Toyota R150F 5-Speed
Problems and Rebuild Cost

The R150F is the reason a lot of people still hunt for a manual third-gen 4Runner or first-gen V6 Tacoma. It is a stout, simple 5-speed that lasts a long time with clean oil and a healthy clutch.

Most R150Fs we see on the bench were not killed by the design. They were killed by low or wrong oil, a clutch that was dragging for years, or a shifter so sloppy that the owner was half-engaging gears. A lot of "transmission problems" on these trucks are really clutch hydraulics.

Common Complaints, Ranked

Rule Out the Clutch Hydraulics First

This is the one that costs people the most money. The 5VZ trucks use a hydraulic clutch: a master cylinder on the firewall, a line, and an external slave cylinder on the bellhousing pushing a release fork. When the master or slave starts bypassing internally, or the line has air, the clutch never fully releases. The trans then grinds going into gear at a stop and the owner blames the synchros.

The test is simple. With the engine running and the truck stopped, push the pedal to the floor and wait five seconds. If it still grinds going into reverse or 1st, or the truck creeps, the clutch is dragging. Look for fluid at the slave boot or a pedal that sinks. Bleed it properly before anything else. Our clutch bleeding guide and slave cylinder guide cover the details.

If the trans is coming out anyway, do the clutch, release bearing, pilot bearing and slave at the same time.

Synchro Grind and 5th Gear Trouble

Synchro wear on the R150F usually shows up first on the 2-3 shift and on 5th. A grind on a quick upshift that goes away if you slow the shift down is classic blocking ring wear. A notchy shift that clears up once warm is common and often improves with the right oil. A grind that is there hot or cold, fast or slow, is worn rings or worn sleeve teeth.

Fifth gear gets the long highway miles. A 5th that grinds going in, or a truck that slips out of 5th on a long downhill, usually means the 5th synchro ring, sleeve or fork is worn. That is a rebuild item. While you are in there, check the 5th fork and every other fork for worn pads. Our synchro wear guide and shift fork wear guide walk through what to measure.

Popping out of gear

Before you blame the gears, check the engine and transmission mounts. A collapsed driver-side engine mount or a tired rear trans mount lets the drivetrain rock under decel, and that can pull the shifter out of gear on its own. If the mounts are good and it still jumps out, the fork pads or the engagement teeth are worn and the box needs to come apart.

The Sloppy Shifter Fix

If the lever wobbles around in gear, feels vague finding the gates, or the boot area clunks, that is almost always the shift lever seat and bushing under the boot, not the transmission. The plastic seat wears and the lever grease dries out. Pull the boots, pull the lever, replace the seat and bushing, re-grease it, and the shifter feels new. It is a driveway job with no trans removal. See our shifter bushing guide.

Bearing Whine

A whine or growl in neutral with the clutch out that goes quiet when you push the pedal in is the input shaft bearing or front countershaft bearing. A noise that only appears when you push the pedal in is the release bearing or pilot bearing, not the trans. A whine that changes gear to gear under load points at countershaft bearings or worn gear teeth. Our countershaft bearing guide has more.

R150F vs R150 vs W59: Which Do You Have?

• R150F is the four-wheel-drive version. The transfer case bolts directly to the back of the trans, and you will see the transfer case shifter next to the main shifter.
• R150 is the two-wheel-drive version, with a tailhousing and a driveshaft coming straight out the back.
• W59 is a lighter 5-speed found in many two-wheel-drive four-cylinder trucks of the same era. Parts do not cross over with the R150, and the gears are not as strong.

Check the identification tag or casting numbers on the case and the original build info before you order a kit.

What Gear Oil It Takes

Toyota's service literature for these trucks calls for 75W-90 gear oil, and lists GL-4 or GL-5 as acceptable. Many shops run a quality GL-4, or a GL-5 that is specifically labeled safe for yellow metals, because of the brass synchro rings. Fill it to the bottom of the fill plug hole on level ground, and always break the fill plug loose before you pull the drain plug. Check your owner's manual or service manual for the exact capacity and spec for your year. Our GL-4 vs GL-5 explainer covers why it matters. The transfer case on the R150F has its own oil and its own fill and drain plugs.

What It Costs

Ranges are ballpark. Used R150Fs hold their value and usually carry the same wear as yours. Fix the cheap stuff first (oil, clutch hydraulics, shifter bushing, mounts). If it still grinds hot and cold or whines in neutral, a rebuild is usually the better buy than a used unit with no history. For the later 6-speed and the four-cylinder boxes, see our Tacoma and 4Runner manual transmission guide.

Shop our rebuild kits, hard parts and gear oil and fluids. Our sister store CoreTransmissionParts.com carries transmission parts as well. If the mounts are part of the problem on a two-wheel-drive 4Runner, the 1999-2002 4Runner 3.4L mount kit covers both engine mounts and the trans mount.

Tools that make it easier

The R150F bearings are pressed on. A bearing separator and puller set gets bearings off without damaging the gears, and a bearing race and seal driver set seats new bearings and seals. More in our tools section.

FAQ

Which trucks came with the R150F?

The R150F was used behind the 3.4L 5VZ-FE V6 in four-wheel-drive manual 1995.5-2004 Tacomas, 1996-2002 4Runners and V6 T100s. Two-wheel-drive versions used the R150. Many of these trucks have been swapped, so confirm with the case tag before ordering parts.

Why does my R150F grind into every gear at a stop?

That is usually the clutch not fully releasing, not the transmission. Check the clutch master and slave cylinders for leaks or internal bypass, bleed the system, and check the release fork pivot before blaming the synchros.

What gear oil does the R150F take?

Toyota calls for 75W-90 gear oil rated GL-4 or GL-5. Many shops prefer a GL-4 or a yellow-metal-safe GL-5 because of the brass synchro rings. Check your owner's or service manual for the exact capacity for your year.

How do I tell an R150F from a W59?

The R150F has the transfer case bolted to the back and is found in 4WD trucks. The W59 is a lighter 5-speed found in many 2WD four-cylinder trucks. Check the tag or casting numbers on the case, since engine type alone is not proof.