Hello,

So I've recently run into some slight problems with my mustang that required seeing a mechanic. About a week ago I noticed abnormal amounts of vibration coming from the clutch pedal, along with difficulty in shifting into first and reverse.

Now I took it to a shop I've been going to for about 6 years now, locally owned, and the service has always been great and prices reasonable. The mechanics inspected my 2000 stang and informed me that the "throwout bearing" in the clutch had broken, and that I would need a new clutch most likely within the next 1k miles.

I said okay that sounds logical, and was happy with the diagnosis until I heard the price. According to my mechanics, it will cost at the minimum $800 for a clutch replacement & installation, nearly a 1/5 of what I paid for the whole car!

Now I've been doing some research and am quite stumped. I can find aftermarket "clutch kits" for $200-$300. Assuming labors $65 an hour, does it really take upwards of 7-8 hours to install a new clutch?

I trust these guys but something doesn't add up. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

I really dont know much about the clutch and how they are installed and stuff but I think that sounds high especially if you can find aftermarket ones for $200-$300 (also check eBay). I really dont think it takes 7-8 hours to install that lol...

 

700-800 dollars is too much. It's not a simple fix either though.

 

thats sounds kinda high. u should ask them why its kinda high. they may be getting the parts from a vendor thats highly priced. it should only take 3 hours or so. that clutch is easy as hell to replace if ur a decent mechanic with a lift and some tools. hell, it should take maybe 5 hours to do in a driveway if u know how to replace a clutch.

 

sound a little high to me. should be able to get the trans out within an hour and a half to two hours, putting the new clutch and pressure plate should take like 15 minutes at that point, then put it all back in. 5-6 hours is more reasonable

 

So I got the phone book and called around to 3-4 local shops and it appears the going rate for clutch replacements is around $700-$900. I've decided I'll probably purchase the SPEC "Stage 1" clutch kit off of American Muscle, and then just pay for labor. Should I get a new aftermarket flywheel also? A local mechanic recommended that over grinding down the old flywheel, saying if the heat cracked the release bearing then the flywheel's probably cracked too?

 

probably not. There is nothing unusual about give the wheel a turn, save yourself a but load of money and just do that... there is no danger of it cracking

 

$800 is really high.
Did they give you a written qoute? Tell you exactly what will be done?
If they replace the flywheel, clutch disc, pressure plate and throwout bearing I can see it being a little high. but not $800. Get it in writing. always

 

It says it pays 4.2 hours mechanical in my system for a clutch replacement. So, times that by $80/hr or w/e the going rate is @ that shop and you only get $336. That time includes taking out the trans, to me, anything over 5 hours mechanical would be excessive. I would get a break down of time too. If they just say well it pays 5 hours, then ask within that 5 hours, what will be done.