Creaky Clutch: Easy fix or impending doom?

[tmGallagher]

hey all, thanks in advance for anyone who can help.

in the last few days, my clutch pedal started creaking like an old door. we hit a nasty hot/humid spell about the time it started. it comes and goes in severity, usually lessening the more it's driven.

i've been able to find information on the web about similar problems for other types of cars mentioning a cable replacement or just lubing, but haven't been able to dig up anything for 4runners.

anyone had a similar problem and a) know how to fix it and/or b)know how concerned i should be?

thanks,
tom

 

[servo_fan]

I'm not sure if this is what's happening to you, but a lot of 3rd gen owners have had to have a clutch pedal bushing replaced. Search on this site, or on yotatech.com for clutch pedal bushing. Good luck.

 

[tmGallagher]

thanks

hey servo_fan, thanks for the tip.

i read through unhappy's whole post on yotatech. the bushing is definitely my problem (i found many little pieces of black plastic on the floor, apparently mine completely exploded).

i'll be removing that spring this weekend (maybe sooner) and maybe adding in the #70 depending on how it feels.

thanks again.

 

[servo_fan]

You're welcome. Isn't it great how Toyota uses a plastic bushing between 2 pieces of metal? It happened to me as well, but I replaced it with another plastic bushing...now who's the dumb one? ha ha

 

[pat161]

I know some people have swapped out the spring for a different type, and that seems to work well for them. But replacing the bushing and keeping the stock set up is very easy, the job should take no more than 10-20 minutes. I did mine in my 2000 in May 04 for the first time and it is still fine, the dealer replaced the whole pedal assembly once under warranty. One write up suggests removing the whole pedal which is not needed at all. If you want a write up on how I replaced mine feel free to PM me.