To have a dealer put in a new clutch for you.

I've been reading some of these post of when things don't go right and they are giving me the chills. People pulling and putting in trannies over and over because of clutch issues.

I currently have a stock 1990 GTA with 74K, so this is probably the first time for this car to get a clutch job. I plan on using a Centerforce DF and other high quality parts.

Unfortunately, you only see the failures in these forums. People don't post "I put in a new clutch and it worked great".

Could I get a show of hands, of who would pay the dealer $382 in labor vs. who would do it theirself?

RB, I know what you answer is! I hope you aren't dissappointed with me, but I read these post and get very worried about doing it myself.

 

I would definately do it myself. I helped a friend do it in a 93 Sonoma and it was a pain, but well worth the effort and the knowledge learned. If you don't have to drive your car everyday, then try to do as much as you can.

 

Shop around. Never have a dealer put in an aftermarket part.

 

The dealer's labor price is very close to the local shops out here. But for some reason, they want $85 to resurface the flywheel. I can buy a new one on ebay for less than that! What are they thinking???

 

Gladstoneiroc,

Forgot to mention - I have a Saturn for a daily driver, so you are right that I can take my time with it.

 

The best part of owning multiple cars is being able to drive and work on the other. The downside is upkeep on two. I wouldn't pay much more than 20$ to get a flywheel resurfaced.

 

I would certainly not pay that much.

A flywheel re-surface is $20-35 depending on who does it and how fast you want it. The only place I've used around here for that is Don's Crankshaft, on Liberty. I don't recall what it cost but it seemed reasonable. Lowest bid on something like that isn't important, I'll pay a couple of extra coins if I can be assured it's getting done right.

I would not buy some low-bid flywheel off ebay. Liable to be cast from chinesium, maybe with a small alloy component of indonesium or malaysium. Nothing I would want whirling around at 6000 RPM 5" from my right ankle, I can assure you. Keep in mind, you have the best components GM ever put into one of these cars, for the most part; I'd make every effort to re-use them, or buy only replacement things that are better, not the cheapest thing i can find that says it will fit. Buying a cheeeepo part and then paying out the rectum for somebody else's (probably not very meticulous) labor is not the right combination of wise expenditure allocation.

If you do it right, you won't have any trouble. The problems you see on this board are usually the result of wrong installation, overlooking something important somewhere; not issues with the parts.

 

You have a spare car. That pretty much eliminates the downsides of doing it yourself. You'll save $300+ and you'll learn a bit about how the clutch actually works in the process. Read up a little bit, and look at the throwout bearing pics so that you don't put it on wrong (the most common mistake for T-5 clutch jobs) and it should be a piece of cake.


FWIW I wouldn't pay the dealer to do ANYTHING to my car. The price is too high and the skill level is too low.

 

yeah with having another car to drive while the other is down go for it just get a manual on it and go for it step by step or find a buddy that knows how to do it and have him give you a hand so you get the experience i would definately not pay that much for the dealer just for labor ...

 

Oh I've read and read. That's the problem. I read about other people's horror stories and I get cold feet.

 

LOL. I never thought about it like that though, kinda scary. I think i paid like $20 to have mine resurfaced at a reputetable (sp?) shop by me

 

Here are a few I am watching. They appear to be legit:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWA%3AIT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWA%3AIT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWA%3AIT

Some of these are drilled for an 11" clutch. Would it be a good idea to upsize the clutch, or just stick with 10.5"? Centerforce does make an 11" clutch that sounds perfect for these flywheels.

If you guys think I should just stick with what's on there, I'll track down a cheaper place to re-surface. But these prices on ebay make you almost want to get a new one.

 

One more thing. Would this be the right time to upgrade to an aluminum drive shaft? Since I'm under the car already...

 

anytime your under the car its a good time to upgrade anything you can afford at the time in my opinion anyway .......

 

Of those, the only one that will fit your car, is the first one. The 2nd is for 2-piece rear main seal, and both the 2nd and the 3rd are 14" diameter. The starter for a 14" (168 tooth) one won't work without significant modification. However, the first one has had an outrageous amount of metal drilled off of it on one side; doesn't look to me like factory balancing; looks like somebody used it to balance an out-of-balance motor, instead of correctly balancng the motor and then using a correctly balanced flywheel. That one interestingly enough is from where I used to live, BTW, in north San Diego County.

But if you can get it for less than $100 or so, balancing is only $30-40, so it's not too hard to get it trued back up, if it needs it.

The aluminum drive shaft would be good, if you don't already have that. It's real easy to put in.... essentially effortless, if you already have the other one out.

 

Ha,

Hesperia is where my dad lives. If It doesn't work I can have my dad deal with him

Stupid place to live as far as I'm concered. High desert.

Here is the email I got back from him:

HI DON
This flywheel will work on your 305 if it's external balanced & it should be
if it's a 1990 engine. Now about your clutch are you useing a 10 1/2" disc?
if so this flywheel should work. This flywheel was ordered from a GM hi
performance catalog & I payed over $300.00 for it. It's brand new
Thanks
Gerald

 

Wait a minute, Hesperia is in San Bernardino county - top of the Cahon (sp?) pass on I-15 on the way to Vegas. San Diego County is over 100 miles to the south.

I say we take a trip to CA just to get our directions straight I'm getting tired of this humid sticky stuff.

 

I think I'll pass on buying a flywheel and resurface mine. I hope it isn't too bad.

Seems like I'll just get into trouble trying to buy a new one already surfaced, and there are pros and cons to getting a heavy vs. light one.

 

A local (non chain) parts store surfaces flywheels here for $25, a larger service center/supplier here $35 and If I wanted it reballanced Gary at the crank shop $45-$60. Of course this isnt Ohio but you still shouldent pay more then $40 or so to have a surface done.

The tales of horror around the board are 99% installer error 1% would be a true part failure.

Install the clutch yourself, its fairly easy and if you follow all the steps, tq it down correctly, install a new pilot bushing or bearing and properly install the throw out bearing you wont have any problems.

 

Thanks SSC for the vote of confidence.

Robert (or anyone else),

Please tell me I (impulse) bought the correct aluminum driveshaft today on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWN%3AIT

It sure looks purdy. Do you guys think I should polish it before putting it in? Someone else did and it looked nice, but it would be the only nice thing under the car for now. It'll distract attention from the soon-to-be-replace rusty botch-repair welded exhaust currently under the car.

Edit: ****-I'm dead. It says from 93-02 and I have a 90. Wife is going to kill me.

 

no, youll be ok. that driveshaft will fit 700R4, T-5, 4L60E, T-56

 

Yes it will work, it's the same one I had in my car while it still had the T-5, and now of course it also works with the T-56.

 

OBTW I wouldn't bother with polishing it, myself; but if you do, clear-coat it with wheel clear coat, to keep it that way.