Clutch release fork-not the hydraulics!

I posted about a month ago about my 2002 Tacoma 4cyl, manual 5sp, suddenly not being able to shift into gear. All indications were the hydraulics. I replaced both master and slave and was still having the issue. Re-bled the lines and this is when I found the REAL issue. The bar that the slave cylinder presses against (clutch release fork?) was broken. I have to believe it cracked slightly, preventing its proper operation and with the bleeding, it finally broke off.
So.... do I have to pull the trans to replace this $50 part? I had one guy tell me no and another says yes.
If I do need to pull the trans what other things should I replace while it is out?
260K, and I do not believe it has had any clutch work done at all (I will double check with previous owner)

 

I believe you do have to pull the trans. If you look under your truck theres a little rubber boot on the drivers side the transmission bell housing. Behind this boot is a little square cutout in the housing which leads to the clutch release fork.

 

Bump any updates to this? Considering doing the same since I'm replacing my clutch at 256k

 

If Toyota had a access plate you could replace the fork with it all together .

I suppose in theory if one was real good working with forceps you could reinstall the clutch release bearing clips.

I am not that good so I need to Get my fingers on those clips and be able to hold things in place with the other hand.

The klutz I am I would need to pull things apart

 

If your doing the clutch and the fork is still original after my experience I'd replace the fork while your in there, its like a $30-40 part. A few months ago I replaced my clutch in preparation for a Moab trip, I didn't even think about the fork, in all my years of manual trans vehicles I've never had an issue with a fork. Needless to say we set out on the road to Moab and less than 2 hrs into the trip my clutch quit releasing, there was no visible sign of leaking so we assumed it was the master. No big deal, hit up oreillys for a master, threw it in in the lot and nothing changed. We spent 2+ hours dickin with it because we thought we just weren't getting the air out of it before we popped the rubber out of the bell housing and noticed the fork was dam near snapped in two. Ended up dumping the truck off at a relative of a friends house on the way and riding shotgun with someone for the trip. I can say though its alot quicker dropping the tranny the second time while things are still fresh on your mind.

 

Then thinking some more it would be impossible to even get the fork into the bell housing in any case!!!

 

Ya, the fork won't fit through the hole in the bell housing even if you figured out a way to lineup the clips and whatnot. That's why id say just replace it while your in there the first time if you got high miles. They're just a cheap piece of stamped steel, not much girth to them