RobinHood5

So recently I have had reason to believe that my clutch is starting to go the wayside. I have noticed that it is a lot "squishier" and the way it engages is just seems a lot shorter and just, off. If I try to start quickly off the line without just dumping the clutch I can feel some slipping. Today I tried a little test I heard about where you get going in first and where you would normally shift to second you shift to fifth and see if it bogs down hard. On mine the RPMs dipped down to about 500 but it never bogged hard. So first I guess I want to know your guy's take on it if you think the clutch is going.

The car has nearly 130k on it (8k of which I have put on since last july but mostly this spring). I have all of the service records from the previous owner since it was new and I see that he had the replacement done back in 2010 with 70k at the dealer and it cost him nearly $2000 which seems a little high to me based on other threads I have looked at.

I would like to put an aftermarket clutch in and have read recommendations in other threads but I was wondering what "big name" shops are good options. I don't know any shops in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area and I guess I would feel better going to a place with a national reputation. Also how much would be reasonable to pay just for labour for this kind of job?

Any other specific reccomendations?

MatthewBouchard

iTrader: (2)

Hit the gas at a low RPM, if the rpm climbs and you sit there, then you need a new clutch. I got the JWT clutch/flywheel and have enjoyed it. Kit was about $800 and install I paid about 650(Installed at the dealership,bled the clutch,installed new Tranny mount,had $150 coupon lol).

Conway_160

iTrader: (1)

You have to hit the gas in a higher gear 4-5.

MatthewBouchard

iTrader: (2)

Ooops , forgot to mention that .. I tested mine in 4th and worked like a charm.

RobinHood5

Ok, well it doesn't slip when I punch the gas in high gear. Is it possible that it is not engaging soon enough and just needs adjusted?

MicVelo

OP, what year is your car? Is it an HR?

Only reason I ask is the CSC (concentric slave cylinder - internal to the bell housing on '07-08 HR models) is prone to failure and can lead to the problems you describe.

If it's not an HR, do the tests others have described; but that may only reveal part of the problem (worn disk and/or dead springs in pressure plate) - which may not be your problem entirely - as the "drop pedal" syndrome is hydraulic/mechanical (pedal) in nature.

Mic

travlee

iTrader: (8)

35th anniversary per his profile

MicVelo

Thanks, Trav but that assumes I would take the time to do that.

It is, however, my psychological means of saying, "Please include pertinent details in one's post." Heh heh.

RobinHood5

Yeah, sorry about forgetting the year, it is a 2005 AE. I threw it in 5th today and literally floored it and no clutch slip. When I start from a dead stop though it continues to feel like it doesn't engage until the clutch is pretty much all the way out.

travlee

iTrader: (8)

try changing fluid first