Advertisement

Dear Jim,

A few weeks ago, I let my mechanic neighbor replace the clutch disc on my 1999 Toyota Tacoma (3.4L V6, 5-speed manual). At first, everything seemed fine, but now the car shakes pretty badly every time I engage the clutch and accelerate. Any idea what went wrong here? My neighbor says he's sure the repair job was done correctly and that there must be some other part failure that's causing the shaking. What do you think is the problem?

-- Paul Cobb

What you're describing, bro, is called "clutch chatter."

My guess is that your neighbor actually did install the new clutch correctly, as he says, but he didn't also service the entire clutch assembly while he was in there.

When a clutch wears out, it starts slipping and causing excessive friction. Excessive friction generates excessive heat. That heat build-up not only eats away the remaining material left on the disc but can warp, crack or distort the flywheel, pressure plate and throwout bearing -- all of which are essential to smooth clutch function.

How long did you wait to replace the clutch disc after it first started slipping?

The longer you waited, the more likely it is that your flywheel, pressure plate and/or throwout bearing were damaged while you were driving around with the bad disc.

The good news is these parts aren't that expensive to repair and service. A new throwout bearing should run you about $20 and a pressure plate less than $50. Flywheels, depending on how worn down they are, can usually be resurfaced for about $35.

Sure, it's an extra $100 that you could have dropped into that hungry gas tank on your Tacoma, but it's a small price to pay to turn that shake, rattle and roll into a smooth ride.

Tip of the Week:

For a lot of us, manual transmissions are the only way to go. They're more fun than automatics, and they generally require less maintenance.

But here are a couple of things to consider: Don't forget the universal joints that link the transmission to the rear drive axle. When U-joints get too much slack in them, they can jerk the transmission's gears whenever the car takes off.

If you're feeling this, get those U-joints checked to avoid big repairs later. Also, remember to check your gear oil on occasion. Remove the side plug and stick your finger in the hole. As long as you can feel the oil in there, the level is fine.

Buffalo Jim, owner of Allstate Auto & Marine Repair in Las Vegas, writes a weekly column. Send your automotive questions to him at buffalojim@lasvegasniftynickel.com. If Jim picks your question to answer in Nuts & Bolts, you'll also be the proud recipient of a deck of official Buffalo Jim playing cards, presented in a classy, tin box bearing his hairy image.