by PominaSube » Wed Jul 09, 2014 7:40 pm
Right, well, big update on this...
Got the clutch changed today, expecting a clutch kit and bill of around $1200. Get a call from the mechanic to say that whilst the flywheel is serviceable, its in no condition to be covered by any sort of warranty, and that there is lots for me to look at when I collect the car. OK, need the work to be done and life to move on.
When I collected the car, the mechanic went through the old clutch/flywheel, showing me how the clutch ha not been put in right and was misaligned. This misalignment was evident in the way in which the pressure plate was wearing and various coloured marks on all parts of the assembly. But it was the flywheel that showed most concern. The dowels that take the weight of the pressure were all loose and in being moved and stretched has caused the edges of their holes to become raised and cracked. The dowels were easily lifted out by fingertips, and were a risk to being let loose within the clutch/gearbox.
On top of that, many of the bolts on the bell housing had been rounded off, and one bolt was stripped. These have obviously now been replaced.
Simply put, it was a great assembly put together by chimps. Remember, this was a new Exedy clutch/flywheel assembly installed four weeks before I bought the car, and by today had covered just 7000km.
Before anyone suggests it, yes I had already taken the car back to the place it was fitted, but the owner was not interested in helping at all, pointing out that the warranty for parts does not, in the case of a private sale, transfer to the new owner. Trading Standards NSW back this up.
So, if anyone needs a clutch changing on the Northern Beaches I've got two recommendations - one is to be avoided at all costs (PM me if you think you or your friends are heading to a franchised outfit around Dee Why/Brookvale), the other is Warringah Clutch and Brake Centre in Brookie. They're probably not going to be the cheapest, but the service and advice has been brilliant.
Finally, if you've got a noise related to the clutch, don't wait for something to happen, cos it'll be expensive when it does.