Is this quote too high? New clutch, timing belt and brakes for $3.5k

[naughtika]

hey fellas, I would like to get your opinion on this topic..

someone we all know.. (not gonna mention his/her name or nick at this stage as he/she might kick my ass for it)

getting a general service and parts replacement for $3.5k.. is it all worth it?

the following do include labour costs..

1. Clutch replacement with a custom clutch - not the exedy that we all know of.. I would like to know your opinion on this.. is a custom clutch all worth it? I assume the shop's gonna use the same old clutch cover pack and just replace the clutch disc.. or i might be wrong..

2. Timing Belt Replacement - I do understand that it needs replacing since it'll hit 100k.. damn it mine's already on 110kms.. I also do hope that they'll replace the timing belt tensioner bearing and if needed the oil seals too..

3. Brakes - the damn brakes.. replacement of rotors and pads - pads are apparently very good for performance and street - no need for warming up and very good for cold and hot days/nights.. rotors better be slotted and zinc plated

4. I do hope they do replace your spark plugs.. also with a set of quality ones..

... so what do you all think.. I know everyone's had a fair share of experience with getting their car serviced/maintained by a shop, either it was good or bad.. but in this situation... is it worth paying a shop $3.5k to do all the work?

.. to the one who's getting his/her car serviced by this particular shop..
Dude.. I'm not trying to say that the shop performs dodgy or shabby jobs.. I'm just looking out so you can avoid spending alot of money..

*disclaimer*

I'm not trying to ruin a business here.. just plainly looking out for someone so he/she can save money and probably spend it on something more important..

 

[Guest]

you're pretty vague...

what's being replaced on the clutch? lightweight flywheel? upgraded pressure plate? what type of clutch plate? throw out bearing?

what kind of timing belt, OEM or AM? ARE bearings/seals included?

what brake pads and rotors? could be OEM pads and rotors, or it could be DBA5000 with project Mu pads, obviously a very big difference in price...

without actually mentioning what parts are being installed, its pretty hard to say if they are worth $3,500 in parts and labour...

 

[VR-04-TT]

I'd be asking the shop for some real full on specifics. Know EXACTLY what they're quoting for. Accept NO vague answers...if you're handing over that much dosh...you should know well before what's being done and what is being used.

 

[naughtika]

another info..

2. Brakes are for the Pads only.. NOT Rotors

 

[Hipsi]

okay, well lets add this up.

Exedy HD clutch $630
machine flywheel $100
Ngk IX Plugs $75
EBC Pads $315
Genuine Timing Belt/tensioner etc $280

That's $1400 in parts. Not including fluids/filters if they do those. As a rule of thumb I generally double that to include labour so that would be $2800 without being generous, they may well be pretty much on the money.........provided they're using parts of the standard I've listed above. If I were you I would be handing them the parts you want used, and have them quote on just labour. Oh, and if the pads need doing, then the rotors almost certainly need machining at least, if not replacing.

 

[frozen]

the clutch is going to be high spec and the brake pads near top of the line. Also the clutch is 1800 fitted the timing belt 700 fitted. Brakes are not definate on price depending on the road i take, and whether or not i go best or 2nd best kinda thing..

Another thing, the clutch ip supposedly better than a regular heavy duty and should last alot longer than a cushion button which is why im thinking of trying it out despite the slightly higher price than what it would cost me for them to use the cushion button.

 

[Guest]

Another thing, the clutch ip supposedly better than a regular heavy duty and should last alot longer than a cushion button which is why im thinking of trying it out despite the slightly higher price than what it would cost me for them to use the cushion button.

That's a big call.

A regular heavy duty clutch is still only made of organic material whereas the cushioned button clutches are generally made out of ceramic or brass. The ceramic/brass ones will last a LOT longer than an organic clutch and will also support a lot more power before slipping. The only downside is the car will become tempermental to drive. Instead of a nice smoth launch or gear change using an organic clutch, the ceramic/brass ones are pretty much either on or off, there is not much give in it at all.

Unless you're planning on pushing out 250kw+ at the wheels, you probably won't need the strength of a ceramic/brass clutch anyways. But for them to tell you that the organic one is stronger is a load of bullwinkle.

When are you getting all of this done? If you have a week or two to think about it then let me know and I can let you have a drive of the GTiR. I'm running an Xtreme Cushioned Ceramic clutch in that and it's lasted 3 years of heavy abuse down the dragstrip... It's a pain in the arse to drive though.

Also, $3500 seems to be pretty much spot on for what they've quoted. The timing belt in the VR4 isn't exactly easy and replacing the clutch can be a pain in AWD cars due to the transfer case. Why not contact them and ask if you can get a quote on just labour itself and you supply all the parts? That way you know exactly what's going into it and you might even pick up some bargins.

 

[Guest]

Ugh... whoops. In the heat of reading through this thread I misread your statement. I thought they quoted you on a heavy duty clutch

Eitherway, the offer still stands

 

[naughtika]

you're pretty vague...

what's being replaced on the clutch? lightweight flywheel? upgraded pressure plate? what type of clutch plate? throw out bearing?

what kind of timing belt, OEM or AM? ARE bearings/seals included?

what brake pads and rotors? could be OEM pads and rotors, or it could be DBA5000 with project Mu pads, obviously a very big difference in price...

without actually mentioning what parts are being installed, its pretty hard to say if they are worth $3,500 in parts and labour...

Mitchy, car's not mine, it's Josh's (Frozen) just thought i'd throw out the conversation we (me and Josh) earlier..

as far as i know.. the clutch will be a custom one (custom made clutch with new pressure plates) fly wheel will be stock and machined i presume...

Timing Belt I think is OE.. and I do hope it includes the bearing and necessary parts..

with the brakes, I think he's thinking twice about it.. from what he told me.. he's not getting new sets of rotors, just new pads and machined rotors..

he's going to the shop again tomorrow and find out what brands they'll be using..

 

[Guest]

the clutch is going to be high spec and the brake pads near top of the line. Also the clutch is 1800 fitted the timing belt 700 fitted. Brakes are not definate on price depending on the road i take, and whether or not i go best or 2nd best kinda thing..

Another thing, the clutch ip supposedly better than a regular heavy duty and should last alot longer than a cushion button which is why im thinking of trying it out despite the slightly higher price than what it would cost me for them to use the cushion button.

Those prices arent too far off what iv seen. The clutch seems a bit steep, but i guess it would depend on what they get.. I would have thought you would save on labour by doing both at the same time though.

Now you can see why so many members on CVR4 (myself & carsten included) end up doing their own clutch. You can save yourself the better part of $1k. I reckon you should get together and sort out tools and a place and have a bash, even if it takes a while, i guarantee it wont take as long as it takes you to earn a grand. I ended up with a custom billet flywheel and exedy clutch for about $1200nz.

Timing belt is something that scares me a bit, but when the time comes i'll probably try and do that on the cheap too considering you can buy a VR-4 for $3.5K AU over here

 

[bradc]

If they do an outstanding job and do all the tensioners, water pump etc right then I don't believe it is a bad price. At least at the end of it you know exactly where you stand with the car and that everything is done.

 

[Guest]

I wouldn't go down the road of a custom clutch to be honest... buy something off the shelf al least you have some idea of how it behaves and performs,

i know of one car with a "custom clutch" its a complete bitch to drive,
its either on or off, and no feel or warning of when it will bite, cant ride it at all...

its so custom not even the owner knows whats in there, i think it was in and out of the car a couple of times before it was even usable,

as for plugs, brake pads + rotors... DIY, its fairly simple and and you'll save a few hundred $$ and you know what you have.


and mike... i didnt do my clutch... just fixed my gear box and used the original,
maybe this xmas we can do it, LOL!

 

[Guest]

and mike... i didnt do my clutch... just fixed my gear box and used the original,
maybe this xmas we can do it, LOL!

Same amount of labour tho..

 

[frozen]

the custom clutch is still organic and should hold around 450hp.. Sounds quite driveable to me being organic. Ill find out more info today, but yeah they didn't say 'its stronger than a cushion button' but they did say it would last longer for an every day driver and be much more driveable, while still having a shitload of clamping force.

Just been to the shop, they do quite alot for the money. Ill edit this again when im at the computer so i can give more info but its project mu performance pads, and the clutch is an uprated exede, with custom internals. Pretty much all the insides are stronger kinda thing.