Small victories

[Bugsinrugs]

My WRX was in dire need of a clutch. Estimates were in the $2000 and up range. Me being a tight wad and in need of a project I decided to tackle it myself. Lots of stuff to remove even before I get to the tranny. Getting the tranny out was the easy part. Old clutch was fried but the flywheel was ok. Took my time and torqued flywheel and clutch to specs. I had a lot of trouble re installing the tranny by myself but I finally got it. Took a few days for my shoulder to stop hurting though. Anyways, I buttoned her up and it sure is nice having a working clutch. I saved $1500 and now I’m probably going to tackle the timing belt. I’m just a glutton for punishment!

[Bugsinrugs]

[GH85Carrera]

Ain't it grand when a plan comes together!

I will never forget the gut punch I felt walking out into my garage and seeing my 911 with no suspension on it, and saying out-loud, Glen, what in the hell did you do!

It all went back on, much slower than taking it off. The feeling of accomplishment was worth all the work.

Good job!

[Bugsinrugs]

I’m thanking the gods I got that the tranny back in. Took about 6 tries. After it went in I had a few beers to celebrate. Thanks!

[aschen]

A few years ago, I changed the clutch on my 06 wrx wagon. TOB just exploded one day. First clutch job I had ever done, took me like 2 weeks and a ton of internetting. Throw out bearing had killed the input shaft as well and there was a repair sleeve kit I had to use.

Tough job on jack stands for a medium experienced DIYer like myself, I feel your pain.

I had the clutch and flywheel replaced with OEM parts on my 04 STi in 2009 for 1100$ at the dealership so it shows how much this sorta thing has increased in cost in the last 15 years.

[aschen]

Originally Posted by Bugsinrugs

now I’m probably going to tackle the timing belt. I’m just a glutton for punishment!

Done this 2times on a subaru, easy compared to the clutch. JUst gotta get the tool to hold the cams to make your life really easy


Probably don't strickly need it but makes the job much less worrysome


https://subimods.com/products/company23-cam-lock-tool?variant=41169031102639&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=Cj0KCQjwuNemBhCBARIsADp74QQt410SNAmaWTxoo_2_ C1tF88diTJ2gy9VOI6cUUwmlfzeetMP3KXcaAlV-EALw_wcB

[Bugsinrugs]

[QUOTE=aschen;12065743]Done this 2times on a subaru, easy compared to the clutch. JUst gotta get the tool to hold the cams to make your life really easy


Probably don't strickly need it but makes the job much less worrysome

Thanks for the advice… i need all the advice I can get. My WRX is a 04. What year is yours?

[porsche tech]

Having done 8000 Porsche clutches over the course of my 42 years, I know what a job it is when you have the car on a lift and the trans on a trans jack. Doing a clutch on the floor is WAY more than I could handle. Congratulations on your persistence and the money you saved! I think Aschen got it right when he said the T belt should be a piece of cake comparatively.

[Bugsinrugs]

I definitely gave up some of my body working on my back. Shoulder, wrist and raw spots on my back trying to maneuver that beast back in. I finally cut off the heads of two spare bolts and inserted then into the upper bolt holes in the engine. That gave me four studs as guides and that did the trick. I’m saving those bolts.

[masraum]

I've done a handful of clutches over the years, '65 Chevy Impala w/Muncie 4spd and '76 Chevette w/4spd, those were both pretty easy since they were both front engine rear drive. I've also done a fwd Dodge Omni which wasn't too bad, but not as easy as the other two.

Years ago, I started looking at doing a job on a '97 Pontiac Grand Am. I pretty quickly decided that it was going to be a huge PITA, and it would be worth my time to pay someone.

[aschen]

[QUOTE=Bugsinrugs;12065755]

Originally Posted by aschen

Done this 2times on a subaru, easy compared to the clutch. JUst gotta get the tool to hold the cams to make your life really easy


Probably don't strickly need it but makes the job much less worrysome

Thanks for the advice… i need all the advice I can get. My WRX is a 04. What year is yours?

Don't have one anymore, but I bought an 03 new, and an 04 sti slightly used in 04, and then I had an 06 wrx wagon for many years. Both times I changed timing belt was in 2.5L motor, but I think its mostly the same for the 2.0L.

Good time to check if the radiator is about to crack and replace radiator hoses. Id use all OEM parts and coolant with subaru coolant conditioner, not really worth cutting corners on those parts IMHO.

If you can replace the clutch it will be straightforward for you, especially with the cam holding tool.

[JackDidley]

Harbor Freight trans jack ? I bought one for $85 about 10 years ago o do a clutch in an s10. I was thinking I would do the clutch and sell the jack for $60 to get it out of the way, It was way to handy to sell. Its been used a bunch of times including dropping a motor from an old bug.

[A930Rocket]

Good job, Bugs.

I am a DIY lifer working on my back under cars. After almost 50 years, the last couple have definitely gotten harder. What I wouldn’t do for a lift….

[Bugsinrugs]

Yes….Harbor Freight. $99 with a coupon. My friend has already asked to borrow it.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Small victory???- that's a medium to large heavy victory.

Send me your address, I will send advil.
Good work!

[Bugsinrugs]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Good job, Bugs.

I am a DIY lifer working on my back under cars. After almost 50 years, the last couple have definitely gotten harder. What I wouldn’t do for a lift….

My good friend was a shade tree VW mechanic. He passed away four years ago and had no relatives. I got his tools and could have taken his two post lift. Unfortunately I just had rotator cuff surgery and just couldn’t handle it. Wish now I had taken it.

[Bugsinrugs]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

Small victory???- that's a medium to large heavy victory.

Send me your address, I will send advil.
Good work!

I have the elderly two bottle pack of Advil from Costco… but Thanks!!

[Rick Lee]

My first foray into heavy Porsche DIY was replacing the clutch on my '87 3.2 over 20 yrs. ago. Met a ton of Pelicans who caravanned over with tools and beer to help. Great time. And I did it a lot more with the local DC-area folks thereafter. We did some world class projects in a one car garage with no lift and we did some minor stuff in world class garages with lifts.

[Baz]

Congrats on putting in the work with dogged determination - exactly what is necessary to tackle a project such as this.

The absolute most important thing I have learned over the years is when you've reached the limit (gotta listen to the little voice in your brain telling you this!).....then stop and take a break.

That break could be until the next day - or an hour later. Makes or breaks the job, I've found.

Not just for the body but also the mind - both of which you desperately need to persevere!

My little story:

I drove my '80 TR7 up I-95 to visit my older brother in Virginia back in the early-mid 90's. Well about an hour south of the state line the tranny went out. Called up my brother who drove down and we trailer her back to his house. I had a spare tranny in my garage in Lehigh Acres (Ft Myers) and called my friend Perry, who broke into my garage and shipped the tranny up to my brother's house in Portsmouth. I ended up doing the swap on my back on his front driveway. Car was on jack stands. It was July too and plenty warm.

To this day I look back with pride that I gutted out the repair myself. Car ran fine all the way home and for years afterwards.



Also did the 911 but this time at home and in my garage.

[Bugsinrugs]

Baz you are so right about listening to your body. Mine was literally screaming at me. But, the accomplishment lessened the aches. I have rental properties and lately some of the things I tried to fix didn’t turn out like I would have hoped. Little victories change my whole attitude. I think we all need them.