It's only a matter of time...

[CJFusco]

Hey all, I haven't checked in here for awhile. You might remember that my 951 lost its clutch back in July... just a couple months after I spent the spring doing a full head-gasket job in my home garage. It was the first time I attempted such a major repair. It took me a long time, but I did it, and it worked!

Well, the original rubber-centered clutch went on the car in July. 105K miles - not bad for the original clutch. Since I was neck-deep in a teacher certification program that gets you a Master's degree in education at the same time (it'll actually be my 2nd Master's degree) at the same time as editing my 2nd book (due out in June!), I decided to garage the old Porker for awhile and just concentrate on my studies.

Well, things have calmed down for me a bit lately and the promise of warmer days ahead has got me moving. The clutch kit is on its way.

As much of a valuable learning experience doing the job myself would undoubtedly be, I honestly have neither the time nor patience to do my first ever clutch job; besides, I want this car back on the road, and there are no guarantees if I do the job myself.

Luckily, I have established a good repoire with my (former?) mechanic; he used to own a shop called Bristol Motor Works, which is a European car shop specializing in Porsche. He always cut me a break on repair costs because he sold me my first 944 back in 2000, and he's a close friend of a friend. Well, he recently sold his shop and is now a freelancer building Porsche race engines for privateers in the New England area. He offered to do the clutch job for me in his home garage (which has a lift and all the power tools from his shop). He is, of course, charging me for it... but at a very steep discount.

So, long story short, I should have my 951 back on the road within a couple of weeks. I'm not sure how well the weather will cooperate, but, in any case, you can count on me being back on these boards with a greater degree of regularity.

[2Tight]

I'm not sure what actually failed on your clutch but the 951 does not have a rubber-centered clutch. More likely it coughed up a spring from the center section and jammed the disc open. Doing a clutch on a 951 is no fun and if your guy will cut you a break I'd go for it. He has the tools, experience, and will have the car back on the road that much faster. Good luck on the repairs and I hope all turns out well.

[CJFusco]

It was actually the throw-out bearing that went (the car would make a strange "whirring" sound when you put any pressure on the clutch pedal; this was the case for a month or so before it went). When the car became immobile, I was actually pulling into my driveway! Talk about luck! In any case, something happened with the throw-out bearing where the clutch pedal would no longer travel at all.