Should I replace the clutch at 38k miles?
 

I've got the car in for a warranty repair on resealing an oil leak on the timing cover, and since the motor needed to come out I had thought I might as well see if the clutch or TOB needs replacing. Got a call from the dealer today saying they recommended replacing the flywheel, clutch, TOB, and pressure plate, they would only charge me for parts which comes out to $830. To have just the clutch and TOB replaced it would be $256 which I find more reasonable, but they really do recommend doing the whole thing. I have fun with the car, but by no means am I launching it at every street light, racing everyone I see, or doing anything outside of the occasional Sunday morning spirited drive.

I do get a bit of noise from the car when its in neutral which goes away when I push the clutch in, but sometimes when the car is cold or if its cold out I get a bit of squeaking and crunching sounds while pushing in the clutch.

What do you guys thing? I trust this dealer and you know what maybe I haven't been the nicest to this clutch, but I do think its a bit early to be having all of those components replaced.

Get the exedy kit from rock auto.
$180.79 for the clutch, pressure plate, and TOB
$108.79 for the flywheel

Are you the original owner?

If you trust the dealer, and they recommend the changes, for $830, that's a good deal.


humfrz

Burning the clutch comes from your leg, learn to engage it better and not from those car activities. Suggestion, join your local twin fbk page, set up a install event, buy the following members pizza and beer as payment for the labor and you just buy the parts. Much much cheaper than going to the stealershop. You can make new friends and learn about the car

Honestly if it was me, actually if it's my wallet, I'll just pay for the TOB.
If the clutch need it down the road I'll take it to any shop not the dealership. Or if you got the tools and space to work on diy it.

OP, are you experienced enough to describe just how you haven't been nice to the clutch? Serious question because I don't want to waste my time lecturing you about how to use the clutch when in fact, you might only think that you've been rough on it.


Personally, I'd just get in there to clean and lubricate the quill. I'm even 50/50 on swapping out a second-generation TOB because, in good conscience, I would have to swap out the quill along with it. That takes some finesse to do properly. I'd ask the tech if he'd ever done one.

I am the original owner, I learned stick with this car so I think they might have a valid recommendation!

Yeah I wouldn't normally take it to a dealership because I am well aware they overcharge, but since I already have it there and its already apart I'm definitely considering it. Why do you figure just the TOB and not at least the clutch disk as well?

I don't know that I'm experienced enough to say, I learned manual on this car so I can only assume I may have mistreated it in the process. I don't ride the clutch at all, the only times I can think of doing any damage to it would be a trying out the OFT launch control a few times and higher rpm driving.

I really am leaning on at least replacing the TOB, I'll give the tech a call before they close to get a better idea of his expertise in replacing these.

Might have a winning combo here, sounds like a win win to me!

Even with some mistreatment, the clutch is likely fine.

just gett'n broke in

Unless, that is,... OP, would you say it's possible that you are in the habit of goosing it before fully engaging the clutch? So the engine goes "eeeee-awwww" when you dump it? It's a common noob thing that can be hell on clutches over time. Other than that, I bet it's practically new.

What a quill?

It's the thing on which the TOB slides. Service manual calls it the transmission front cover.