Please help - need place/price on clutch install

[NCpaj]

Well i finally got my new clutch, one of my mates was going to help me put it in (he is a transmission meachinic) but his busy for the next two weeks. Im planning to go away on a trip with a mate this w'end so i have a few questions.

1. Is putting a clutch that hard/ what tools will i need?

2.I ve been quoted from $250 - $420 to have it put in (i allready have the clutch), if you guys know any one who could do it cheaper please shout out (im on the gold coast)

Thanks heaps

[runnin4life]

well my mechanic who is a bit exy
charged me a smidgen under $400 (thats a 6 hours )
so i wouldnt pay much more than that for labour unless they are a really really good mechanic

not sure if your clutch kit comes with a spigot bearing

my mech said they dont always need one (i did)
but it would safe to have one handy if you do it ur self so you dont have to down tools to go and get one

and im not sure if its nesasery(sp?) but you may need the fly wheel machined i had to for my clutch and the mech got it done for $60 including gst

im in sydney so cant help with any good places but this might give you an idea when getting a price etc

cheers
elliot

[matthewK]

mate honestly 250-450 is pritty cheap simply because of all the crap ya have to undo to get to the clutch ,


probly could do yourself with a mate
decent car stands, floor jack
sockets,few spanners, general tools i guess

iv only had to replace one clutch in the old afla romeo and i paid someone to do the jackaroo even then they charged 300


when ya do pull it apart just look at the fly wheel for scorching and so fourth,

anything pulled out should go back in the same way

[hillbilly]

For $250 you may as well pay someone else to do it.. Come to think it
for $400 you may as well get someone else to do it.
A pain in the ar7e job to do. Make sure you have all the bits you need.
Throw out bearing
Spiggot bearing
clutch aligning tool
Torque wrench
loctite
and a shite load of patience.
Good luck

[chimpboy]

Yep, if someone is going to do it for $250 then unless you have NO money and LOTS of spare time that's worth it... and they'll be doing it on a hoist, not lying on their back waiting for a few hundred kilos of metal to land on their face, which is what you'd have to do.

[lay80n]

Considering some places i have worked for change upwards of $90 an hour, that quote isnt that bad. Always machine a flywheel when you replace the clutch, and its usually a good idea to replace spigot bearing while you are there. Saves doing it later.
Layto....

[murcod]

I've got a new clutch lying around in the room here and it specifies that flywheel must be machined for the clutch warranty to be valid. I'll be paying someone to change mine when the time comes- it's not the easiest job even when you know what you're doing.

A guy at work had the one done on his Commondore the other week and the bill was well over $800 including parts from memory.

[benhl]

Pay for it to be done - pain in the arse job to do in the driveway. IF your are doing it yourself GET A CLUTCH ALIGNMENT TOOL, i was told nah dont worry about it do it by feel, untill the bastard thing wouldn't line up when all back together and it all had to come out again and then get the tool and do it all again FUN FUN FUN!! Happy Days doing it in the dark too!!

As above pay for someone else to do it - i will be next time.

[GQ Bear]

I've done it twice now on GQ patrols, different vehicles, and I've sworn never to do it again

pay someone no matter what it costs(within reason)

if ya can get it done for 250, go for it. make sure he guarantees his labour tho, it sounds awefully cheap to me.

replace spiggot bearing, costs about $5 from bursons, last thing you want to do is have to go thru it all again for a 5 buck part.

both times i've done it was to replace thrust bearing, but likewise with spiggott, when ur in there replace the lot. If your gonna machine flywheel (i just used a bit of emery paper as there was no signs of scoring) it might pay to replace main seal on engine aswell whilst your there. going by ur mechanics rates it'll only cost another $20 plus the seal

[+dj_hansen+]

mate of mine had his done for $800 the other day but definately replace your rear main engine seal, and front gearbox seal while your there, a clutch kit should include the sigot and thrust bearings, and getting flywheel machined is a good idea...

[NCpaj]

Hey thaks guys for the replys.

if ya can get it done for 250, go for it. make sure he guarantees his labour tho, it sounds awefully cheap to me.

yeah ive been goign to this place for bout 2yrs now and they are good mechanincs and they normally knock a bit of the price off.

Also when the clutch is being installed the flywheel will be machined and im getting a new sigot bearing too.

so all fingers crossed ill be driving this weekend