Need and expert mechanic's opinion?

Question

I have a 4x4 pick up truck and it is a 1993 model and I use it for my landscaping service. It has been slowly developing a kind of "clanking" sound which has become much more noticeable , especially when I am hauling something heavy in the back.

and I also have noticed the stick shift is very hard to put into gear, in the morning when I first head out in the morning. This morning it was nearly impossible to put in gear, so i decided to skip the day and head to a mechanics shop at a Toyota dealer. Well, they looked at the bottom of truck after putting it up on stilts and said that the rear drive shaft ( $1000)needed to be replaced, as it was about to fall out. and they told me that it needed a new clutch. ($750).

I might not argue with the rear crankshaft needing replaced, but I can get one used for 1/3 the price.

The clutch pedal feels just fine in my truck. Does not feel strange when I press it and there is not a smell from the clutch. Could it be something else?

OH, I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT AFTER I DRIVE IT INTO WORK AND IT HAS WARMED UP, THE STICK SHIFT GOES INTO GEAR JUST FINE.

COULD IT BE SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE CLUTCH??

Answer 1

The U-joint issue sounds logical. The clutch sounds more like a failing master or slave cylinder. The temperature increase would swell the seals and cause the clutch to build pressure warm but not cold. Normally, this would be the master cylinder, if it was the slave there would be a fluid loss externally from a bypassing seal. Hope this helps, and definetely get a better price on the driveshaft!

Answer 2

If your box is stiff when cold and loosens when it's warm it's probably due an oil change. A lot of the problems associated with 4x4 gearboxes are normally because they're not used correctly. You should regularly switch between hi and low ratios and 2 and 4 wd if possible to keep everything running free. If not, you tend to find selector shafts get a build up of sludge on their ends and this is what makes them stiff.

I'd go get a second opinion from a reputable place. I'd advise going somewhere like an agricultural fitter or 4x4 specialist, as they have a better understanding of proper 4x4's rather than just going thorugh a checklist and thinking "hmmm ,looks like that one".

Answer 3

These guys are supposed to be the experts and they have the benefit of seeing your car.

The gear change problem could be low oil level in the gearbox, once its warmed up it gets easier to select gears.
The rear drive shaft seems expensive, maybe they've quoted yo including labour time too. I'd shop around if I were you a 93 Toyota cant be worth much more than the price of the repairs. It depends how long you can manage without it, loss of earnings etc.

A main dealer will always be much more expensive too.

good luck & hope you get back to work asap

Answer 4

Loud clank sounds like a Universal Joint which is on the drive shaft. You shouldn't have to replace the entire drive shaft. A grand is a rip off because You can pull the Drive shaft yourself and find a machine shop to press in the new universal joints. These are like 25 dollar each parts. you only need 2. and a few bucks to have them pressed in.

Answer 5

you can get your driveshaft rebuilt for a 1/3 of that and it may not be the clutch as much as it is the transmission. replace the driveshaft first and then do the double clutch test. in other words when you are shifting gears, step down on the clutch and pull the shifter into nuetral then reapply the clutch and see if it slides into gear......if it does......time to replace or rebuild the trans

Answer 6

The provider brake is the only generally utilized by employing foot (some autos have a foot utilized park/emergency brake). I,m afraid you will have little or no recourse in this because of the quantity of achieveable mitigating circumstances. If the vehicle exceeded its brake try, and there are no detremental mechanical issues then an advisory observe is all this is needed (so he offered it legally). additionally you may could desire to tutor that the ultimate way the automobile exchange into pushed exchange into sound over 5 months. it somewhat is a real bummer i comprehend. I try miltary automobiles to MOT standards. I fell foul to my close by storage who offered me a automobile, i ended up changing the discs and pads myself 2 weeks after i offered it. That had only been positioned by an MOT. i'm sorry to declare you have no longer a leg to stand on. If i could desire to identity do the paintings on your mum - desire you detect a low priced restoration.

Answer 7

it could be that the clutch wants bleeding as it will be hydraulic my 4*4 goes like that some times,
as far as the rear prop shaft can't they just replace the u,j *2 (universal joints).
i would get it to a back street gararge if i were you sounds like the main dealer is on the rob!

Answer 8

Your description of 'Clanking' is not specific enough to offer opinions. However, the fact that you can select gears o.k. when the engine is warm is more suggestive of a gearbox problem than a clutch problem.
Have you considered PX'ing the pick-up for something a bit newer?

Answer 9

Engage 1 st gear...put handbrake hard on ...try to drive away.
If engine wants to stall clutch plate is fine.
If gears go in alright when on move clutch is fine.
Check/gearbox oil.
Bangs /cluncks on drive or suspension always u-joints or bushes....all cheap to fix away from main dealer

Answer 10

make sur e ur clutch slave cylinder isn't dry. it takes brake fluid and has to be bled out like brakes if dry.. your driveshaft may not be as bad as the u joints...decide for yourself.. and stay out of the toyota dealer unless u r a millionaire. and do maintenance on ur vehicles.. learn how instead of risking killing someone when ur driveshaft comes out and ur fully loaed with eqmt.. u won't have a business anymore.