Changing Flexplate? Best left to the pros???

[SteveR6]

So my car started making this horrible vibration right, I'm hoping it's the motor mounts but of course that would be too easy. I drop it off at the tranny shop and my mechanic tells me today that my flexplate is cracked in half.....nice.......he want's $400 to replace it! It this a job I should attempt myself or is it best to leave it to him???

 

[rst95eclipse]

You'll have to remove the axles and transmission entirely to get to it. After that, it's fairly easy. If you can follow directions, use your intuition, have the time, patience, and all the tools; then you should be able to do it.

 

[SteveR6]

How heavy is the tranny? Am I going to need some kind of hoist??

 

[rst95eclipse]

You will need a jack and will have to remove it by dropping it down - unless you have a cherry picker and wish to pull the motor too. Make sure that you have another jack or something to prop the engine up, since you only have one motor mount on the drivers side. The other three motor mounts are on the transmission. The tranny not something to be under when trying to take it out, unless you can benchpress 300 pounds no problem.........

 

[Mitchel63]

Lol....an AWD tranny weighs a little over 100lbs....a FWD one a little less. You can drop it down and deal with it just fine on your own. I've even done it with a cast on my leg!

 

[rst95eclipse]

Hate to break this to you but he has an automatic transmission, which obviously weighs more. Additionally, with all of the brackets that will probably be left on, it would be more around 125lbs - which is not symetrical. I would not want to attempt to remove that above my head/body and only be able to handle 100-150% of what I will be lifting.

Simply put, safety first. Use the jack. 99.9% people use it. You just unfortunately saw the .1% post in your thread.

 

[the_skin_eater]

I replaced mine...Then again I took the engine out...Not hard to do.

For 400 Id do it myself.

You want pics or help let me know. I got an auto too.

 

[Mitchel63]

Hate to break this to you but he has an automatic transmission, which obviously weighs more. Additionally, with all of the brackets that will probably be left on, it would be more around 125lbs - which is not symetrical. I would not want to attempt to remove that above my head/body and only be able to handle 100-150% of what I will be lifting.

Simply put, safety first. Use the jack. 99.9% people use it. You just unfortunately saw the .1% post in your thread.

Hah! One of those days.....

 

[SteveR6]

Still not sure what I should do. What are we looking at time frame wise to so this yourself? I'm leaning on just letting him do it because it's my daily transportation so I need it back ASAP. Also, I'm assuming noone makes an aftermarket stronger flexplate??

 

[antlip]

These trannys arent that heavy. My freidn did a tranny swap in his drive way on jacks and jackstands. It probly isnt the safest thing to do having the car that high in the air laying on your back bench pressing a tranny. I wouldnt recommend donig this in your driveway like my friend did. For 400$ it is well worth having a pro do it. It isnt worth laying on your back in the driveway pulling out trannys with the car 3 feet in the air.

 

[Dorifto]

If you've got any question of it, and need your car back as quickly as possible, let the shop do it. IMHO, it's not worth the effort or hassle to try it yourself in the interest of saving a buck.

Sure, we're DSMers and can write a book on cheap [that's a good thing], but there are some things that are just more conveniently done by someone else at times.

 

[SteveR6]

Anyone know of any stronger aftermarket flexplates out there?

 

[rst95eclipse]

I have never seen one. And I've never heard of one breaking.

 

[SteveR6]

Well mine did . You can look in the inspection hole and see that. Too much brake boost launching I'm assuming to be the culprit.

 

[luvmygst]

I would call summit and ask if anyone makes a SFi approved flexplate for it.

EDIT: I checked IPT ( importperformancetrans.com ) and did not see anything I would give them a call on monday and ask there advice.

 

[antlip]

I would try a more DSM based site. Like slowboyracing or extreme psi. I doubt summit will have anyone familiar with DSMs. Spend 15 or 20 mins calling shops and asking questions.

 

[rst95eclipse]

I don't think you're going to find it if IPT doesn't readily sell one. I'm sure they could make you one, but that will cost you.

 

[SteveR6]

I'm just going to put another stocker in ther and cross my fingers. No more brake boost launching.

 

[the_skin_eater]

Only one I found was at the dealership....

They seem plenty strong, just make sure its installed right. Thats how mine snapped.

The tranny shop that the previous owner spent hundreds on did it wrong...Ya, better left to the pros my ass. Just cause they say they know what their doing doesnt mean they do...