Shop price for changing clutch + misc?

[92NTlarry]

I got some questions. Appreciate your suggestions and opinions.

I was quoted USD $850 to have my clutch slave, clutch disc, throwout bearing changed & flywheel resufaced. That includes taxes + labor.

Another shop quoted me $733 for the same thing.

Car is 1.8 NT, 92 eclipse.

The problem is

1. Both of these shops quoted $325 for the clutch kit for OEM-grade. I could get Exedy on ebay for $105. (This is a street car. Will probably never race. So I don't need the best stuff.) So, I was ripped off for more than $200 there. And both of these shops won't install if I bring in my own stuffs due to "warranty problem". Whatever.

2. I would also like to learn & see whatever is needed to replace at that time. Like may be rear main seal or whatnot.

So, my questions are,

1. Are the prices above reasonable?
2. Do you know of any good shop around ks, ok, co, ak, mo, il, tx states?

3. I can do timing belt myself (as far as skills). Took 2 days, but I did it. Can I do clutch myself? Please keep in mind that I cannot carry more than 80 pounds top. Also I don't have lots of tools. I got about 2 stands, two jacks. That's about it. Also there is nobody to help me.

4. Is there somebody within 200-300 miles radius of KS 66762 or 66210 (kansas city) who can help me (will be paid) ? I can drive there or if you come, I will arrange motel + expense + for your trouble? Is anybody interested?

If you have your own tools + garage, I can drive to your place till done (even 3-4 days not a problem, I will get a motel).

Please note you need to have done this before. Preferrably very familiar with dsm. Shop quoted labor was $385. So, may be something like that? Of course, I will be there to help (if even emotionally ) My beef is not with that labor. But, the $200 markup + not being able to bring in my own parts.

If you don't feel like charging (enthusiast) a fellow dsmer, I'm a pretty good computer guy (got own computer consulting company + 7+ certifications). I can help you with your computer problems. Or I can be there whenever you need a hand modding, playing with your car. How's that?

Appreciate it.

Fellow DSMer.

 

[NOSLO2PT0]

They don't want you to bring your own parts because they can't make any money on the markup of those parts. I work in an auto parts store. I know the prices of these parts. Take brake rotors for example. Gf's sister got quoted $700 for PARTS, to do front pads, rotors, rear drums, wheel cylinders, and 1 soft brake line. That $700 didn't include labor. I bought everything, including 2 rebuilt calipers (hers were shot, bleeder screws totally frozen), another new soft brake line, new stabilizer endlinks (hers were completely sheared off), 2 new rear lines (damn rusted fittings), all for a total of about $200, BEFORE my discount.

Their parts markup is HUGE. Also, they dont' know the condition of the parts they are putting on, so I imagine warranty does become an issue.

I was quoted USD $850 to have my clutch slave, clutch disc, throwout bearing changed & flywheel resufaced. That includes taxes + labor.

R&R on a clutch is about 5-6 hours book time. Given avg. labor prices, that's about $350. Auto part store pricing goes as follows: $125 for clutch kit (pressure plate, disc, possibly TOB), slave cylinder $25, resurface flywheel is $40. You can do the math.


I'd offer to do it for ya for a few $$, but I live about 500 miles from ya

 

[92NTlarry]

Thanks for the reply.

So, seems like both these shops are not that terrible. Let's take $850 for example. Less $385 labor, less tax and I'm looking at $400 for parts and resurfacing.

But, the actual parts and resurfacing is about $200. So, the extra $200 is markup. That includes a warranty of 12K miles or 12 months. Something like that. So, not too bad for a peace of mind.

I hear ya about rotors. Last time I was quoted $85 per new rotor because they (Midas) said it is too thin to turn. Anyway, I went to Oreilly, bought new ones at $25 each. And did the whole thing myself. Knowledge is damn valuable.

----

I have been to Peroia, Macomb once in a while. Are you around there or are you closer to Chicago? I have never been inside Chicago. But, been to Grayslake once. I travel quite a lot. The only problem is I don't know when I will go where.

----

I think if I should just let the second shop (TirePlus) do it for $733. The guy there must be hurting because they normally don't do clutch which scares me a bit.

The 1st shop ($850) is my regular mechanic shop and they are pretty good with warranty and such.

I will see if I can save up some $$$ before the clutch goes out. Should last another 3-4 months I think.

Thanks!

 

[NOSLO2PT0]

I'm about 2 hours north of Peoria, 1 hr. southwest of Chicago. I'd offer to do the entire shebang for about $350 ish, depending on what parts were going to be replaced. But that's kinda far to drive, don't ya think? Should be able to get it all done in a day, easily.

Good luck with your choices of mechanics out there.

Mike

 

[92NTlarry]

Well,

Don't rule me out yet.

The reason is my wife has an exam in Chicago around the last week of July (or first week of August).

Her exam is the Medical Licensing Exam, which will take the whole day 8-5. And we will both likely be there 3 days. 1 day before + 1 after. So, it could still be done. I'm just not sure if my clutch will last until then.

Or may be I got a gig (contract) on my job and will just pay whatever $$$ they want here + buy a new car (probably Galant).

If I'm going to need your help, I will let you know at least one month in advance. That way we can go ahead and plan for it.

Appreciate it.

 

[krazywhitboy]

wow, i got my own clutch, flywheel, pressure plate and throw out bearing off ebay for 80 bucks (its exedy and can handle 300+ hp) . i got a quote from a shop to install everything for 200 bucks.....geez and i thought everything was more expensive here in cali....

 

[92NTlarry]

Actually, I found that bigger cities have more shops, more competitions. Therefore cheaper.

California is great. Things there seems to be cheaper. Seafood (was there last December, love the scenary, foods), medical insurance, etc.

Here in the middle of nowhere (cornfield), everything is pretty expensive.

But, auto insurance, gas is very cheap here. My insurance on 92, 1.8L NT is $250 ....... per year! Liability only ... 100, 300, 100 coverage. People everywhere are paying that much a month! But you need to be a resident of Kansas (since my insurance company is incorporated in KS).

Gas is around $1.50 for 87 grade right now.

My clients are around here. So, I'm kind of stuck here. Oh well.

--
If I can ever get to Sacremento, I got a very close friend (mechanic) there who will do the whole nine yards for me for beer . But, too risky for my 192K miles car, not that it's not dependable. But, Colorado mountains can be very hard on cars.

 

[amp9211]

Hey man,

I am having a shop here in Topeka do my clutch, flywheel, and transmition. Before they told me that the transmition would need to be fixed, they quoted me around $650 for a Luk clutch kit ($250) and resurfacing the flywheel ($30) plus labor. I went ahead and decided to step up to an ACT 2100 and a ACT flywheel since they were already in there. They had no problem doing the work with my own parts. They would still be making a couple hundred dollars just in labor!

Just FYI.

BTW, do you go to school at Pitt? That's where my little sis goes to school!

 

[92NTlarry]

$650 for all clutch work? Sounds reasonable. Topeka is not too far from here. Hmm.

Can you please give me the shop's name & number?

---
Yeah. I went to Pittstate. Graduated in 1998. Moved to Kansas City for 4 years on a job. Now, moved back. It's a nice school & town.

 

[amp9211]

The name of the place is:

Automotion
1901 S Kansas Ave.
Topeka, KS 66612
(785) 232-9911

I would probably talk to John Schultz. He is the owner of the shop. I thought that his rates were pretty reasonable. I know that he does road racing, so I know that he knows his stuff.

Give him a call and let me know what you find out !

 

[Mike1992]

If ya dont have time to go and figure things out on your own, like I did you can bring it to me and ill do it for $200 you bring your own parts. You dont have to resurface a NT flywheel there's no step so I've heard. Could be wrong. I can do a clutch job in about 3 hours. No need in replacing the clutch slave and master unless they're leaking. I got the exedy clutch kit on ebay also, not a bad price, works fine for a DD. I can teach you how to do this on your own, I have my own garage and all the tools necassary

 

[92NTlarry]

Mike,

Wow, somebody so close. Springfield, MO. That's only about 1.5 hours from here. Been there a couple of times. Yeah, that would be great!

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Now, I don't know about clutch slave cylinder. The shop told me that it is leaking. The thing is I've never have to fill up the fluid? So, how can I tell then?

I think my flywheel is probably fine. My clutch has 150K and still seems like it can wait a month or two. So, I must be driving it nice

My car was never raced. Everything is stock. It is just my main commuter. 192K now. It runs pretty good. My aim is 300K. Timing belt, all other belts, water pump, alternator was just changed. So, should be good. Never taken compression but it must be pretty fine with pretty good power and 34 MPG on highway.

I appreciate the fact that you're gonna show me some stuffs. Knowing is invaluable. I'm not necessarily going to work on it in the future. But, if I'm ever stranded (just in case, not that the car has ever done that to me), I'd like to know why, what parts need to be replaced, and if I can do it.

Is exedy a good brand of clutch? I can get the kit for around $99 on ebay. So, I was thinking about getting that.

Can you email me at [email protected]? We can talk more.

-----
Everybody

I really appreciate all the help and suggestions here. Obviously, I'm at the right place for my car

 

[talon1979]

I would shop around or see if a local DSMr changes clutches. My first clutch I ever had replaced Pep Boys did it for $500 and that included a new clutch, resurface flywheel, labor, etc.... Now I do my own clutches w/ the help of friends.

 

[Mike1992]

e-mail sent

 

[fasteclipse1992]

hey 92ntlarry. i live in joplin mo real close to you. i know how it is not wanting to pay a mechanic to do work for you and thier outragious prices. i can do this for you super cheap compared to a shop. if u got all the parts i got all the tools. ive changed my clutch severeal times. i can have it done in about 4 hrs or less. if u need a clutch i have a 1.8 clutch kit with less than 200 miles on it. if u cant come to me i can go to you if needed.