Clutch just starting to slip

[denvermaxd]

2000 SR5 Sport 5 speed manual, 177,556 miles.

Was accelerating on a modest uphill merge ramp last week, and shifted into 4th at around 1600 RPMs. So a little early, probably, with the uphill pull. Anyway, felt the engine surge and noticed the RPMs jump to the mid 2000s without an accompanying increase in speed.

Clutch starting to go, I assume. A couple questions:

• Once it starts to go, how long until it needs replacing? 100 miles? 500 miles?
• How much should I expect to pay my local Toyota mechanic (not dealer) to replace the clutch? Looks like a painful job I don't want to tackle without a lift and lots of free time.

Thanks!

 

[TheDurk]

2000 SR5 Sport 5 speed manual, 177,556 miles.

Was accelerating on a modest uphill merge ramp last week, and shifted into 4th at around 1600 RPMs. So a little early, probably, with the uphill pull. Anyway, felt the engine surge and noticed the RPMs jump to the mid 2000s without an accompanying increase in speed.

Clutch starting to go, I assume. A couple questions:

• Once it starts to go, how long until it needs replacing? 100 miles? 500 miles?
• How much should I expect to pay my local Toyota mechanic (not dealer) to replace the clutch? Looks like a painful job I don't want to tackle without a lift and lots of free time.

Thanks!

I was able to baby mine from first barely perceptible slip in May to undriveable in October, and I drive 12k a year. It cost me a flywheel that could not be resurfaced to run it that long. I had to wait for fall to take it out of service and when I had the time to do it myself. It WAS a serious pain without a lift, but boy does it shift nice now. Do your shift bushings with Marlin Crawler urethanes when you do the clutch.

I have a long uphill run to my house from a "T" turn at the bottom. On my rig, RPM and Speedo needles climb at the exact same angle in 3rd gear. So if I make that "T" turn in 2nd, then hit 3rd and floor it, if there is any "jump" in the RPM relative to the speedo, I know I have a clutch slip. It took a long time to notice it any other way--like maybe July.

 

[J. B.]

I babied mine with slipping for a while. Depends on your driving style and where you drive.

Mine was with a lightweight aluminum flywheel and a 6 puck racing clutch... which was absolutely terrible to begin with.

Now I have a stronger single disc full face clutch and stock steel flywheel and it's great. Depending on what clutch you get (I recommend eclutchmasters online) and who you get to do the job, you're looking at $800-$1k.

 

[denvermaxd]

Do your shift bushings with Marlin Crawler urethanes when you do the clutch.

Thanks for the insights and advice. Other than the Marlin bushings, did you use an OEM clutch kit? e.g. this one?

 

[TheDurk]

Thanks for the insights and advice. Other than the Marlin bushings, did you use an OEM clutch kit? e.g. this one?

That's not OEM--it's "OEM replacement." Aisin is OEM. I used this one:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00340FETK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

But it was only $198 in October 2013.

However, AISIN has redesigned this clutch so I believe the factory original is not available anywhere, unless dealer has NOS. I love the way this one shifts.