View Full Version : Worth it to get a new clutch..?
unadilla66
03-09-2023, 10:47 AM
'07 2-door hatch, 5sp, 195k.
Clutch is slipping after (yes, stupidly..) helping a neighbor pull his stuck car out of a snowbank. Should've said 'no', but I didn't- stopped the second I smelled it burning. Anyway. Driveable if I baby it and don't try to accelerate too fast. Car is pretty long-in-the-tooth, but still runs about as well as it ever has. Local mech's over-the-phone-estimate for putting in a new clutch is $1000-1600... Trying to decide if it's worth it...
Neinris
03-09-2023, 12:25 PM
You don't have any friends that are mechanically incline whom can help you install a new clutch/disc, for the nominal fee of beer and pizza? :redface:
bronsin
03-09-2023, 02:24 PM
Like many things in life it’s a crapshoot. But if there’s nothing else wrong with the car and it’s been maintained I would do it.
I grew up in Cobleskill is there anywhere near where you are?
unadilla66
03-09-2023, 06:56 PM
You don't have any friends that are mechanically incline whom can help you install a new clutch/disc, for the nominal fee of beer and pizza? :redface:
Ah, I used up my 'credits' with the friend who has a lift, etc, late last fall when he helped me do the front control arms. What seemed like it would be a quick couple hour job turned into 2 days when the captive nut inside the subframe broke loose... swearing, sawing, welding.... Didn't help that it was freezing cold, too. But I suppose if I can baby it through the summer (and help said friend build his new house..) I may accrue some more credits...
unadilla66
03-09-2023, 06:56 PM
Like many things in life it’s a crapshoot. But if there’s nothing else wrong with the car and it’s been maintained I would do it.
I grew up in Cobleskill is there anywhere near where you are?
There's a mech in Oneonta who's decent.
Neinris
03-09-2023, 08:08 PM
There's a mech in Oneonta who's decent.
I think what he's trying to say is, he's willing to help you out.
unadilla66
03-09-2023, 11:42 PM
I think what he's trying to say is, he's willing to help you out.
Ah, I see! Cobbleskill is a bit of a ways away..
bronsin
03-10-2023, 08:51 AM
As I recall Unadilla is on route seven near Binghamton. I only went down route seven as far as Oneonta never got to Unadilla.
unadilla66
03-10-2023, 09:45 AM
As I recall Unadilla is on route seven near Binghamton. I only went down route seven as far as Oneonta never got to Unadilla.
17m or so west of Oneonta. Pretty little town, but quite depressed (and sometimes 'depressing', especially this time of year..!).
bronsin
03-10-2023, 03:09 PM
Cobleskill schedule of events
April 1 October 1
Trout fishing. Canoe paddling on the Schoharie creek. Boating on Cooperstown lake. Bicycle riding.
October 1 February 29. Small game hunting. Bow hunting for deer. Shotgun season for deer. Skiing. Snowshoeing. Cross country skiing.
Month of March. No hunting no fishing no skiing no nothing. Well maybe skiing. The dead month. Easily the most depressing month!
komichal
03-14-2023, 04:58 AM
Local car service guy did it for me for 450 USD (including quality clutch set and everything).
But it is a lot of work so I guess the cost of labor is a lot higher in your case. Still seem a bit overpriced though.
remcafee
03-15-2023, 12:49 AM
depends on your car too, is it rusty? does it have anything broken? transmission leaks? there is no "menu" price when it comes to vehicle repairs
bronsin
03-15-2023, 05:03 AM
Again, if the car has been maintained, it has no other outstanding issues. I would do the work if it’s $1000 even. You have to ask yourself how much wood another car be? Even if it were used? You d have to correct all the problems with that one!
mirageman
03-18-2023, 10:29 AM
I bought my '09 Yaris sedan 5 speed with just over 16k miles on it and it had the common shudder problem. Intentionally burning the clutch seemed to help for a few days, hehe... of course I knew I'd be changing the clutch eventually so I didn't care. Anyway, I got the Valeo clutch set from Autozone at a very decent price, I think it was $170. I had my flywheel resurfaced (make SURE whoever does it keeps the critical step height right) by a local machine shop guy. I did the job slowly myself and can tell you I was VERY happy with the result. It has been over 100k miles since installation and no slips, no shudder. The oem clutch was not good. If you have no leaks, no or little oil burning, and the body is not shameful, I would definitely put in a new clutch.
esse10
03-22-2023, 03:12 PM
'07 2-door hatch, 5sp, 195k.
Clutch is slipping after (yes, stupidly..) helping a neighbor pull his stuck car out of a snowbank. Should've said 'no', but I didn't- stopped the second I smelled it burning. Anyway. Driveable if I baby it and don't try to accelerate too fast. Car is pretty long-in-the-tooth, but still runs about as well as it ever has. Local mech's over-the-phone-estimate for putting in a new clutch is $1000-1600... Trying to decide if it's worth it...
I just replaced mine at the end of last year. it's an easy job and you don't need a lift. The tranny is not that heavy and can be lifted in/out by one person. I did it by myself twice with no jack and no lift. it only weighs about 70-80 pounds. The clutch kit was under $200 i believe. From the symptoms you describe it looks like the throw-out bearing is bad on yours, might as well replace the clutch plate and pressure plate too.
matt4x4
05-11-2023, 01:30 AM
Remember also, there are DIY garages around, I noticed a new one the other day but I knew of the original
thats been around for 20 yrs. Used it twice. Those places have bays with lifts, hand tools, power tools, special tools, welders and maybe even paint stuff and booths.
There even might be a guy there that works out of the diy garage, independent of the garage, as his own biz.
He/she may be able to help you, as an extra hand only, not to baby sit coz his time is $. Thats if they're available, maybe slip him a 20, giving tid bits of advice.
----
Well if the previous post said its easy, I believe ya.
Any tips or tricks? or its just straight forward!
Is there an alignment tool for the clutch, or is it included in the kit or am I totally off. I watch a lot of repair shows on cable, now YT but trucks, jeeps and 4wd stuff.
I would buy a hd clutch, not a racing clutch because I know I need better clutch action on my part. Just a month driving stick, always been automatic but learned on stick and that knowledge never went away. Still stall it sometimes, I seem to have to rev it more, for whatever movement of clutch action I am doing.
sh0rtlife
05-12-2023, 12:27 AM
hell i am a tiny independent and will work on anything so long as someones throwing coin at me...and typicaly speaking ill undercut ANY shop labor by 50% and then use my discounts to further save someone coin on parts
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