I'm looking at getting a Spec Stage 3 for x-mas, but the dilema is to do it myself or just have it done. How hard is it to do? I've heard of people doing it in 30 minutes. Isnt the tranny really heavy?
replacing clutch?
- Thread starter Fletch124
- Start date
30 minutes!!! they must be good.. I don't think that is going to happen in a supra though. Yellow13 and I and maybe others are going to swap out my clutch this saterday. I'll give more input after if needed.
In the movie i have about the 2003 gumball these guys change the clutch in a Koenisegg several times in just 30 minutes. My cousin said that at tx2k4 he helps some guys do it on a mk3 in 30 minutes.
Intresting. But if you know what you are doing, I am sure you can do it quick. Oh and I remember seeing the gumball, he bought a new VW or something just for the clutch i think...
30 minutes....I don't think so. Maybe if the engine/tranny was out of the car and you had power tools and a buddy, oh and the clutch fork came out right away.
Plan on a full day for your first time. Step-by-step, it really doesn't have much to it, but newbies tend to be a little tentative when working on their car and mounting the transmission tends to be a little towards the "brute force and ignorance" method of mechanicing...
Example: My first time installing the transmission, I huffed and puffed for about 3 hours trying to get the input shaft to line up with the pilot bearing. You can only hold the transmission in place for a few minutes, so each attempt would eventually be aborted and I'd start over again after a quick break. It took 3 hours for me to get pissed off enough to just wiggle/wam the transmission against the block. I was immediately rewarded with it slotting right in, while my buddy installed the bolts.
Example: My first time installing the transmission, I huffed and puffed for about 3 hours trying to get the input shaft to line up with the pilot bearing. You can only hold the transmission in place for a few minutes, so each attempt would eventually be aborted and I'd start over again after a quick break. It took 3 hours for me to get pissed off enough to just wiggle/wam the transmission against the block. I was immediately rewarded with it slotting right in, while my buddy installed the bolts.
Only things im worried about are fighting the tranny on and off the car. And unbolting the flywheel and rebolting it.
^^^^Exactly. Plan on a full day. The hardest parts are getting to all the tranny mount bolts, removing the tranny, removing the pilot bearing, mounting the tranny. Plan on buying pizza and beer for the buddy who is helping you. Don't try it alone.
Fletch124 said:
Flywheel bolts aren't bad at all. If you have an impact gun, they're a breeze. Otherwise you'll want to brace the freewheel against the block (with a strong screwdriver) to keep it from spinning while you break the 6 bolts free.
When you're installing the flywheel, you can just have someone hold a 3/4 (19mm) socket wrench on the crank pulley...
What do you think about having it done? There is a clutch specialty shop here in Reno. I will give them a call tomorrow and ask them a few questions.
I did a write up on installing the clutch on SF. But when I did it, the engine was out of the car. Here's the links:
Part One:
http://www.supraforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=307132
Part Two:
http://www.supraforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=307133
Part One:
http://www.supraforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=307132
Part Two:
http://www.supraforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=307133
Out here in Cali, you can count on between $800-1200 at a shop. I'm sure someone has a better range of cost, but I know a guy who just called me the other day to install his because those are the price range estimates that he got locally.Fletch124 said:
Fletch124 said:
Not much. I think it's a good opportunity to learn something and maybe donate a little blood to your car. Replacing a clutch is something you'll probably have the chance to do many times in the future (on various cars) and spending $250-$500 in labor each time isn't that appealing to me...
Whats worse (imho) is becoming dependent on shops to do your work. You're mod/restoration/repair budget will literally go twice as far if you learn to do it yourself...
ma71supraturbo said:
Very very true...but im more concerned on having it done right then having to do it again.
chriso said:
Is it that much now? Sheesh, frickin ridiculous. I don't blame the shops though -- they've got to pay a liveable wage to their mechanics, make the rent, maintain the lifts & tools, and pay the ever increasing insurance premiums...
Fletch124 said:
Clutches are pretty simple contraptions -- you can't really get it backwards and still have everything fit together. Just take your time; keep the flywheel and pressure plate surfaces clean, make sure you tighten all of the bolts, and follow the TSRM & online guides
Side note: I see you have a stage 2 right now -- is it old and slipping or something? My stage 2 held 350rwhp just fine.
ma71supraturbo said:
Yea, im mostly just worried about getting worked into a really tight corner,that would be super difficult to get out of.