major 944 clutch dilemma... HELP!

[Obin Robinson]

okay,

i'm at the crossroads here, and i need some advice:

i have my 944 clutch here, ready to install, along with all the parts (rubber centered disk offhand).

i have BASIC tools: metric set of Craftsman tools, but i have access to more.

i just found out last night that i have access to a very nice garage that i can use to do either my 944 clutch, or my 944 timing belts in (i have all the parts for both jobs).

i've spent the past hour reading all the old posts on doing my own 944 clutch and i ~THINK~ i can do this myself. but i would like to know:

1) what was the biggest problem with replacing the clutch in your 944?
2) what special tools did you need?
3) how long did it take you (i will be doing 90% of this by myself, with the car on jackstands)
4) the local tranny shop (which has done lots of other good work on our 924) said they will do the job for $500 if i provide the parts... is it worth it for me to save the $$$
5) what special tools did you need to buy and... would you be willing to let me borrow them (i'd pay you what you paid for the tool, and then when i'm done i will return the tool, minus 50% of what the tool costs you, so you in turn end up making some cash on tool rental)
6) any other tips? the car is having it's first clutch replacement since 1984. i don't mind doing the rubber centered clutch because this car won't get major mileage on it (about 5000 miles a year).
7) i need to make this decision BY THIS WEEKEND! the time i have to do this in, or get it done, is only 3 weeks!

THANKS!

obin

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A straight line is the most BORING distance between two points.

[1.2gees]

1: Getting the bolts on the torque tube/front bellhousing to engine bolts off, particularly the upper right one (passanger side).

2: Besides the transaxle removal (the torque coupler bolts), and flywheel centering/flywheel bolts (if you're gonna take the flywheel off) I don't recall any other specific tools required.

3: It should take you a good 15 hours or so, if you've never done it before. Take breaks often, but don't let it take more than a week, you're gonna have a lot of bolts/nuts loose, you don't wanna forget where they go. Consider taking pictures seriously.

4: $500 isn't bad, I'd recommend you think about it, but I'd still rather save the money.

5: You don't really need special tools except the mentioned that I can think of, check #2.

6: When taking the front bellhousing/engine bolts off, take your time, try liquid wrench, heat, and whatever else, and not just a breaker bar!

Hope this helps your decision,
Ahmet

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It's all the driver...

[Obin Robinson]

ahmet:

thanks! as far as "special tools" all i wondered is if i would need a clutch centering tool (seems like i would) and a flywheel lock.

never done a clutch before on a 944. this will be my first.

thanks!

obin

[Blackfoot]

i wonder how they came up with the $500 figure as it will take them at least 10-12 hours to do it, right? hourly labor rates around here (san jose) are about $80.

15 hours of my time is worth more than $500. but if you have the time & facilities, it might be worth giving it a try.

[Obin Robinson]

labor rate here is $50 an hour x 10 hours.

that's the ONE benefit of living in the middle of nowhere. offhand, these guys have done lots of other work on our cars, and they do good work, so i trust them.

but that's $500 i'd rather not spend if i can tackle the task myself.

obin

[Blackfoot]

$50/hr. wow. that was our rate in the 80's. lucky dog.

[Scott R]

Without parts thats what I was quoted here in Denver as well. The guy who put mine in did it in less than 8 hours. He had done a bunch and told be that he does not even remove all the parts that I had read about on the web. I dropped it off the night before, and it was done the following day by 4:00.

[marksportcts]

Labour rates at the local Porsche dealership,
Weissach Performance in Vancouver charges $70 Canadian an hour, so about $40-45 USD.

[lordgrommit]

I've done the job about a week working nights. mostly did everything myself except I needed help getting the tranny back in.. get the right cheese head sockets for the cv Joints and the pressure plate.. I had never used a clutch center tool for the oh 5 or so I had done in the past.. I wouldn't do a 944 without it and hey it's cheap... take your time. I use ziplok bags and a sharpe marker to organize bolts as I take them out takes a couple of minutes but damm it works well when you are putting it back togher.. take your time when stuff dosn't make sence let it go and look at it fresh tommrow can't tell you how many times that has worked for me working on this car

Matt

[asidrave]

i just got my clutch kit last week. im probably gonna start it thursday or friday. if anyone lives by hudson county n.j. anyone is more than welcome to come and watch. im not lookin for help, unless you want to . im offering to anyone who will be changing there clutch soon. its my frist time doing a clutch on my 944. ive done clutches on a chevy s10 blazer, isuzu rodeo, hyundai excel and toyota corolla. i have the shop manuals and the haynes and other info i downloaded and printed on the net. i will be taking pics step by step and maybe post them on a website.

[drew1]

Obin,

Looks like they told you every thing except pliers and little screw driver to get lock ring off pressure plate.

drew1

edit: throw out bearing lock ring

[This message has been edited by drew1 (edited 04-11-2001).]

[ccus944]

I'm looking at my receipt....$864.78 including tax...$462 parts....$350 labor(@$50/hr)....7 hours....My roommate did one and said he would never do it again...so I paid to have mine done...If you can pay someone who knows what they're doing, then do it...I do alot of my own work, but I didn't want to have my car down too long...I just dropped it off, and picked it up the next day....good luck!...Cus

[ccus944]

I'm looking at my receipt....$864.78 including tax...$462 parts....$350 labor(@$50/hr)....7 hours....My roommate did one and said he would never do it again...so I paid to have mine done...If you can pay someone who knows what they're doing, then do it...I do alot of my own work, but I didn't want to have my car down too long...I just dropped it off, and picked it up the next day....good luck!...Cus

[lm6y]

Obin, Save yourself $500, and do it yourself. it really isn't that bad. Besides if you get in a bind, we'll all come running!

[Martin Taylor]

Not a hard job,just time consuming, you may have some rusted bolts if it has never been apart before. You don't need to centre the clutch as you can simply bolt the slave cylinder back on and jam a broom stick between the pedal and the seat to hold the clutch disengaged while repositioning the torque tube. Unbolting the sensors is a PIA as is the odd bellhousing bolt.
be sure and mark the coupler before removal. Any questions while you are doing it you can email me at porsche@globe.net.nz

[Mrmerlin]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Obin Robinson:
[B]okay,

i'm at the crossroads here, and i need some advice:

i have my 944 clutch here, ready to install, along with all the parts (rubber centered disk offhand).
Hi Obin this might be too late but I would strongly recommend that you use a spring centered disc in your repair job. you will then never have to worry again about the rubber seperating from the disc. it is a upgrade move and if you plan on keeping the car... why would you want to use a part that you know will fail in time............Just my 2 centz//.........Stan

[hoff944]

We need to meet up Obin. I'm doing mine sometime this week. I'm in TN and I'm sure you are not even remotely close.