of work on a slant 6 engine but never anything having to do with clutches. I don't want to try and fix it myself because from what I've read I don't think I have the tools. What I do want to know is:

is the clutch dead?

what needs to be fixed?
clutch master cylinder?

I'm a lady and although it's stereotypical the fellas at the auto shop like to try and pull one over. Don't let this happen to a perfectly nice girl.

 

Clutch is probably good, sounds like a hydraulic problem. Check the fluid in the MC. If it is full MC is most likely bad (push pedal and see if slave moves to double check). If fluid is low/gone, check line/slave for leaks. I had the same problem and the slave was toast.

 

thanks jason, i'll check it tomorrow!

 

One quick question. If fluid is depleted in MC I can refill. However, will I have to bleed the system? If so how is this done? Can I do this with regular household tools?

 

Old clutches slip because the friction material is wore down to the point that the spring does not provide enough force to keep the clutch engaged. If that was your case, it would be easier to shift, not harder.

Make sense?

 

If it is low you can refill. If it is empty it is probably best (if not required) to bleed. Procedure is same as brakes. There is a bleeder screw on the side of the slave. All you need is a wrench, hose, cup, fluid (dot 3), and a friend.

http://www.ncttora.com/fsm/1993/clutch/3bleeding.pdf

 

x2 on the bad slave / bad lines.... where in portland are you? i'm heading that way this week and if your around thrusday or Friday afternoonish i can help.

 

Most likely it is your Master Cylinder. Before I knew much about toyotas, I had a 87 4-speed pick up and had the same problem you did. I walked into a parts store, not know for being a toyota shop and asked if the person behind the counter could help me figure out what was wrong. I said something like "I have a truck and the clutch peddle sinks to the floor". He said, "Is it a toyota, between 84-91?", "Umm yes..??". He reaches behind the counter and hands me a box with a new master cylinder. That was the end of our conversation. I concluded it was a common thing for Yoda truck MC to go out. Now my personal experiance verifies it. I have had two more give out on me (on a different truck).

Changing the MC is a good starter project. You will need to get a 10mm line wrench and a bleed kit. (About $10 for both if you get the cheap bleed kit). Otherwise all you need is a standard metric socket set and a pair of plyers. If you need help chime back in on this thread and I or somebody else can point you in the right direction on how to change it yourself.

(I added abit more help. If your MC is bad you will see a large dirty mess around the MC where it has leaked and dirt is sticking to the leaked brake fluid. If it is mostly clean, then as Topher and Kanas suggested, check the slave)

 

...and pray to god (or Allah or no one) that it is never seen a MI/WI/etc winter. If it has, you will need a lot of spray and new brake lines and bolts.

I'd figure out what's wrong first though.

 

ya'll are great! thanks so much. i'll let you know what happens.

 

for what its worth it was the slave.... the MC looks like it was replaced fairly recently. we swapped slaves out and it was good to go and i got free a breakfast outta the deal

 

Nice!

 

oops... when i put a new MC in, i didnt bleed it.... WHOOPS... then that went out prematurely, and my dads mechanic put a new one in and bled it.. havent had a problem since. he put in an AISIN MC for a tacoma and bought it from the dealership and charged me for an autozone one... i really trust him with my truck

 

as said before it's hydraulic. as an ex mechanic, take my advice and replace the master and the slave and any flex hoses involved. It will save doing the job again in a few weeks or months.
Robert

 

props to tofer.. hes helped me before over the internet and he must be a really good dude to help someone like this!!

this is why toyotas rule!

 

What was for breakfast?

 

2 eggs and coffee... plus a nibble of chicken fried steak. i ate when i left tacoma that morning and wasnt very hungry when we got done.