Unusually Stiff Clutch, Please help

[Lurch]

I am considering buying a 1991 Taurus SHO, it is in very good condition, but the clutch is very stiff and must be mashed firmly to the floor to allow shifting, at which point the shifter is much firmer than it feels it should be. The clutch does not slip, and once in gear there are no problems, and besides having to mash the clutch to the floor, there are no shifting problems at all. A mechanic said (from driving it) that the clutch needed to be replaced, but I am asking why? Could the engagment point not be adjusted? Might it be just a stretched cable? I have talked to a couple dealers who have said that when replacing the clutch, the flywheel will normally need to be resurfaced. This doesn't quite sound right to me, seeing as how I always believed the flywheel to be a gear/cog. Is this right or am I being fed a bunch of bull? BTW, the lowest estimate for clutch replacement is $550, lowest estimate for clutch and flywheel is $1100, and the dealer wants to sell the vehicle for $3800 tax/title/out the door. It has 75k miles, is this a good deal?

 

[jthomas68]

The stiff pedal is likely a sticky throw out bearing.It`s a cheap part,but is the same situation as a clutch job,the tranny has to come out.For the peda; feel,pull up of the clutch pedal,it will "click" if there is any play.The flywheel MUST be resurfaced everytime the clutch is changed.Surfacing should only be $40.You said a clutch job was $550,and a clutch job with flywheel resurface is $1100?You are getting hosed by the last one.A clutch job includes resufacinng the flywheel no matter where you go.Prices usually range from $500-$1200,the lowers is decent,the higher is just a mechanic scamming you.

 

[Lurch]

Sorry, I was unclear, the $1100 was for a new clutch and a new flywheel, they said that on the SHO's it is rare that the flywheel can be resurfaced, it almost always needs to be replaced.

 

[Machspeed]

My 91 had a stiff clutch when it was new. After a few months it really started to slip. If you get a new one get something other then an oem clutch.

 

[shojuan]

Seems to me a lot of people have had really good luck with OEM clutchs. Even with Fidanza flywheel, a lot seem to like it. I know I have 130,000 miles on my OEM clutch (replaced at 20,000 miles per recall, now at 150,000 miles). Whoever did your clutch did a **** poor job.

Rick

 

[RI-SHO]

Lurch:
Sorry, I was unclear, the $1100 was for a new clutch and a new flywheel, they said that on the SHO's it is rare that the flywheel can be resurfaced, it almost always needs to be replaced.

My flywheel was resurfaced when I replaced my clutch with a CenterForce Race clutch, total was about $890 for labor, $600 clutch, labor resurfacing etc. So with a cheaper $200-$300 OEM clutch it shouldnt go over $500-$600 total.

BTW what is the "best" TOB out there for the SHO? Because soon when I get my SHO back I want to fix the rear main seal leak, upgrade flywheel, and change the original TOB.

<small>[ October 05, 2002, 07:41 PM: Message edited by: RI-SHO ]</small>

 

[jthomas68]

Lurch:
Sorry, I was unclear, the $1100 was for a new clutch and a new flywheel, they said that on the SHO's it is rare that the flywheel can be resurfaced, it almost always needs to be replaced.

You,our new friend,are being fed a line of crap.The flywheel from the SHO can be resurfaced just as easily as any other car.And with those calculations,they tried to get you to pay $600 for a new flywheel.I`ll get you a lightened 18# one for $150 with a core.The ONLY way you are going to find a $600 SHO flywheel,stock or modified,is if they made it out of gold.

 

[RI-SHO]

Jeremy you forgot bling-bling Platinum .

 

[RStalveyARFF]

Dude, I charge $550 for a clutch install including the pressure plate, disc, throwout bearing, and installing a resurfaced flywheel. It is exactly like any other car. There's a certain thickness that you can get to before the clutch will slip in all conditions. Think of it like a 1 sided brake rotor. You can only turn that rotor so many times before there's too little meat. As for clutch operation, when the car is moving, the disc is firmly pressed between the pressure plate (bolted to the flywheel) and the flywheel (a flat surface area meant to grip the disc. When the clutch is in, the throwout bearing pushes the fingers on the pressure plate, and springs move to allow the disc to rotate freely between the plate and the flywheel. The only cog is wrapped around the outside for the starter to hook onto.

 

[shojuan]

RI-SHO:

BTW what is the "best" TOB out there for the SHO? Because soon when I get my SHO back I want to fix the rear main seal leak, upgrade flywheel, and change the original TOB.

Sorry I don't know the answer to this. I believe your two top choices are going to by the Grizzly Paw TOB and the ShoNut ceramic BB, synthetic grease TOB.

Rick

<small>[ October 06, 2002, 05:08 AM: Message edited by: shojuan ]</small>