Anyone change their own clutch?

[Down]

Have any of you changed your own clutch? If you did, do you have any tips, pointers, or any help you can give me? All and any info on this would be great, such as how long it took, what was involved, ect. I've never done this, so any help would be appreciated. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[hockeyman]

I replaced a clutch on my friends 97 3.8, and the whole job took the two of us about 2 1/2 hours.
There really isn't much to it, just take your time and remember to re-torque the flywheel bolts, pressure plate bolts, and trans to block bolts to GM specs.

Tips:
Replace the pilot bushing, slave cylinder, buy a clutch alignment tool for installation, have the flywheel turned, and when the job is done, replace the fluid inside of the trans. All of those tips do NOT have to be done, but it'll save the heartache in the long run.

On my 96 3.8L 5 spd, the torque specs were:
Flywheel bolts & trans-to-block bolts - 55 ft. lbs.
flywheel housing cover bolts - 75 in. lbs.
Pressure plate bolts - 15 ft. lbs. plus an additional 45 degrees
Actuator (slave) cyl nuts - 15 ft. lbs.

-Marc

[Down]

Thanks man, thats pretty much exactly I was asking for, thats going to help me out alot. How much did it cost you to resurface the flywheel? Could you do this with just jacks?

[hockeyman]

I used ramps to get the front of the car up. You can also use jack stands.
To get the flywheel resurfaced ran me $25. When you get everything apart, just run the flywheel to the nearest shop that turns them, and it should be done within 30 minutes (providing how busy they are).

-Marc

[ June 11, 2003: Message edited by: hockeyman ]</p>

[hawgs]

where in texas are you 'Down'?

[Down]

I'm in San Antonio...
Thanks for the help so far guys, any more help is appreciated....

[Bliggida]

Down if you want help from someone whose done it before, I'm in your town. And good chance I'm available. I work for Pepsi and lunch! :D

[Down]

Hey whats up Bliggida, Im the guy that e-mailed you about the nitrous, Jason's little brother?? Anywayz, you'll seriously help me if I buy you lunch? Hell I'll buy you lunch if you help me out! Just dont know when Im going to start to work on it. I'll let you know though for sure, later.... [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[camaro_speedemon]

It's not too hard, My dad and I did it in about 7 hours, I couldn't see how you could do it in 2 1/2 hours unless you've done it a lot, and with a lift. :eek: If I had to do it again, I probably could do it much quicker. The thing that held us up the most was the two bolts on the top of the tranny. Those little f*ckers are the biggest PITA, to put on and take off. Our socket kept on coming off. It probably took us a good 45 minutes-hour to take them off, and a good 30 minutes to get them back on.

Tips if you know anyone that has a lift, see if they will let you use it, I couldn't imagine trying to drop the tranny on jackstands, that would suck *** .

hockeyman: You say its a good idea to replace the tranny fluid but you don't have to do it. When I dropped my tranny, the fluid leaked out the back of it where the driveshaft went into the tranny. I should know, I wasn't expecting it to come out, and I took a shower in it. [img]graemlins/dunce.gif[/img]

[hockeyman]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by camaro_speedemon:
hockeyman: You say its a good idea to replace the tranny fluid but you don't have to do it. When I dropped my tranny, the fluid leaked out the back of it where the driveshaft went into the tranny. I should know, I wasn't expecting it to come out, and I took a shower in it. [img]graemlins/dunce.gif[/img] <hr></blockquote>

Yeah, when the trans is tilted back, fluid will pour out of the rear where the driveshaft fits. I learned that also by having a red shower :rolleyes:
Yes, I replaced my friends clutch in about 2 1/2 hours. I have two 24" socket extensions with a universal joint attaching them, and it reaches up to them two PITA bolts with ease. I don't have a lift, but the center of my garage drops down 2ft between the wheels, so when I get the car on jack stands, I have about 3 1/2 feet under the car to move around. :D And I have replaced numerous clutches in the past.

-Marc

[camaro_speedemon]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by hockeyman:


Yeah, when the trans is tilted back, fluid will pour out of the rear where the driveshaft fits. I learned that also by having a red shower :rolleyes:
Yes, I replaced my friends clutch in about 2 1/2 hours. I have two 24" socket extensions with a universal joint attaching them, and it reaches up to them two PITA bolts with ease. I don't have a lift, but the center of my garage drops down 2ft between the wheels, so when I get the car on jack stands, I have about 3 1/2 feet under the car to move around. :D And I have replaced numerous clutches in the past.

-Marc<hr></blockquote>

I had a huge a$$ extention so getting to it wasn't a problem, the problem was the socket kept sliding off the bolt. My dad had to hold the socket on while I used the impact gun to get the bolt off.

[Bliggida]

Down, sorry bud I've been at the hospital the past week. Sure I'd love to help you out. Lunch is a cool deal. Jason has my cell phone number if you want to get it from him. Just let me know when you're ready.

[Down]

Will Do :D

-jeremy