951 Clutch Ordeal ?'s

Oi-Punx · Oi-Punx's Garage

I'm in the process of buying a 951 which is approx. 8 hours away. The car needs a clutch. I had the owner take the car to his mechanic to get it done because I need to fly to the location and drive it back. The shop quoted me about $1800 for the job (full kit and labor) and started it a day or two ago. Here's what they are telling me with their latest update.

The flywheel bolts were frozen, but were drilled out

The torque bolts need to be special ordered and replaced

The fork lever bearings need to be special ordered and replaced

The flywheel has hot spots and might need to be replaced if it is determined that it cannot be machined.

I believe the shop, but don't know if there's a possibility that they are lying to me. If anyone has had this done what did you pay and what needed to be replaced? Anything else I should be aware of?

Thanks.

Eturbo924 · 03-08-2002, 09:30 AM

Sorry to hear it. Did you read the post below about another shop that charged for items the car did not need?

Watch out. They know you are likely to never be back.

Call BBB in that area and see if there are any reports on this shop.

Eric

Bob's944 · Bob's944's Garage

Everything that you are talking about is available here on Pelican,http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/944M/por_944M_clutch_main.htm . I believe the complete clutch kit handles everything you are talking about, so you can use that as a price guide for what the shop is charging you. The parts are listed separately too. 9 outta 10 times he would be getting the parts for less than that on a wholesale level, they should be easily available to him as a repair shop. I believe he is using standard tactics to get more money out of you, but I don't know what exactly you agreed to pay him for in the first place. If they said "clutch job complete", then any reputable shop would have to include all those obvious items that are replaced at the time the clutch is done. Pelican's complete clutch kit is a good example of what's needed when a reputable business tends to the details of a "clutch job complete"... they all know it's more than a disc, plate and throwout bearing.

Eturbo924 · 03-08-2002, 10:29 AM

Oh just as a comparison. My friends 1989 944S2 clutch job about 2-3 years ago (less than 10K miles on it now) cost him just under $1500. Figure the cost of parts has gone up a little, plus labor rates.... but this still does not account for $300 more plus all the other work they are now adding. Oh and he put the turbo clutch on so costs should be the same.

Eric

ae1969 · 03-08-2002, 03:52 PM

First....1800 is a whaaaaaackk of cash...IMO

Frozen flywheel bolts can happen.... not fun to remove...

Torque bolts need to be order... sure (realatively cheap)

Fork lever bearing should have been included...cheap either way....

Flywheel.......can happen

BUUUUTTTT if you want to spot a Bull****ter......you must bull**** the bull****ter back...

I should write a book on this....

"Just tell him if he feels that the flywheel needs to be replace no problem........you will send him a new flywheel... don't bother charging you for machining the old one......."

The rat will come out and say......."Well it would probably be ok to use the old one" ... bet you $10 ... he tells you this....

I am sorry but they see you as a cash cow at this point....

kukunaokala · 03-09-2002, 06:18 AM

Insist on seeing or keeping all the replaced parts even that drilled out bolt. This is a practice all shops should do and consumers should be aware of. Now I'm wondering, would'nt the throw out bearing be included in the kit.

When I go to a parts store or a repair shop and they ask me what kind of car I have and I say "Porsche", their eyes kinda light up.

Hana pa'a (good luck, I think you'll need it), Neal