How do you know what Clutch kit to choose?

Sorry if this has been covered. I've been trying to search and read through old posts, but I can't find one that clearly defines the difference between the different clutch stages and which one is the best for a 2012 Tacoma.

I think I want a stage 2 clutch, and I thought I wanted a URD clutch until I read this post https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-bearing-kit-bad-hydraulics-need-help.558627/

And multiple other posts that end with 25K miles later the chirping and squealing starting up again. I don't want a clutch kit that sounds like a chirping squirrel.

I've found multiple posts that mention LUK & Asin clutch kits, but how do I know which one is better than the other.

I just replaced my clutch about 10,000 miles ago, and now it sounds like chirping squealing dying wale. If I push my clutch pedal in though it instantly silences this non-sense noise! So the mechanic in Texas sucks, but before I shell out another $1,200 can you please guide me to some reading material that will help me decided what stage clutch I want and what clutch kit is best for my needs?

My tacoma is my daily driver. Home is Minnesota, but I've been pulling a 30 foot travel trailer for 5 years all around this country. One yearI even put an 8 foot truck camper on the back of this little taco for 6 months. I drive down jacked up dirt roads and whenever the parking lot engineers inconvenience my life I drive over their dividing curbs at will on the regular.

So do I just call up AutoZone and order a stage 2, or what is the best stage 2 clutch for that type of Tacoma ownership and driving style?

Thanks in advance for your time, advice and help.

 

There isn’t a lot you can do about the chirp if you keep stock type parts.
Clutchmaster makes a kit that many have reported good results with.
https://clutchmasters.com/i-30500975-n16078-h-toyota-tacoma-and-fj-cruiser-6-speed-ra60-ra61.html

As for what type clutch, a lot depends on what you intend to use the truck for?
Are you rock crawling, off-roaring, or racing the truck?

Can you tell us why you want a “better” clutch?
And do you plane to do an accumulator delete in the process?
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/mt-accumulator-delete-mod-adm-and-bs-thread.568303/

Not all clutches are equal. Even the ones that are labeled “stage 1/2/3”
Some bite hard and fast (not very desirable for everyday stop and go), while other allow for a bit more “slip” and are more forgiving on slow low rpm starts. (not the correct term)

 

Aisin and LUK are both great quality OEM's. Cant go wrong with either. I have 50k miles on my Aisin kit and its just now faintly starting to chirp from the TO bearing. When I do the clutch again, ill probably do the same kit with an extra heavy URD flywheel

 

Thanks for providing that information. An accumulator delete sounds like something I should do, but I never knew that was a thing until you mentioned it haha.

As for how I use my truck. Its my daily driver. I don absolutely NO rock crawling and have no intentions of doing so. However, I do a ton of off roading, and spend more time driving down jacked up dirt roads than I do on pavement. I also tow 30 foot travel trailer on a regular basis that clocks in around 5,000 pounds, and as soon as I can find another sun lite 690 truck camper that will be the new camper of choice.

In my circle of friends (which are not mechanic or gearheards) they all are recommending I get a stage 2 clutch because of how much backcountry camping I do ..do, but I just don't know the difference and to be honest I'm a bit gun shy about doing any clutch.

Unfortunately, I ABSOLUTELY HAVE TOO, because 10,000 miles ago my clutch went out while I was in Texas, and I'm pretty sure the Mechanic ripped me off. Charged me $1,200, and now my truck sounds like an absolute pile of sh**.

BUT if i push in the clutch the squeaking instantly goes away. Something is hitting and something is making a lot of noise. The first mechanic I brought it to the other day said, "Oh that's just a belt we can replace that simple enough." But when I showed him that pushing in my clutch stops that noise all together he looked dumbfounded and gave me no confidence in having him do thework.

So now I am just looking to get the right clutch for my "use" of my tacoma and be done with this nightmare. I don't want to spend the money, but I don't want a truck that sounds like a squirrel getting raped by an elephant either. And if I hadn't found that post on URD's clutch I would have bought that one, but it sounds like URD's clutch's are only an 85% solution.

 

If you are going to have the clutch done again.
You probably should do it the best you can.
The throw out bearing design coupled with the lack a pilot bushing wasn’t the dust design.

You can read about more about it here.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/throw-out-bearing-chirping.480464/#post-14651394

See post #5 and #17. The guy in those post is a transmission technician.
I trust his word.