clutch replacement

[southalabama87]

I have an 87 4-runner. This past weekend when driving it the transmission started to make a rattling sound when the clutch is not engaged. A friend said the throwout bearing was probably going bad. I looked in the repair manuel and it looks like the transmision has to be removed and the bearing replaced. I figured since it will be taken apart that I might as well change the clutch at the same time. Is there a kit that would have all the parts needed? Also how long should I expect this to take and how hard will this be?
Thanks for any help. Stephen

[DesertRat]

The throw out bearing took me a weekend. Unbolt and remove the transmission, replace the bearing and bolt it back up. You'll need a clutch alignment tool to replace the clutch. The hardest part for me was lifting the transmission back up. It's big and heavy. A transmission jack is best, but a few regular floor jack and some friends will do. You can't do it with a bottle jack. I'm thinking of replaceing my clucth soon. Let me know which one you choose and how it goes.

[Sean]

I've done my clutch twice. The kit I got was a cheap aftermarket Fenco kit. I'm not sure whether to reccomend it because I broke the first clutch plate and wore the second one out in a year. Well actually a friend wore the second one out in one pass over some rocks, which taught me the lesson if you want to see your rig go over obstackles, bring a video camera.
The kit I got came with: clutch, pressure plate, throw out bearing and clutch alignment tool. I can't recall if it came with the pilot bearing or not, but I opted not to change that.
First time took me 10 hours, much spent on not so quick trips to the parts store and argueing with my freind who is a butcher(not literally) who does'nt have the pateince to do things properly. I try to explain to him if you take something apart properly the assemble will be that much easier, but he feels the need to rush through any job. I've always found rushing ends up costing me time fixing shit that gets messed up in the rush.
Second time I had my wife assist and fetch tools and I got it done in 4 hours or just under. I did'nt use bottle jacks but rather a few floor jacks like mentioned, wish I had a transimission jack it would have helped immensely. Also had my mom's boyfreind help me wiggle the whole unit until the transmission input shaft found it's way into the proper splines.

[snorkleman]

Man last time I put in a transmission it was on gravel under a jeep with only one jack holding the rear of the jeep up. That sucked. Now I have friends with shop lifts and transmission jacks. So much easier.