I was just quoted $575 locally for the clutch replacement (T-5) and flywheel resurfacing. Is that decent?

That'll come out to about $620 with tax. How hard would it be to do this myself?

 

With a free weekend, a few basic tools, and the assistance of this board and/or a manual, the clutch is something you can undertake yourself. The hardest part for me (and I'd never done this before) was getting the car up high enough to comfortably work. Do a search to find out what's involved before you throw out the $620.

The more you can complete yourself, the more you can smile with accomplishment. Pretty darned good feeling IMO .

JamesC

 

Yeah like the good feeling I got when I replaced my @%@#$#% front springs myself?

 

I figure I can @$$@#@ when I repair the problem myself, or I can @#%@@#% when I yank my wallet to pay for the repair. Either way, I cuss

JamesC

 

Very true.

So Centerforce Dual Friction and a new throwout bearing, plus the flywheel resurfacing, an alignment tool, and new poly trans mount. Oh, and about 4 quarts of Valvoline ATF fluid. Is that about it?

 

I put in a Centerforce II, which, IIRC, came with the TOB, pilot bearing, and alignment tool. Don't know about the DF. I swapped in a GM lightweight flywheel instead of doing a resurface.

JamesC

 

don't think you'll need ATF in your T5. Probably won't need new gear lube at all.

 

Some manuals called for gear lube (probably the older models), some, like my 85, called for ATF--I'm using Mobil 1. Check your manuel. If you haven't swapped for a while, might be a good time to do it.

JamesC

 

ATF, in a manual trans? whoa, i'm out of the loop...

 

i have done both and replacing a clutch is like changing a headlight compared to the front springs.

 

You and me to man. I laughed to myself when he said atf oin a manual, look whos laughing now hehe.

 

Well, I've got a little leak too, so I figured I'd change out the transmission seals while I was at it. Any other advice on which type of fluid?

 

I coulda sworn it should be 80W90 gear oil....
see what's in it, then replace as needed...
if it's red, and smells like your power steering fluid, use atf, if it's like THICK motor oil (same stuff as in your diff), use gear oil.

 

Just to avoid any confusion, this from Chilton's:

All 4-speed and 1982-84 5-speed manual transmissions, use only SAE 80W/90GL-5 gear lubricant (SAE 80W GL-5 in Canada).

1985-86 and 1988-92 5-speed manual transmissions use Dextron II automatic transmission fluid.

1987 5-speed manual transmissions use SAE 5W-30 manual transaxle oil.

JamesC

 

See at first I was under the impression that only
WC t5s use atf but now I see that non WC t5s use
atf also.

On the same note you stated that only wc t5s came with that
torx bolt you mentioned in some of your post James?
Is this correct?

In the haynes manual I have it says from 82-85
It reads 5 speeds use atf
4 speeds use gear oil.

Wonder if any t5s use gear oil at all.

 

GM waffled back and forth on their fluid specifications a couple of times. Don't use that as "gospel".

The actual parts themselves did not change between 84 & 85 (gear lube to ATF), or between 86 & 87 (ATF back to gear lube). Therefore their actual lubrication requirements didn't cange, either.

I suspect that what did change, was their compromise between warranty expense, and satisfying CAFE requirements.

In other words, either fluid will work; the gear lube will provide better durability, where the ATF will give better gas mileage.

My own choice in the 1st design T-5s has always been half-and-half synthetic gear lube such as Mobil 1, and ATF. I started using that in 4-speeds (T-10s and Muncies), and used it with good results for years and years.

The 2nd design T-5 has composition clutches on the blocker rings, whereas the 1st design had typical brass blockers. Regular non-synthetic gear lube MUST NOT be used in the 2nd design (88-up) T-5s.

I use the same half-and-half mix as described above in the 2nd design units as well, with excellent results.