Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Clutch Job, DIY or Pay out the ars?

All,

The clutch on my SE is about on its last leg and I'm trying to make some decisions on the repair.

After reading the cheapO manual and calling around a few tranny shops in the area, It looks like a very involved process to replace the clutch and flywheel, well actually the involved part is gettting the tranny moved off to the side enough to get to the clutch assembly.

I have heard between 9 and 12 hours (a tranny shop quoted me 12 hours labor, but he also said he would need the car for a day or maybee two so it sounds like they know they can do it in less than 8). By the time I add in the Fidanza and a good clutch kit I'm looking at $1500+

I have done all my mods myself, including the MSDS headers, and was just woundering how involved the process really is of getting the tranny moved aside far enough to get to the clutch assemb. Do you have to drop the subframe? Can you just undo the driver side susp or does the shole front end need to come appart?

Any input would be appreciated!

Best way is engine/trans & subframe assy out...less chance of damage etc and it can go quicker...

I replaced the clutch, pressure plate, slave cylinder, clutch master cylinder and everything else that was accessible on my 98 SVT while torn down, about two weeks ago. I don't see how it can be done without removing the subframe. I didn't remove the engine from the car; you can lower the transmission end enough to slide it back.
I used stock "Ford" replacement parts since the original had lasted over 72,000 abusive miles. The old clutch disk was still in fine shape with another 50,000/75,000 miles left; my problem was that one of the spring retaining rivets on the pressure plate had broken. Terrible racket when flying around inside the bell-housing!
My Ford dealer wanted $842 to do the job and if I ever had to do it again, that's where it would go. :rolleyes: The $842 would have only included the cost of the clutch, pressure plate and slave cylinder and labor to replace. That would not have included resurfacing the stepped flywheel ($28) nor would it have included replacing the clutch master cylinder, rear engine oil seal, transmission half-shaft seals, etc. which I opted to replace while it was down.

I have a real problem taking my car to anyone for anything other than tires. The last time I took my car (my mustang) to a tranny shop, they managed to screw up my first gear synchro. It wouldn't go into first w/o being at a complete stop! I was ticked and after taking it back three times, I gave up. They said it was probably a cable that was stretched causing it to not synch properly..............

TERRY?!!?!!??!!!! How hard is this to do on a Zetec engine??? PM me

Rich