Questions and Answers
Toyota Clutch
Q. I have a Toyota MR2, it's a 2.0 liter turbocharged engine, and I have about 111,000 miles on it. I just took it in for new gear synchronizers for second and third. In addition to the synchronizers they also replaced the bearings and my gear shifter shaft.
I've had the car back now for about two weeks and I've noticed significant sinking of the friction point in the clutch pedal. When I first got the car back the friction point was right about where it was before I dropped it off to be serviced, although it has lowered a great deal since then. I know that as the clutch burns the friction point will be lower on the pedal but I don't think I've been burning the clutch. I never hold the clutch halfway in and I haven't smelled the clutch burning.
I don't know if this has anything to do with my clutch friction point, but my air valve on my front driver side tire was leaking and I've driven it some with pretty low pressure in that tire. I'm just concerned because now the friction point is pretty low, I checked the clutch fluid that was little bit low (but still within the normal range) so I filled it up but there hasn't been an improvement.
Is it possible that there simply was an adjustment due to the new parts and reconstruction of the transmission? And if so would the friction point have started out where it used to be and then sunk down like in my case? Please help!
Thanks.
A. I'm willing to bet $2.00 that your clutch slave cylinder is bad. This is very common after a clutch or transmission repair and would do exactly what you are describing. And for some reason even more common on foreign cars. I never, ever replace a clutch on a car without recommending a new clutch slave cylinder as well.
