ok next q about my flippin clutch! whats the cheapest way to change it?

Question

would it be cheaper to buy the parts myself say off ebay! and ask the garage to fit them. Or will it not make much difference. am completley broke so any suggestions would be good. would it be possible to do myself.

Answer 1

the cheapest way is always do it yourself. Some cars are easier than others to do. Shop for your best price 1st and buy the repair manual if in doubt about not knowing how to do this repair yourself. You didnt say what kind of car you owned so i cant help you there.
Good luck

Answer 2

First of all what kind of car is it? With many cars you can do it yourself. If you get the Haynes manual it helps - the local libraries often have them if you don't have one and need to save money.

I replaced the clutch on my mark II Cavalier, and my brother has replaced one on a Nissan Bluebird on the road out the front of the house - so a garage isn't always necessary. Some garages won't fit parts unless you buy them from them - so check that first. Some small garages will strike you a good deal. My local generally charges about £30 for a job like that. Phone around, it's worth it.

You can buy cheap new parts from a motorfactor (see the Yellow Pages) or Halfords can usually order - eBay isn't always the best place to go!

If it's an old car then rust will be your biggest enemy. Get a good set of wrenches, or borrow some, and keep WD40 on hand.

Whatever, you are probably looking at a £60 bill minimum that's for a motorfactor part and no labour. And don't get tempted to buy secondhand whatever you do, the clutch will probably be worn out,or near to - scrap yards are out.

Answer 3

It depends if the hole in the Bottom of the bell housing is big enough to let the clutch out through, on some Astras it is so the gearbox does not need to be removed, and this makes the difference between 1 hour and 3 or 4 .
Unless you want top quality bits fitted let the Garage source the parts, that way if it fails straight off its their fault, if you supply faulty parts you have no come back.

Answer 4

Its the labour that will cost though. The part itself isnt too expensive. Mr Clutch are really good if you have one near you. If not find an independent garage that will do the work and bill you next month. Not many of them around but there are some, you just need to ring round everywhere and ask people you know for recommendations of garages.

Answer 5

The big problem with changing a clutch is aligning the clutch plate with the bearing in the flywheel and the 1st motion shaft of the gearbox.
If they aren't lined up it won't go together!
You can buy special tools to do this OR get an old gearbox of the same dimensions and remove and use it's shaft OR turn one up from a bit of metal like I used to do when i was broke.
RoyS.

Answer 6

I have just read your other post saying the car is vibrating/juddering.
You will find that your clutch slip is due to an oil leak, most probably from the gearbox input shaft seal.
I would be budgeting to change the seal too as well as the gearbox oil.
Steer well clear of halfords/kwik fit/charlie browns etc.
Your cheapest option is to find a local mobile mechanic, they have less overheads.
Just keep him supplied with plenty of tea and sandwiches and he shouldn't charge much.
It's a 3 hour job without a ramp.
Hope that helps.

Answer 7

not trying to be rude, but you don't seem to know a lot, so don't try this yourself. transmissions are very heavy. don't buy your parts off e-bay, you will get screwed. don't take the parts to a shop because they will charge you more money. find someone that can do the job for you, maybe even at you home. get the parts at a local parts house. you cost of repairs will depend on what kind of car you have and what damage is already done. do you have any friends that are mechanics?
by the way---- front wheel drive cars cost more to repair than rear wheel drives do.

Answer 8

What type car? Where you're located? Local garage in Calif. will replace clutch pressure plate and throw out on rear wheel drive for 169.00 can't get much cheaper than that. Good Luck!! ?:)x

Answer 9

Find a mate, or a friend of a mate, who works in a garage, who can do it for a "cash job" one weekend & help him do it.
Buy the parts from a motor factors & ask for a big discount.
The mate may also take some thing other than cash (as you are broke) like your TV or HIFI !

Answer 10

you need to be mechanically minded , plus good range of tools ,trolley jack axle stands or ramps clutch aligning tool,do you know any mechanics who could do the job on the side for you,is there a clutch clinic near you.