samneric Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 Hi, I have a nice new Excedy clutch to fit into my '98 Outback. Question - do I risk having a shop machine the flywheel it and mess it up, do I clean it up with resurfacing air tools, leave it alone or buy a new one???? There is what looks like an oil stain on both the flywheel/pressure plate from what I guess was the tranny front seal leaking. It was leaking badly. I tried cleaning the flwheel with brake cleaner and even emry paper with water but the stains are still evident... Don't want to mess up my 380 dollar Excedy or have to pull the tranny again to fix any issues.... want to make this is done right first time! Recommendations appreciated! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davebugs Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 I get them resurfaced locally. A lot of folks just buff them up with a scotch brite pad on an air drill basically. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daredevil1166 Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 I bought a new one. A Subaru OEM one. And I'd do it again. I like peace of mind. Really, it's just personal preference. I take it you took care of the trans seal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markjw Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 I'd just give it the scotch brite treatment. If I had a machine shop around here that I was certain knew how to surface a subaru flywheel,I would probably take it in. But,I've had two of them messed up,and slipped after installation,where as I have never had problems with just reusing the old flywheel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 (edited) Depends entirely on the level of wear. For the price of a resurface - $35 and a 15 minute wait for my machine shop to do it - I do them almost every time. A new one is not that expensive either. I would buy a new one only if I suspected the flywheel had been resurfaced more than once before. My rule is no more than two resurfaces - after that they are done. 3 clutch replacements should carry the car close to end-of-life though (for any normal person) so in practice I've never actually had to replace one. Being that EJ flywheels are flat - it takes a mouth-breathing moron to screw up a resurface on one. You pull the alignment pins, grind it, and reinstall the pins. Doesn't get any easier. I'm sure markjw is speaking of experiences with EA stepped flywheels which are routinely screwed up by shops that don't know their business. When I do those I specify the step height to the machinist and I measure it before I leave. GD Edited September 8, 2010 by GeneralDisorder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samneric Posted September 8, 2010 Author Share Posted September 8, 2010 Depends entirely on the level of wear. For the price of a resurface - $35 and a 15 minute wait for my machine shop to do it - I do them almost every time. A new one is not that expensive either. I would buy a new one only if I suspected the flywheel had been resurfaced more than once before. My rule is no more than two resurfaces - after that they are done. 3 clutch replacements should carry the car close to end-of-life though (for any normal person) so in practice I've never actually had to replace one. Being that EJ flywheels are flat - it takes a mouth-breathing moron to screw up a resurface on one. You pull the alignment pins, grind it, and reinstall the pins. Doesn't get any easier. I'm sure markjw is speaking of experiences with EA stepped flywheels which are routinely screwed up by shops that don't know their business. When I do those I specify the step height to the machinist and I measure it before I leave. GD Thanks for the advice all, Looks like I get to choose - I will see if I can get a recommendation for a good machine shop or else just find one local. Daredevil - I am in the process of doing the transmission - have it out - just waiting on the seal from Subaru - the parts guys down here, although knowledgeable, tend to be a little forgetful - Its been two weeks since I ordered the seal and I'm still waiting for it to come in..... May start ordering parts from 1stsubaru from now on - only went with dealer for the "convenience"! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daredevil1166 Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 (edited) GD has a good point. Only a moron could mess up an EJ flywheel. I did have mine resurfaced the first time I did the clutch. But I got tired of pulling the engine so I went with all new everything the second time. I've found that subarugenuineparts.com is more convenient than the dealer. And cheaper, depending on where you live and what it costs to ship. I've gotten a ton of parts from them and they've been great. I only go to the dealer if I want something now and they have it in stock. SGP is only a day's shipping from me so if a local dealer has to order it and SGP has it, I get it quicker from SGP anyway. How was that trans seal replacement? I need to tear apart my trans and it's got me scared. I'd be more comfortable doing an engine rebuild. Edited September 8, 2010 by daredevil1166 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markjw Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 I'm sure markjw is speaking of experiences with EA stepped flywheels which are routinely screwed up by shops that don't know their business. GD Yup....I forgot the EJ flywheels are flat. I've never had a machine shop screw up a flat flywheel. I would certainly have a flat flywheel machined before I put a new clutch pack on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goobysoobs Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 its really up to you though for what you pay for it to be machined (here its at least 40) you can spend another $10 or so more and get a new one, the only thing is they usually don't have them in stock (at least here) so you'll have to wait for it to come in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samneric Posted September 8, 2010 Author Share Posted September 8, 2010 How was that trans seal replacement? I need to tear apart my trans and it's got me scared. I'd be more comfortable doing an engine rebuild. Well it seems it comes down to personal choice and the cost of a new/turned wheel. I will hunt around. Daredevil: I have not completed the Tranny re-seal yet - I do have it out of the car though. I was scared about pulling it apart until I read and understood the following write-up: http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=90182&highlight=easy+transmission As long as you are not pulling gears off the shafts, simply changing the seals shouldn't be to big a deal. Good luck with yours - I'll keep you posted on how mine goes - once the parts come in!!! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samneric Posted September 8, 2010 Author Share Posted September 8, 2010 Damn!! Just looked at prices of a new flywheel: 1stSubaruParts - $280 SubaruGenuineParts - $204 (with discount) Napa - $97 Machine shop me thinks!!! I don't know where you're gonna find one for 50 bucks:confused: Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 www.rockauto.com is probably going to be about the cheapest. OEM is always twice or three times as much. GD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samneric Posted September 8, 2010 Author Share Posted September 8, 2010 GD, Napa is showing a stepped flywheel for the EJ25: # Flywheel Teeth : 124 # Flywheel To Crankshaft Mounting Holes : 8 Flywheel O.D. : 11.888" Flywheel Step : +.002" The EJ22 is listed as flat..... # Flywheel Teeth : 124 # Flywheel To Crankshaft Mounting Holes : 6 Flywheel O.D. : 12.384" The one on my car has 8 holes so I assume it is stepped.... kinda looks like it... I will post a piccy if I find out how... (do I need to use a free piccy website to show piccies here?) Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goobysoobs Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 Carquest was where I went with the ea82 flywheel for $43 I dont think the EJ22 flywheel will be too much more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samneric Posted September 8, 2010 Author Share Posted September 8, 2010 Carquest was where I went with the ea82 flywheel for $43 I dont think the EJ22 flywheel will be too much more. I have an EJ25.... Rockauto has them for 65.... I will try carquest.... Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samneric Posted September 8, 2010 Author Share Posted September 8, 2010 Thank you PhotoBucket!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 .002" is basically flat. That's not even a step that's worth trying to duplicate on a resurface. Too small to worry about in the world of clutch measurements. GD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 Resurface it - and replace that pilot GD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goobysoobs Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 That's pretty pitted. and what GD said or get a new one. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samneric Posted September 8, 2010 Author Share Posted September 8, 2010 Resurface it - and replace that pilot GD Yeah, got a new pilot in the clutch kit! Me thinks it's the problem behind my leaky tranny Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 That's called glaze. It's not a stain, it's burned metal from riding the clutch too much, or from slipping as the clutch wore out. Being that EJ flywheels are flat - it takes a mouth-breathing moron to screw up a resurface on one. Mine had a step. Something like .005, but it was there before, so I kept it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samneric Posted September 9, 2010 Author Share Posted September 9, 2010 That's called glaze. It's not a stain, it's burned metal from riding the clutch too much, or from slipping as the clutch wore out. Glaze it is then! I did notice the clutch slipping when in 5'th gear and going from about 60 to 70 with eagerness. I guess this is the early stages of slip because it didn't do it at low speeds. So the glaze is nothing to do with gear oil getting on the clutch plate??? Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samneric Posted September 20, 2010 Author Share Posted September 20, 2010 New pics Nice shiney new flywheel and pilot bearing (a tad better than my old bearing ) The usual suspect - oil separator cleaned up and ready for new part. Back of tranny off. Side of tranny off. Gubbins out Just waiting on new parts so I can re-assemble... Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daredevil1166 Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 Nice! I just split the new-used trans I put in my Outback last week. I was surprised at how easy it was. It was much easier to split the trans and replace all the seals than it was to just remove it. Gloyale's write-up on the front seal replacement helped a ton. So, you sprang for a new flywheel? Genuine Subaru? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samneric Posted September 20, 2010 Author Share Posted September 20, 2010 So, you sprang for a new flywheel? Genuine Subaru? No, I got it from Napa - cost me 95+tax. I did have my old one re-surfaced but the machinist mentioned that it was a little bit warped. I didn't want to take any chances so I bought a new one. The clutch on my Brat judders sporadically and I don't want a repeat of that on my OBW. Better safe than sorry me thinks! Can't wait for the tranny seal kit to come in so I can get it back together. I haven't even driven it properly since I bought it and its about time now! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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