Replacing clutch & flywheel - chime in please...

[Hank3]

I found the How-To that will basically allow me to get to the point to swap out the clutch and flywheel, however, my question is will I need to purchase tranny fluid? The How-To was for tranny gears and LSD, so I didn't know if doing the clutch and flywheel would require draining the fluid and replacing...or just top off? My brother is helping me swap out since he's done it on other cars before, but he wanted to make sure I had everything needed for the job.

Any other pointers from folks who have done this would be great, too! Is it realistic to have this done in a day if we start in the morning?

 

[Perro del Sol]

Replace the fluid, nonreason not too!

 

[Hank3]

OK. Going to pick up some up before we tear things apart

Hopefully I'll be chatter free after this. Been living with it for too long.

 

[tweety2300]

If its chattering you need to replace the flywhe due to hot spots causing the chatter

 

[Hank3]

Yeah...I'm replacing the clutch and flywheel this weekend.

 

[mp5la]

Be prepared for a rough job. I just did this a couple months ago and it sucked. If your car has a lot of miles on it, you might consider replacing the rear main seal while you're there. I did mine just to make sure I wouldn't have to drop the transmission for it anytime soon. If you've never done one, you might consider buying two seals. They're really easy to mess up on installation. Remember to grease your fork pivot points too.

 

[thuzil]

^ ditto

Get a good breaker bar to get those bolts out. Also it may take awhile to rock the transmission off of the crankshaft. Make sure you support it from underneath with a transmission jack. I Aldo recommend getting all 4 corners up on jack stands as high as you can. It will make life much easier.

Also remember to get brake fluid as you should bleed the brakes and clutch after this job.

 

[Hank3]

Thank for the additional info, mp5la and thuzil. I purchased a big bottle of brake fluid. I have a new slave and master cylinder to swap out as well.

The rear main seal...did you get it from Mazda or do they have it at Advance Auto or some place similar?

 

[mp5la]

I got mine from mazda, but I'd imagine a local shop would carry a fel pro. I highly recommend getting two.

 

[Hank3]

Ordered one from Advance Auto. If I need another, there's another store that has one in-stock.

 

[Hank3]

Just to make sure, this is the rear main seal correct?

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...991625-p?searchTerm=felpro+rear+main+seal+set

 

[thuzil]

That would be it. My suggestion for replacing the seal is to find a piece of abs or PVC pipe that is the same diameter ad the seal and is big enough to fit over the crank. Make sure one end UA perfectly flat and smooth and use it instead of the SST to seat the seal. Make sure your tolerances around entire circumference of the seal are good. I think it has to be about 1mm below the surface of the aluminum housing. If it gets installed crooked it will break up much faster and leak. To get the old one out I use a razor and cut the middle and carefully pry them out. Do not scratch the crank surface or you will get leaks.

 

[Hank3]

Thanks, thuzil.

 

[tweety2300]

2nd set of hands will help alot. Unfortunately we don't have Hondas where one person rocks it out from the bottom while one lifts it out from the top and start to finish is 3-3.5 hours. Look forward to 6-8 with a protege if you've done a clutch job before

 

[Hank3]

Oh most certainly. Will have hopefully be three of us tomorrow, but def two

I'm replacing the belts, tie-rod ends, and slave cylinder (and probably the master cylinder) as well. Big car day tomorrow!

 

[tweety2300]

With all that might end up being 2 lol

 

[Hank3]

yeah...no kidding

Mentally prepared for that.