Weirdest clutch failure - AISIN discovery

[wardriver]

It was upgrade weekend around my house. I installed an airlift 1000 bags, Fram Air Hog ($6 on clearance), rear main seal, clutch kit and flywheel. Two weeks ago it was the tundra brake upgrade and front struts.

Now on to the weirdness. Since day 1 with my 4Runner the clutch had some crazy shutter out of 1st. It was really bad under load. It was firm and pulled great once it was moving. But we're towing our pop up camper to the beach in a few days and I wanted that issue gone. I figured it was a burned flywheel. I was very surprised to see this:

So after talking to a local trusted transmission shop I chose to go with a RhinoPac clutch kit. I wanted to save some $ over an AISIN kit, although I really wanted one. I ordered the "SE" (select engineering) RhinoPac kit for $206 from RockAuto.com. Low and behold when I opened the box it was stamped AISIN. I was quite stoked.

So we're back together and my truck is happier than its been in a long time.

And some random beach goodness....

 

[rayjay]

I will have to keep this in mind. How is the brake kit towing the pop up? Did it make a big difference?

 

[wardriver]

Yes it has - I've heard it estimated that you gain about 30% braking capacity. I will say replacing the worn out springs up front and adding a little extra support in the rear has helped a ton too. After 200k miles I don't mind giving it a little attention.

 

[Slow_T4R]

Was the broken piece floating around in the tranny?

 

[J-money$$$]

I had the exact same thing happen on a napa brand clutch in my 4runner a few years back. I had 2 or 3 of those fingers break off then one got flung around and was sticking half way out of the vent holes in the bell housing. It was pretty burly.

Napa warrantied it. But still the clutch was only 12 months old. And pulling the trans/tcase sucks.

 

[wardriver]

Was the broken piece floating around in the tranny?

Nope - it was gone. PO had the clutch swapped at a shop. I wonder if they broke it of when they shoved the tranny back in there.