New flywheel required w/clutch?

[mb86]

Is it always necessary to replace the flywheel when the clutch is replaced? The local (Herndon, VA) dealer says they always replace the flywheel, don't resurface it. Is resurfacing even necessary?

 

I have a '97 Legacy GT 2.5l.

 

Thanks.

[nipper]

Subaru flywheels are light and thin to begin with. If hes not asking for a lot of money for the part (really shouldnt be any extra labor) i would go with his recomendation. Usually a flywheel gets inspected and turned just to remove the glazing. i would change the flywheel, consdiering this is a once in a (with luck) over 100K mile repair.

 

 

 

nipper

[mb86]

Unfortunately, this is the second clutch in 120k miles. They want almost $1,300 to replace clutch and flywheel which seems like a lot to me. I'm trying to put minimal money into the car at this point. I should be able to get the clutch kit for under $300, so when I go out to get quotes from independents, I wanted to know whether I have to expect to pay for a flywheel. Sounds like it may not be absolutely necessary. What is the downside to leaving the old flywheel? Will it mate with a regular (not heavy duty) Exedy clutch?

[nipper]

damn, thats about 50% more then i would have guessed. Since most the $$ is in the parts, i would get all the parts myself and go from there, as labor doesn't really change from shop to shop.

I forget who deals with subaru parts here, i am sure there is a clutch kit. Any specific reason for the early clutch failure?

 

 

nipper

[All_talk]

Only an inspection will tell you if replacing the flywheel is required (or at least advisable). If it hasn't been severely over heated and shows no cracking/surface checking or excessive metal to metal contact it should be fine to resurface. Any good automotive machine shop should be able to do it, around here the job goes for about $50-$60. I would never spend the money to do a clutch job without at least resurfacing the flywheel, not at the cost of the Subaru parts, never mind the labor (I do my own work).

 

Gary

 

FWIW, I'll throw a $25 replacement disk in one of my VWs without changing anything else, but that's $25 and I can do the job in about an hour.

[mb86]

damn, thats about 50% more then i would have guessed. Since most the $$ is in the parts, i would get all the parts myself and go from there, as labor doesn't really change from shop to shop.

I forget who deals with subaru parts here, i am sure there is a clutch kit. Any specific reason for the early clutch failure?

 

I definitely expected something under $1k. Sounds like about $550 labor, the rest parts. I figured I would use the prices I found online as a baseline when I get estimates- if they want too much I'll talk about buying the parts myself. Also want to make sure I get an Exeedy replacement. It may be the same as the OEM Subaru, but I'm hoping it's better, and I definitely don't want anything less.

 

I can't say why the clutches aren't lasting. My wife put most of the miles on the car until we got a new Volvo a year ago. I haven't noticed anything about how she drives (or how I drive) that would cause it. Maybe I slip the clutch extra because the Subaru doesn't go from stop as smoothly as most manuals. I have been unimpressed with the mileage from Subaru brake pads and the clutches.

[JohnVT]

not sure if my wife or I do anything especially wrong with this clutch, although I feel it does slip on me at times, maybe because I'm used to the stiffer clutch on the old Saab I usually drive, but the first clutch on our 97 OBW lasted about 70K miles, then only about 40K. This one has about 25K on it, and I haven't noticed anything yet, but the flywheel will get resurfaced or replaced next time...