Today I was driving home in 4th gear, and I punch it and I noticed that the rpms were climing usually fast. I tried it in 3rd gear and did it again. So i suspect that the clutch could be bad. I did a seach and found that some people's clutchs when bad because of a bad rear main seal. My truck has been pinging lately too(I just did a body lift and I have no shift boot now so I could be that im just hearing it now). Could a bad rear main seal have any effect to the ping(rod bearings?), or would it most likely be a lean condition.

 

how does your oil level look?

Have you noticed oil dripping from the area around the rear main seal or out the bottom of the bell housing?

 

A leaky rear main might cause your clutch to slip if the oil is getting on the clutch plate. I just had my clutch replaced along with the rear main. I had some oil dripping from the bell housing/engine interface, the mechanic confirmed that the rear main was weeping. My clutch was almost toast anyways as it was almost worn to the rivets, so it was time regardless of the rear main leak.
Rear main shouldn't have anything to do with pinging as long as you are above "add" on your dipstick, probably coincidence.

 

Last time I checked, about a week ago, my oil level was good. I havent noticed any oil on the ground under my truck, but ill take a look on the bell housing. Ben how many miles did you get outa ur clutch before it started to go? Thanks alot guys, you always make me feel better.

 

I got 151k miles, though I saw somewhere on the forum where someone had gotten 200k+. I just recently bought the 4runner so not sure how it may have been used/abused in the past, though it does not appear to have been off road.

 

Cool, I got 135K on my truck and I drive it pretty hard. So I guess It probally due for a clutch anyways. Thanks alot for you help guys!!!

 

I've got probably 125k-130k on mine, I even smoked it twice pulling a Ford 350 out of the mud and once again wheeling or something. Toyotas have some good clutches.

 

Seems like whenever I go wheelin, one of friends sitting next to me always sayes, "Dude what the hell is that smell!!". Then I realize that i have the clutch halfway in and the other foot mashing the gas. Can't figure out why i do that....

 

Mine smells up a good scent when I wheel too. I'm not too worried though because when I dump the clutch in 5th while on the interstate it doesn't slip and it holds pretty good unless I purposely slip it to get more rpm's up an obstacle, then it starts to burn and it stinks. I think a new clutch is on the list for next May if it lasts that long. Now that you posted this I'll make sure to change the RMS to.

 

My uncle got 301,000 KM's (roughly 190,000 miles) on his original clutch. He has a 95 Toyota 4x4 ext'd cab 3.0 V6.

 

But did you uncle absoultly beat the chit out his truck almost every weekend(like me and most of the rest us on here)? I think where and how you drive your truck play a big part in clutch life. I bet 2wd trucks tranny tend to last longer than 4x4's just because of that reason.

 

that and the fact that the trucks are lighter than the 4runners.

 

I got about 160K out of mine before the rear main seal lubed my clutch and it had to be replaced. I replaced it with a TRD 3.0 kit that included a heavier flywheel. Great improvement in takeoffs with the heavier flywheel.

Looks like I have to get the clutch done again or do it myself. Noticed this last weekend, the bellhousing was oiled and had some drips hanging on it.