Clutch Time....????'s

[xpnsiv93]

OK..fellow SHOforum members...my clutch went out on me after only 2yrs and not alot of miles..so i dont wanna spend the $$$ to pay someone to do..considering the trans. just got replaced...so my questions are...
1) HOW hard is a clutch job..scale of 1-5 1easy>5Hard???..
2) DO u HAVE TO drop the subframe??
3) With it out..is this the best time to go ahead and do reinforced mounts?? and how difficult are they??
4) HOW hard are the balljoints to do??..are they pressed in??..
Im hoping that i dont have to drop the subframe and can do the clutch job myself and save bunches of $$ AGAIN!!! this is gonna decide what i want to do w/the car..so any advice is GREATLY APPRECIATED. i would also call myself a novice mechanic!!..THANX TO ALL WHO REPLY!!! also any considerations is appreciated
-nick-

 

[Ishodu]

The clutch job requires the sub frame to be dropped. You have to support the engine to do this. It would be very easy to change engine mounts at this time. The ball joints are a complete unit. You have to replace the whole lower control arm.

 

[xpnsiv93]

man..i dont like the sound of that...man that sux!!! thanx for the response man!!!

 

[marvsho17]

Nick, have you seen the clutch replacement video from shonut? If you can get a heated garage the motor mounts are a pretty simple swap. -I did mine this last march outside - - burrr. Check out Sdpat's diagram on the engine support. Looks like a **** of a job to do.

 

[TankII]

MAKE SURE YOU REPLACE THE CLUTCH FORK BUSHINGS!!!

Glad I got that off my chest...

Biggest and most overlooked source of premature clutch failure of a replacment clutch is the bushings that hold the clutch fork shaft straight. Replace these Teflon bushings, grease them during the install, and the clutch will last MUCH longer.

TankII

 

[Mike Kopstain]

Nick, Expert Auto, the shop we passed all of our business onto once we stopped doing work, has a spectactular deal. They replace the clutch for $450.00 labor, you supply the clutch.

Of course you know where to get the clutch from!

 

[AutoSHO]

$450 is a little steep, but it might be the area. When I had my red car's clutch done it was $300 labor, I supplied the clutch.

I recommend spending the $20 or so on Josh's clutch video, and then deciding if you can do it yourself. I had no problem doing it on my '92, and wouldn't hesitate to do it again. As long as you are careful it is not a hard job.

 

[marvsho17]

450.00 Is not bad at all. Anywhere around here wants at least 900.00-1000.00 installed with a stock clutch included.

 

[fricker66]

$450 sounds pretty fair given it's a recommended shop. It's certainly doable especially with the video and writeup from Josh @ SHONUT.

 

[xpnsiv93]

OK..A lil old...but..gotta ask...seen all responses..thanx guys..im still deciding!!!??? ...w/the subframe dropped...is it just the backside dropped or the WHOLE cradle..as in..take apart susp. parts and such and drop the cradle or is it just being able to roll the trans. out the back??!!! O' Im beginning NOT to like this car!!!...thanx!!!

 

[masho95]

I've heard of people not dropping the whole subframe... shoripper
But it's probably about the same to drop it all together... remove all the suspension from the subframe and drop. The first time can take you a while... after a few times doing it, it get's easier and easier... trust me
Dropped the tranny out, resealed the casehalves, and reinstalled in about 11 hrs... yeah I'm still slow with all my experience. Just can't get away from those nice long UNION breaks that I'm used to.