Clutch break in/problems to watch for

Tiny
TEXANDIAN
  • MEMBER
  • 1993 TOYOTA 4RUNNER
  • 3.0L
  • V6
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 150,000 MILES
I just got done putting a new clutch, pressure plate, tob, master and slave cylinder, and rear main seal in my vehicle. Everything seems to be working great. I would just like some advice as to what I should look out for during the break in period. Early warning signs, that sort of thing. This is the first 4x4 I have ever owned or worked on. The the clutch replacement really tested me. I do not want to overlook something that could be prevented had I known. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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Saturday, October 14th, 2017 AT 8:47 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 34,167 POSTS
Treat it the same as when you buy a new vehicle with a manual transmission. What do you do differently in that case?

The best information you can get as to what to watch out for comes from examining the old parts. If you see a number of hot spots on the pressure plate, you may have been riding the clutch which lets it slip too much between shifts and when starting out. Insufficient free play in the pedal when it is released can cause that too. If the worn area on the pressure plate is larger in diameter than the clutch disc, the disc was sliding back and forth each revolution due to the transmission being mounted slightly off-center to the engine. That is extremely rare and would have caused a vibration, but it is the type of thing we look at during an autopsy of the old parts. If the disc had plenty of material left, but pieces broke off, look for rusty rivets. If you find that, suspect water was getting in that area through a missing cover or inspection plug. That can also simply be due to the age of the vehicle. It is common for clutch parts to last the life of the car. If your parts are worn evenly, at the mileage you listed, it could just be due to a lot of city stop-and-go driving.
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Saturday, October 14th, 2017 AT 9:08 PM
Tiny
TEXANDIAN
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
The parts were not overdue for replacement. Everything looked pretty good. I had suspected a bad pressure plate or something of that nature because it was getting harder and harder to get it into gear. I knew the clutch was going out because it would slip on take off or moderate plus acceleration. The flywheel and the old pressure plate did not appear to have gotten hot. My worry comes from being a carpenter and not a mechanic. I had a very hard time doing it myself and without a transmission jack or several other tools. I just do not want to have to do it all over again if I can help it. Thanks for the information caradiodoc.
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Sunday, October 15th, 2017 AT 1:59 AM
Tiny
TEXANDIAN
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Oh, I meant to mention that what I assumed to be a pressure plate or hydraulic issue turned out to be the clutch pedal mounting assembly had broken.
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Sunday, October 15th, 2017 AT 2:01 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 51,553 POSTS
Glad you could get it fixed, that kind of problem can be tough. Please use 2CarPros anytime we are here to help

Cheers, Ken
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Monday, October 16th, 2017 AT 1:45 PM
Tiny
TEXANDIAN
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
After about one hundred fifty miles I get a little shudder when shifting up. Only when it is warmed up and only on the up shift. Mostly first and second gears. Otherwise I am grateful for the outcome.
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Monday, October 16th, 2017 AT 9:20 PM

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