First day of school....and a blown clutch.

Another944kid · 08-25-2003, 11:01 AM

On my way to school today and I'm shifting into second gear (higher rpm I admit) and a fun ole shudder, no go, and rubber smell errupted. Late for first class, no second car, my friendly mechanic won't touch it, I'm broke, and I still live at home with cranky parents. I just wanna see who can top my clutch explosion story. Oh yea...gotta find a ride to class at 1:30 and a ride to work at 5....can't wait for tomarrow. Anyone near Lewiston,ID wanna lend me a beater?

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

Cranky parents!

Bet they don't let you drive their cars.

Another944kid · 08-25-2003, 11:10 AM

Well my dad does..I work on his cars. My mom is strange and would let me use her Trailblazer in an act of guilt towards me. Then I'd owe her something in return that would never be resolved to her standards. My dad unfortunately lives 500 miles away now...so no go with his Suby. I heard Vertex Auto has cheap clutch kits, what about a Centerforce or an ACT clutch. Figure each set will be between $390-$450

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

The cheapest repair is to just replace the clutch disk. Some like to replace the throw out bearing and the pilot bearing too. I would only if they are gritty when turned by hand.

The other thing to look at is the fingers on the clutch TO arm. These tend to crack at the TO attachment and break.

Get the spring center disk. Less than $300 if not $200.

I had just moved out of the family home when the parents finally split from years of bickering. I'm the oldest of four. My third and fourth siblings got the brunt of the seperated alcoholic parents wrath and have not recoverd since. That was thirty-five years ago.

Another944kid · 08-25-2003, 11:23 AM

Yea, next year I'll be out for sure..parents are moving overseas. I'll be a junior in college..and back on my own again. Finally. So where can I find just the spring centered disc for cheap? Do I not need to wrry bout the PP?

84 944 · 08-25-2003, 11:29 AM

Thats pretty bad 944 kid i know how it feels im young and own a now broken 944 to. About a month ago i was going to a new job interview and to fix my classes at school i saw on oppertunity to pull out of my driveway(ilive on a main street). I backed up fast in reverse and heard the sound of metal on metal like someone hitting my tranny with a pole. Tore it down and found two spyders gears in the diff with missing teeth. My dad doesn't want to buy a used unit that he can't inspect first (he's a mechanic) so i had to order from the dealer. The total came out to like $700 and that was two weeks ago and the parts still aren't here. If the parts don't come in soon im screwed i still need to buy books and fix my classes as well as find another job none of which i can do with a broken car. If i don't have the car i can't get books and i can't get to school.

Another944kid · 08-25-2003, 11:33 AM

Well my Porsche mechanic is going to help me through it. Tonight I'm going to start the teardown if I can use my friend's shop. I'll have a FSM, a CLarks Garage printout, and the necessary porsche tools. Heard I need to be careful of a speed sensor. And I'll be buying a discounted SPring centered Disk as well. So who wants to give me some tips?

Another944kid · 08-25-2003, 11:35 AM

Damn...I gotta buy books too.. I'm just gonna do the energy pill thing this week and get it done. Atleast it's the 1st week and not a big test week. Hang in there..

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

The pressure plates on these cars are killers! There is an "assist" spring on the clutch peddle so you will not break your leg pushing it in. I've had the same pressure plate for over 140,000.

But! The pressure surfaces can get a bit dicey and cause the car to shutter when the clutch is let out. Never had any slippage though.

Goku · Goku's Garage

I live in the Twin Falls Idaho area, and guess what. My 88 951 is sitting in my garage with a bad clutch too! Dumb things. I'm also looking for a good place to get it replaced and find a cheap one online. Idaho is bad for these cars

MrPants · 08-25-2003, 02:24 PM

i feel your pain, just got off the phone with the mechanic after getting off the phone with school.
$$$chaching!
im fortunate to have a job i can walk to and parents that live 1500 miles away

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

Yes. Pull the speed sensors before you try to take off the bell housing. They are $60 each if you break one.

Techmonkey · 08-25-2003, 03:06 PM

at least you didn't spin #2 berring like me

Ich bin Michael · Ich bin Michael's Garage

I feel all your clutch pains. I recently bought a '44 with many problems, including terrible clutch chatter. Let me tell you... the haynes manual seems vauge to me. But then again, I'm no mechanic. However, with the help of this board,(mainly SoCal and Ronin), I was able to do the job in two weeks. I do have a second car (84 rabbit diesel) and a nice garage. The first week was the worst... tearing her apart. Then the three piece kit from Pelican came. Putting her back together was easier. If you have access to tools and a good jack and GOOD stands you could probably do it yourself. Oh, I forgot... you have a mechanic friend with a place to do it... right?

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

Replacing a clutch on a 944 is quite an acomplishment. It can be done over 14 to 20 hours depending on your mechanical skill and the whim of the rain gods. Most likely you will only do this once to your 944.

Good jack stands are a must because you are going to be under the car. Don't want all of your "helpers" leaning against the car and knocking it down on you.

Another944kid · 08-26-2003, 12:54 AM

I towed the car to the shop tonight. After class tomarrow I am headed over to pull it apart. My choiceis to be on a hoist or in a pit. Some reason the pit seems better unless I need the wheels off the ground. I'm gonna do my motor mounts at the same time too. Figure while stuff is outta the way it's good timing. The Sachs spring disk cost me $250 and will be here early Wed. morning. Hopefully it's back together on Friday. I'm sure I'll have more questions in this thread. Now I'm real happy that I did all the belts.pulleys early on. Only stuff left now is my leaky ac comp. PS was replaced along with all other shady items. Thinkin this car is gonna be around a lot longer than I thought.

scheistermeiste · 08-26-2003, 01:03 AM

grrrr ive had a bad past few weeks too. 1)still have to pay for school 2)need to pay parking citation from today at school when parking meter expired 3) need to buy parking permit 4) NO JOB 5) leeking oil from main seal 6) power steerong pump leaking 7) need new waterpump and timing belt 8) cut off the other day and slammed into guardrail at 35-40mpg, good by drivers side 9) bent swaybar 10) need alignment horribly 11) need to buy books for school 12 ) left side still hurts 13) very odd noise when i start the car sometimes 14) did i mention i dont have a job??? yeah it sux but im just ganna grit my teeth and live through it.

sry for everyone elses problems best of luck!

scheistermeiste · 08-26-2003, 01:04 AM

and a clogged radiator how could i forget that?

VINMAN · 08-26-2003, 05:53 AM

Just put mine up on the stands last nite to start my clutch job, got the tranny out, now for the fun part............