TOB at 120K-mile service?

[trvth]

My 2015 is due for its 120,000 mile service later this week. This car is lightly modified with bolt-ons, and runs E85 during the summers. Autocross, but no track (yet).

The 120K-mile service includes lifting the engine to replace the spark plugs. Does this work provide easy access to the clutch throw-out bearing? If so, is it worthwhile to have the TOB replaced at the time this service is done, or should I just leave well enough alone? There have been no issues with the clutch. On my previous vehicle (Saturn SC-2) I replaced the clutch at 170K miles and 370K miles.

[MJones_RB]

The Toyota service manual instructs the mechanic to lift the engine off the mounts in order to change the spark plugs, but it's been proven that it's not completely necessary.

As for the TOB, since you are doing the 120k might as well change it out for your own peace of mind. Not sure if they'll install an aftermarket one for you, probably just replace it with the Toyota part. Still, it's a heavy wear item so better than nothing. Also the clutch fork.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by trvth

My 2015 is due for its 120,000 mile service later this week. This car is lightly modified with bolt-ons, and runs E85 during the summers. Autocross, but no track (yet).

The 120K-mile service includes lifting the engine to replace the spark plugs. Does this work provide easy access to the clutch throw-out bearing? If so, is it worthwhile to have the TOB replaced at the time this service is done, or should I just leave well enough alone? There have been no issues with the clutch. On my previous vehicle (Saturn SC-2) I replaced the clutch at 170K miles and 370K miles.

I don't believe lifting the engine is going to give easier access to the TOB.

I'd suggest you check around on the forum and see if the NEW TOB was put in the 2015 model year cars.


humfrz

[BigTuna]

To answer your question: No, it does not give easy access to the TOB.

In the manual, "lifting" the engine only refers to unbolting the mounts, and jacking up the engine a little bit. To get to the release bearing/TOB, the engine and transmission need to be separated, and one of them pulled out. If your TOB isn't making any noise, it may not be worth it to have it done as there is no issue.

To me, if you were going to be separating the engine and gearbox anyway, I'd replace the clutch at the same time.

[trvth]

Thanks for the quick replies. I imagined that the engine and gearbox would be separated, but I can believe that they're not. In that case, I assume there's no benefit to trying to combine this service. I'll wait for indications of a problem before I take any action.

For anyone interested, my forum search indicates that the 2017 is the first model year with the updated TOB. My 2015 has the older part.

[Tcoat]

The 2015s still used the old part number TOB. I would have it changed now when it is cheap and easy. No need to change the fork though. No doubt they will put any part you hand them into it since you are paying for the job.

[trvth]

I'm waiting to hear back from the service manager with a quote for the extra cost of replacing the TOB during this service. I'll decide based on that cost (and I'll try to remember to post an update here).

[FR-Sky]

2015 120k miles already??
My TOB die on me when it is 45k miles. (Well, I tracked multiple times.)
If u don't have the TOB symptom then I don't think u need to change it, YET.

[trvth]

They came back and quoted an insane price to replace the TOB (like $900), so we'll just stick to the scheduled service.

Thanks again.


Edit: Yeah, my 4-year purchase anniversary is the 16th of this month. I'm averaging almost exactly 30,000 miles per year. I have a 28-mile commute each way, and I like to drive my FR-S

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by trvth

They came back and quoted an insane price to replace the TOB (like $900), so we'll just stick to the scheduled service.

Thanks again.


Edit: Yeah, my 4-year purchase anniversary is the 16th of this month. I'm averaging almost exactly 30,000 miles per year. I have a 28-mile commute each way, and I like to drive my FR-S

$900??? For just the TOB??? I had my whole clutch and flywheel done for $1200 and that is the Canadian price which is about 20% more than the US. There are guys here that had just the TOB done for under $200. They are nuts.
For around $200 it is a worthwhile change. For $900 I would tell them to stick it up their tranny snout.

[rice_classic]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

$900??? For just the TOB??? I had my whole clutch and flywheel done for $1200 and that is the Canadian price which is about 20% more than the US. There are guys here that had just the TOB done for under $200. They are nuts.
For around $200 it is a worthwhile change. For $900 I would tell them to stick it up their tranny snout.

I did my own TOB - took me around 8 hours because the car was new to me (and Toyota doesn't honor their warranties) so I had to learn a bunch of stuff. I don't charge myself $130/hr though. Maybe I should!


To the OP: Dealers don't have a pricing model for "while-you're-in-there" type of work. They do everything by the book time and part markup. Doing a TOB requires the removal and installment of the transmission - that's not cheap. So to Tcoat's point - you're quoted 900$ to do the TOB and he got his TOB/Clutch/Flywheel done for $1200 -- I think the first $800 in either situation is the cost of labor and $400 difference is the cost difference in parts and their mark up.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by rice_classic

I did my own TOB - took me around 8 hours because the car was new to me (and Toyota doesn't honor their warranties) so I had to learn a bunch of stuff. I don't charge myself $130/hr though. Maybe I should!


To the OP: Dealers don't have a pricing model for "while-you're-in-there" type of work. They do everything by the book time and part markup. Doing a TOB requires the removal and installment of the transmission - that's not cheap. So to Tcoat's point - you're quoted 900$ to do the TOB and he got his TOB/Clutch/Flywheel done for $1200 -- I think the first $800 in either situation is the cost of labor and $400 difference is the cost difference in parts and their mark up.

A TOB change in an equipped shop is a 2 or worst case 3 hour job. Even at the normal shop rate of around $130 an hour it should not come anywhere near $900.
Mine cost so much because there was so much damage done when the bearing melted down.

[extrashaky]

Originally Posted by trvth

They came back and quoted an insane price to replace the TOB (like $900), so we'll just stick to the scheduled service.

Originally Posted by Tcoat

$900??? For just the TOB??? I had my whole clutch and flywheel done for $1200 and that is the Canadian price which is about 20% more than the US. There are guys here that had just the TOB done for under $200. They are nuts.

The bulk of the dealer clutch quote is labor. Just doing the TOB would likely be quoted at the same (book) amount of labor (or within an hour of it) as doing the entire clutch kit.

My local dealer quoted me $1400 for the whole thing. The best other quote I could find was $1000 and turned out to be within walking distance of my house. I had resolved to do it myself, then read the procedure and said, fuck it, let a local pro make some money. It's not like there's anything special about a clutch that really requires any special dealer expertise.

I figure if you're gonna do the bearing, you might as well do the whole kit while the transmission is pulled rather than have to pull it all again a year later. Save $300 now to pay another $800 in labor next year? No thanks.

[extrashaky]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

A TOB change in an equipped shop is a 2 or worst case 3 hour job.

But how long it actually takes /= the hours charged.