Value spring recall and TOB clutch issue
 

I took my Frs to the dealer for the TOB clutch TSB and was told my extended warranty will not cover the premature wear on my clutch and have to shell out 1k to replace my clutch. Since the recall requires the engine to be lifted do you guys think the dealer will cut me some slack n the clutch labor? I think that Toyota dropped the ball on this clutch issue.

I had the TOB chirping issue come up right before the extended warranty ran out. I talked to the dealer, they were able to recreate the issue and said that the TOB replacement would be covered under warranty. They did offer to replace the clutch since they would have it apart and it would "save on labor", but they still wanted $1k for the clutch, pressure plate and resurfacing the flywheel. It sounds like they are cutting you some slack on labor, but it can't hurt to ask.



My clutch hasn't been slipping, so I decided to hold off on the replacement.

If still in the warranty time period the TOB replacement is covered under warranty. The clutch is not covered under the TOB TSB only the bearing itself.
Talk to them if it will save some costs. We can't guess what they will do.

Do not wait to long! I did and the bearing blew and took the whole clutch system with it. My clutch never did slip it just went from squeal to bang.

Yea, I took my FRS to the dealer 2 months ago when I noticed the clutch grinding when I engaged the clutch. I told them that I saw a TSB on the TOB but they cannot do anything till I can replicate the issue. So I kept driving it till it got worst and I complained to Toyota about it. Maybe If they would have fixed the TOB then I would not have to replace the whole clutch assembly.

TSB on the TOB is also limited to under 35k miles and under 3 years if I recall correctly, which sucks, but that's what the fine print says.

Subaru told me today that the TOB is not covered under the powertrain warranty (I'm at 35k, but > 3 years). Called Subaru of America to see what they would do since this is a known issue with a TSB, etc... Case being investigated.

Get this : Dealer quoted me $2500 for the clutch job. Wanted me to authorize $750 for teardown now to get started. They apparently gave Subaru of America the $2500 quote as the work that needed to be done when they were contacted about my case to verify the problem. I don't feel they are helping me out any there...

From what I can tell - list price on everything would be about 780 (Flywheel, pressure plate, disk, TOB, clutch fork, pivot, 8 flywheel bolts, 6 pressure plate bolts, clutch fork spring, 2 TOB retainer clips) - How do they get $1700 in labor? #@&*!)$

Get all the parts from an online source and resurface the flywheel and it's closer to $400. Probably a little less if I get an exedy vs Subaru. Kind of doubt I need a clutch fork, but it's $20...

Called 2 local shops and they want about $800 in labor.

Happy Holidays! ;)

It says right in the TSB that it is covered under the basic warranty not the drive train one.
If just the TOB is bad they do not need to replace anything else. If it blew and took out the clutch than $2500 is still way high. I don't remember what I paid for the whole works but it wasn't that much.

The powertrain warranty is 5yr/60k... “bumper to bumper” is 3yr/36k. $2,500 for a clutch job is insanely high for a BRZ.

I understand - just thought I'd confirm what EndlessAzure posted directly above mine, should have worded better.

I thought I'd just try as this is a known issue with a defective part and I've seen a couple of people who had luck getting it covered under the powertrain warranty. Kind of feel like it should be covered - 35,000 miles for a TOB failure is way too early - had several other cars go > 70,000 before trading them with the original clutch and TOB working fine.

Odd that the Subaru Clutch disk is $170 retail, while the Totyota is ~90. TOB is similarly cheaper $21 vs $55. Rest of the Subaru parts seem to be cheaper than the Toyota ones.

Holy shit, that is price rape.
I did the tob with a bad back, on the floor with basic tools, and a beer in one hand. I did have a friend help pull it out and put it in but that was due to my limited back strength.

If I had a lift and air tools/stands I bet I can do that in an hour.

Sounds like your best bet is to take it to some local auto mechanic. At best maybe $600ish with parts included

Good luck with that. When I needed to do mine last summer the best price I could come up with anywhere in the extended NY Metro area (hundreds of good shops) was ~$1200.

That's your angle then, of they refused to repair because they couldn't replicate till 2mo later and xyz miles, to can makea case that it contributed to the clutch issues you now face. May not help, but be nice about it, and be consistent and reasonable in what you're asking for.

Just to follow up in case anyone is interested.

Subaru of America offered $600 toward the TOB replacement. Trouble is all of the dealers around here quoted around $1200 for the job (SoA had this quote). I didn't have a good feeling that they wouldn't find a clutch that needed replacement, then I'm paying list (or over) for parts and $165/hr for labor. AllData shows 6.5 for the TOB job, +0.4 for clutch disk and flywheel. A lot different than the #s shown in the TSB.

Going to do it myself.

Put me on the list of people who the "Bumper to Bumper" warranty was a lie. It doesn't cover "wear items". The dealers consider the TOB a wear item. At 52k mine failed and the Toyota dealer(s) refused to replace it. I was lucky, my TOB was only moments a way from failure when I replaced it and it had no negative impact on my clutch or pressure plate. The bearing barely spun and sounded like it was full of sand and pebbles.



AllData shows 6.5hrs for the job really? Wow - I did it in 7 hours with no familiarity of the car or a lift. I read a thread on how to remove the tranny, watched a youtube video and then fumbled through it. I bet I could do it in 3 hours if I had to do it again. The part that took me the longest was fumbling around with the interior trim and then putting things back together in the wrong order and having to do it again!

I wouldnt let them charge you the book labor time for the clutch. If and WHEN they get around to this recall they will have to pull your motor so the labor time to change the TOB should be and hour or less THEORETICALLY. I would definitely try to negotiate with them when you take it in.

I have a '13, so I figured I might as well get the TOB changed to the 2017+ part.

My dealer told me they would charge a half hour of labor to swap TOBs, if the engine has to come out for the recall.

When I visited my toyota dealer (service department) just to get a "feel" for the cost of replacing the TOB, I was told $1200. But when I actually went to get it done about a month later, they only charged me $800.

I have a 2016 but with 70k miles so out of warranty. I think that is BS because all clutch components, except maybe the slave and master cylinders, should last at least 100k, if not much more...

I have a used stock clutch in perfect shape from when I upgraded that's just sitting in a box in my garage. Has around 70k miles. Never given me any problems. Not sure why I'm saving it either so .. It's yours if you pay shipping. Send me a PM if you're interested; I'm located in RI.