Clutch Job

[fieldy107]

Hi Fellas,
I have found a workshop nearby I think is up to the task of changing my clutch but have a few questions and looking for a bit of advice.

First off, I am assuming with my very little mechanical knowledge that my clutch is shagged, for those with real mechanical knowledge I would like to explain what happens with my car to confirm that the clutch is in fact shagged...
Car drives fine in normal driving, no engagement issues or noises. Once into 4th and 5th if I give it a bit of gas it will just rev the engine out and not transmit power to the wheels. It will also do this in the earlier gears if I give it a real boot full. Also smells of, what I assume is burning clutch when this happens. Sound like a shagged clutch or could something else be at fault?

The workshop I have found is a Subaru specialist and has an excellent reputation in the area for doing great work and good prices. They can not give me an exact quote as they have never done a clutch but have said it might take a day which would cost me $700 but at the very most could take 2 days, costing me $1400 (hoping it wont take 2 full days and from what I have read it shouldn't). Can anyone give me any advice I can pass onto them that will save them time and me money. Any tips you have would be appreciated.

Also I plan to order an NPC sports organic clutch as the quality and price are both good. Anyone have any other recommendation? I wouldn't consider the exedy option unless it was on a good special eg $600 or less. Have also heard extreme are good but I dont know what their prices are like.

Thanks in advance.
Chris

 

[Guest]

It definitely sounds like your clutch, the slipping is spot on how you would describe clutch slip, and the smell is usually a very strong smell similar to the smell made by trains at a busy train station.

No tips for you but the quotes seem fair enough. I know an evo 8 clutch can take 10-12hrs or as little as 7-8

Edited: New phone, still cant spell properly on it.

Sent from the fires of Mt Doom

 

[TME_Steve]

If they've done an EVO clutch they'll be fine, if they haven't you'll want to explain how to get the transfer case off and how to release the pressure plate diaphragm. Diaphragm release is also the same as a magna. There us a tool you can make or you can pay meek 25 dollars to buy one to release the half shaft so you can get the transfer case off, again, same as EVO....

Time wise, about 8 hours to swap the clutch, 2 or 3 more to do the input shaft bearing on the gearbox (recommended and doing that is the same as evo) that's if all goes to plan, sometimes the half shaft gets stuck, same for the diaphragm, then it can take longer....

 

[mcs]

Yeah clutch slip, mine had similar issues but stopped slipping after a while, i think it was moisture.

 

[Guest]

Make sure you replace your rear main seal which will need to be bought separately to the clutch.

Also budget in another $80-$120 to have your flywheel machined.

Sent from the fires of Mt Doom

 

[Guest]

Hi Fellas,
The workshop I have found is a Subaru specialist and has an excellent reputation in the area for doing great work and good prices. They can not give me an exact quote as they have never done a clutch

This doesn't sound like a great plan to me sorry. Personally I don't like giving workshops a blank cheque to experiment with my car, and Subaru and VR-4 clutch job is a very different procedure.

 

[fieldy107]

This doesn't sound like a great plan to me sorry. Personally I don't like giving workshops a blank cheque to experiment with my car, and Subaru and VR-4 clutch job is a very different procedure.

Yeah I do agree with you, so I did broadened my search a bit and found someone in Brisbane who works on some pretty serious Evo's and was able to give me a proper quote of $500 labor. He did comment that he didn't think machining the flywheel on our cars is a good idea as they are a bit soft and can banana, think he is mainly talking from his experience with evo 4-5-6. He recommends getting a billet flywheel from NPC. Anyone had any problems like this with our flywheels?

 

[unclepaulie]

+1 same as procedure evo clutches. dont settle for "yeah i think we can do that" ask if they're 100% confident with evo clutches. not as much room in a vr4 getting to the transfer case compared to a evo. steve will say 'fooey' to that, but not everyone is superhuman like him haha

make sure they put the right oil in the right bits. go to an evo specialist. clutch dampner delete line from meek is a good thing to put in too.
also +1 to NPC clutch. they do a nice specific vr4 one. i wouldnt bother about the flywheel, thats my opinion though.