Clutch decision. I am lost. Any help?

xenophon · Jan 28, 2006

Ok so i now for sure i need to replace my clutch, i got over 120k miles, very stiff pedal, whining bearing, high disengagement, etc.

A couple of shops told me needs replacement for $750 but supposely they can't tell if i am going to need a flywheel as well. There was one trans shop(AASTRO TRANS) that needed $225 to take it down and actually tell me what's wrong with a repair estimate up to $1400.

Anyhow, i want to figure out what's the best way to go here. I'm assuming i should buy the clutch myself and then find somebody to put it on for me cheap. Isn't that correct?

What clutch should i get? I'm looking through some catalogs and ebay. Is that a good place to get it? what are the stages that i see on the descriptions? Does it has to do with horsepower?

I don't want the best racing clutch out. I just want something better than stock. Any help here would be very appreciated.

Please advise

HISSIN50 · Jan 28, 2006

Those prices are just for a clutch? Wow, you could pay to fly half the members on this site to your home, do the install, and fly them back for that kind of coin.

Read the How-to sticky at the top of the sub-forum. 5 spd GT did a write-up on doing a clutch - see if you think you and a gearhead buddy can tackle it perhaps.

A decent clutch like a KC is about 170 bucks plus shipping.

I would get a new rear main seal, pilot bearing (not pilot bushing), input shaft bearing retainer (that is probably a reason yours is stiff - the stock alum one gets chewed up. Get steel for 40 bucks). Also a new pivot ball is a good idea (like 10-15 bucks).

If you need a flywheel, they go for about 99 bucks. Might be good to just install a new one, since yours has some miles and will need to be turned at a minimum.

You can see that parts are not all that pricey.

The stages are for higher levels of power. Personally, I want the clutch to be the weak point in the driveline - clutches are cheaper than trannies, etc. If you have been using stock and it was ok holding-power wise, I would stick with an organic disk (more forgiving on the trans, doesnt bite as hard or as immediately as some composites).

Others' opinions will differ. Good luck.

red ink · Jan 28, 2006

If you've got a decent tranny, it would be nice to make the u-joints the weak link in your driveline. Clutch repairs=$$$
But i see you have a t-5. Just dont get a centerforce.

urban96 · Jan 28, 2006

i would go with a FMC king cobra or HD clutch. both priced about the same with stock like feel and stronger clamping force. you can get a new flywheel from autozone/pepboys or whatever parts store you choose for $50-70

750-1400 is an insane amount for a clutch swap.

its not too difficult, do a search here and you can find plenty of info on how to do it. if youve got a day or two that you dont need to drive your car then i say go for it yourself. no real special tools needed

xenophon · Jan 28, 2006

I don't think i can do it myself even though 5-spd GT has some excellent instructions to do it.

How much should i be looking for a shop to do it for me if i take them the parts?

So i guess a King Cobra is what i should get. What brand? Should i get the Ford Racing one?

Thanks for the info so far.

legalize420 · Jan 28, 2006

i recently paid $150 for the king cobra clutch, and $150 labor for the install.

jtb19nh · Jan 28, 2006

I got quoted $750 Just for labor. So i did it my self. I got a chiltins manual and followed it step by step and it went very smooth. really not as hard as you would think.

Blackened302 · Jan 28, 2006

i'd recommend a clutch adjustment kit, too!! for sure, definately! i myself went w/ upr's 3-hook cable and extreme firewall adjuster--works wonderfully! it now engages about half-way, no more TOB whine, and it takes about 20% less effort to press the pedal.

wytstang · Jan 28, 2006

KC clutch
http://dynamicracingproducts.com/AutoPartsStore/product_info.php?cPath=1_12&products_id=171
Stock flywheel
http://www.ddperformance.com/images/ford_flywheels.htm
I just picked these up....

xenophon · Mar 3, 2006

legalize420 said:
i recently paid $150 for the king cobra clutch, and $150 labor for the install.

so i ordered the parts from 50resto and i started calling shops for the labor. How did you find someone to do it for 150 man. I called more than 30 places and they all wanted 350 or more. That's crazy. There is got to be someone that can do it cheaper. I even negotiated some of them, but i guess it didn't make much different, they would just drop to $300.

Any ideas? I would do it if i had one more person to help. Anybody from Tucson AZ that knows a shop?

'94ChickStang · Mar 3, 2006

don't shop cheapest, shop somewhere that will do the job correctly. you're providing the parts so the labor will never be warrantied, if you end up having a drivetrain issue (chatter/more TO bearing issues ect) from a shotty install, it won't be fun paying to open it up over and over again.

legalize420 · Mar 3, 2006

xenophon said:
so i ordered the parts from 50resto and i started calling shops for the labor. How did you find someone to do it for 150 man. I called more than 30 places and they all wanted 350 or more. That's crazy. There is got to be someone that can do it cheaper. I even negotiated some of them, but i guess it didn't make much different, they would just drop to $300.

Any ideas? I would do it if i had one more person to help. Anybody from Tucson AZ that knows a shop?

the guy i usually go to charges me around 50-60 an hour for labor. he was a vendor on a local mustang site and gave 5% discount to all members. try to find someone who wont charge an arm and a leg for labor.

HISSIN50 · Mar 3, 2006

The only clutch I have ever farmed out was on a family member's car. Mr Clutch on Stone Ave did the work.

I would say that I will come do it with you, but I am slammed right now. But if you do it yourself, I can come help if you get stuck (I live on the NW side).
There's a Tucson member who might do side jobs - PM me if you want his info.

Good luck.

xenophon · Mar 5, 2006

HISSIN50 said:
The only clutch I have ever farmed out was on a family member's car. Mr Clutch on Stone Ave did the work.

I would say that I will come do it with you, but I am slammed right now. But if you do it yourself, I can come help if you get stuck (I live on the NW side).
There's a Tucson member who might do side jobs - PM me if you want his info.

Good luck.

Thanks for offering Hissin50. I don't have time either and i need to go to Phoenix on Thursday. The parts would come in on Tuesday. So only a shop can do it.

Mr Clutch is the one that said $700. He either didn't want to do it or he is very expensive. Maybe he didn't understand that i was asking for just labor.

Anyhow, i found somebody on Park and 22nd Str that would do it for $200. I'll go check out the place on Monday and see how decent it looks. If they seem that they know what they are doing then i would probably take it there.

Hey, It's good to here that you are from Tucson too.

HISSIN50 · Mar 5, 2006

That sounds like a plan.

Mr clutch did that work for my family about 10 years back.
I know there are some smaller shops around that do cheaper work - something along the lines of the place at 22/Park sounds like a plan.

Best of luck with it.

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