airicwong

Hey guys...

Wanted your opinion on clutch installation. If it is the same price, would you go the dealership or a quality transmission shop to have your clutch replaced on a xb...thanks

superboxcarxb

i don't know, the dealership will probably just F it up. I would go to a shop since they specialize in it, instead of a dealership that does a little bit of everything.

airicwong

bump

Crippie

how about a DIY on clutch installs?! =o)

uber-xA-RS2

Be forewarned: DIY on a clutch install is a lot of hard work and labor and could be considered a PITA.

I did the clutch install on my xA and while I found it quite rewarding to say that I did it myself is was 2 days worth of tedious work dealing with some very heay components.

The transmission weights in at a good 90 pounds or more, the clutch and flywheel together are pushing 25 pounds, plus there is the task of removing the rear motor mounts and if you do not drop the subframe (like me) there is a lot of jockying to get things free and back in place.

Needless to say you must know what your doing and have the right tools to tackle it yourself.

Honestly though, I would do it again in a heartbeat, it was worth the effort and occasional pain.

dexter_5000

if the cost is the same dealership i've done the training for manual trans class. they may do a little of everything but they have all the oem parts right there if they do need something along with exact specs on what they need to torque bolts too.

airicwong

i've done a clutch before, and i will definately pay some one to do the next one on my daily driver...

itsme

i've put my clutch in myself and after doing it i would prolly have had someone do it for me instead cuzz da rear mount was a pain and then having to muscle the tranny back in was a pain too.....i had the tranny sit on my chest for like 10 or 20 min jsut so i could take a breather haha luckly da tranny is small.......but yea i would take it to a shop that does lives and breaths off of trany installs and rebuilds.......

cherryBox

i only go to the stealership if i HAVE TO.

I'm with uber, airic, and itsme - I've done enough clutches to never want to do one if I have a choice. sometimes a clutch just goes at the wrong time, and I have to do it myself, but a clutch on a trasversally mounted fwd is definitely worth it to pay for the install.

still wouldn't take it to a dealer

edit: hmm, looks like at least one dealership rep voted

Crippie

Hey all.. go this diy off of a b18... for you guys that have experience... would this be a good guide to follow?

http://www.c-speedracing.com/howto/b...tch/clutch.php

cherryBox

IMO, if you have the ability to follow that, you probably don't need to follow it.

What i mean is, I think that the only way that it makes sense is if you know what you're doing. I'm not trying to be mean, but at least three people in this thread have said they've done a clutch before, and that it's not something to take on. driveway clutch sucks.

THAT being said, you'd need a few jacks and an engine hoist to do it in the driveway. I think the steps in an xB would be (and correct me where i'm wrong)
0) memorize the bus schedules
1) take out the battery (.25h)
2) take out the intake (.25 - 1h)
3) jack, pull wheels, brakes, struts, pop the axles out (2h)
4) remove the starter (.5)
5) unhook the linkage (.25)
6) unhook tranny wiring (.25)
7) crack and spread the tranny (2h)
8) remove clutch (.5 if you get a good spread, 8h if not)
9) remove and resurface and reinstall flywheel (if clutch was not dead, you can just roughen it up with emery paper) (2h if you get a good spread, 12h if not)
10) install new clutch, align to spline shaft (1h if you get a good spread, 8-12h if not)
11) stick the tranny (this can be the toughest part, with the right tools and just the right luck, you could get it in 15min, but it could take you days and several different approaches. One thing i've done in the past is to gt four very long bolts with the right thread pattern and cut the heads off. I drive them into the engine block, and mount the tranny onto the ends and slide. you may have to have another person turning the flywheel to get the spline shaft in the right position)
12) reconnect the linkage (.5)
13)reconnect the tranny wiring (.25)
14) replace the starter (1h)
15) replace the axles, brakes, struts, and wheels (2h)
16) replace the intake (.25 - 1h)
17) replace the battery (.25h)
18) FILL THE TRANNY (.25h)
19) pray like hell and turn it over

my estimates are around 13.75h +, I think book is around 8, but that is with the right tools, pulling the engine and tranny completely, sticking it, and dropping it back in assembled. much, much easier if you have the resources.

*note: this outline is by no means actionable, just a 1000-mile view.

streetlethalxb

doin it yourself is my vote.. however; the dealership will do
the best job (given you dont get a newb tech) the main
problem being, if you dont use factory parts (which they
heavily mark up) they will not warranty the work (back to
gettin a newby tech, your f'd) if it does go bad.. a tranny or
private shop may not know your car in and out, but will most
likely install it correctly, its very simple to any tech that has some expierience and they will warranty the work, factory parts or not.

itsme

honestly a clutch job is a clutch job.......some are harder then others.......ours is way harder then a honda/integra tranny cuzz its more room in the engine bay and all da bolts are pretty much right there in plain sight........as for ours da rear mount is da hard thing.....hard to get to da bolts......and really hard to put em back on and torque it to spec.......all you can go buy is the old fashion ahhh thats tight enough deal........make sure not to strip da bolts ether or your just Sh*t out of luck........

SquadOneRS1

dang i agree with everyones input in here......that rear mount is a pain.....like no other. i rather do 10 Honda clutch job than the tC's clutch job cuz thats wut im currently doin on my tC..... but 2mrw ima lower the sub-frame to make it easier and use the trans jack at my werk. hopefully all is gooooood.