How much for a new clutch? - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

ChainsawCharlie · 05-21-2009, 11:18 AM

07 Frontier, 27k miles and clutch is gone already.

Seems odd to me. I am the only driver, and there was no abuse. I pull a trailer about 30% of the miles. And load has nevergone over 1500 pounds.

4wd is rarely used.

It just seems to me the clutch would have lasted a lot longer.

And the dealership quoted me $1800 to repair. hat seems highly outrageous to me.

naptown CR · 05-21-2009, 11:26 AM

27K is a short life for a clutch. last one I replaced was on a toyota truck at 240000 yes that is correct mileage. Clutch plate was ok the pressure plate springs broke from old age.

Is this all city driving or mostly highway?

The dealer will be much more expensive than an independant shop.

A W Smith · 05-21-2009, 11:31 AM

maybe you have a rear crankshaft seal leaking? check for a drip on the bellhousing.

ChainsawCharlie · 05-21-2009, 11:32 AM

No leaks. They said the clutch plate or pad was worn down to the rivets. They said they didn't see any sign of defect, no other damage or anything to indicate anything more than "normal wear and tear".

**Leo G** · 05-21-2009, 11:33 AM

07 with 27K miles? What about the warranty?

ChainsawCharlie · 05-21-2009, 11:34 AM

I went to the dealer believing it would be warrantied. My last nissan was over 100k before replacing, and I've been driving standard transmission for 30 years. This is the second time I've ever had to replace a clutch.

MALCO.New.York · 05-21-2009, 11:35 AM

Normal Wear and Tear my arse!

Clutch replacement on the Mainland should run around $400.00 for most "Common Cars".

**Leo G** · 05-21-2009, 11:39 AM

That is what I was thinking. If you got 50-60K out of it and it wore out they could claim wear and tear because they don't know how you treat it. But 27K???? Come on.

A W Smith · 05-21-2009, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MALCO.New.York

Normal Wear and Tear my arse!

Clutch replacement on the Mainland should run around $400.00 for most "Common Cars".

Can I come to your mainland? I need an AOD auto trans for my 91 which would run 1700 bucks. If I get my own. its 400 to pull out and put in.

ChainsawCharlie · 05-21-2009, 11:56 AM

They told me at drop off, if it isn't a warranty issue, I'm looking at 500 bucks to diagnose-which is tear down. So assuming 500 to tear down and 500 to put back together, that's $800 for a friggin' clutch pad?

ChainsawCharlie · 05-21-2009, 12:01 PM

And we don't really have cities or highways here. I'd say a combo of rural and residential. Your average neighborhood with 10 mile open stretches between.

willworkforbeer · 05-21-2009, 12:03 PM

Shops charge at flate rate, so say the book says it takes 8 hours to R&R a clutch on your particular vehicle and shop rate is $60 an hour, $480 labor. Clutch assembly is $250?maybe. No way do you want to just replace clutch disc, could be faulty pressure plate that burnt the disc up.

The way to get the cheapest price is to find a shop with the lowest shop rate without getting substandard work.

jcalvin · 05-21-2009, 01:47 PM

$480 labor + $250 clutch and pressure plate + $1000 shipping to Hawaii = $1730

A W Smith · 05-21-2009, 02:10 PM

Lost my post before

Check the clutch linkage. Sounds to me like it could be binding and not releasing all the way. Some use a cable in a sheath instead of bell crank linkage. and if it's kinked or hung up the clutch will disengage with pedal movement but not always engage depending on the pressure plate static (spring) load. When changing a clutch you should change both the pressure plate and the disk. Also check to see if the flywheel is scored or glazed (which it in all likelihood is) you may even need to have it surfaced, but most times knocking the glaze off with an abrasive disk is enough.

You would also need a dummy input shaft to line up the disk with the clutch and flywheel.

edit to add
if its a diaphragm type clutch there is the danger of going so far in the disengage travel that you can go over center and bend the fingers of it.

ChainsawCharlie · 05-21-2009, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcalvin

$480 labor + $250 clutch and pressure plate + $1000 shipping to Hawaii = $1730

You're a little low on the shipping.

Just got off the phone...$860 or the estimate was for a new flywheel. They say they cannot be resurfaced on these newer vehicles.

They say they can leave the old flywheel on, but i might get chatter when engaging the clutch.

I told the leave the flywheel alone.

So I might get out of this for around a grand.

On a positive note-the cable guy just left. I have my cable internet back. When I get my truck back, i'm going to run over my dsl modem.

A W Smith · 05-21-2009, 03:39 PM

unless its got grooves in it from the rivets or it is warped. It aint gonna chatter. what engine is it?

http://www.clutchcityonline.com/nissan_frontier.htm

ChainsawCharlie · 05-21-2009, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A W Smith

Lost my post before

Check the clutch linkage. Sounds to me like it could be binding and not releasing all the way. Some use a cable in a sheath instead of bell crank linkage. and if it's kinked or hung up the clutch will disengage with pedal movement but not always engage depending on the pressure plate static (spring) load.

That would cause slipping, right? They told me the clutch disc was worn down to the rivets. it's funny-because i never noticed any slipping at all until this past weekend. Called monday, dropped off Wednesday. And by Wednesday, I was barely able to get out os my (flat) driveway and get rolling.

I've never been stuck, never overworked the clutch, and never smelled the clutch burning. I'm of the impression they just used piss-poor quality parts that led to it wearing so fast.

ChainsawCharlie · 05-21-2009, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A W Smith

unless its got grooves in it from the rivets or it is warped. It aint gonna chatter. what engine is it?

http://www.clutchcityonline.com/nissan_frontier.htm

4.0

It's too late for DIY. they're going to hit me with $500 in labor just for the teardown and diagnosis.

DIY might save me $500, but I don't have the tools, and my skills in that dept. are limited.

MALCO.New.York · 05-21-2009, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A W Smith

Can I come to your mainland? I need an AOD auto trans for my 91 which would run 1700 bucks. If I get my own. its 400 to pull out and put in.

Ranger/Explorer, or is it Econoline/Bronco, I can not remember, TX should be no more than 700.00 rebuild. Plus "swing labor" of 150.00 to 200.00.

A W Smith · 05-21-2009, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChainsawCharlie

That would cause slipping, right? They told me the clutch disc was worn down to the rivets. it's funny-because i never noticed any slipping at all until this past weekend. Called monday, dropped off Wednesday. And by Wednesday, I was barely able to get out os my (flat) driveway and get rolling.

I've never been stuck, never overworked the clutch, and never smelled the clutch burning. I'm of the impression they just used piss-poor quality parts that led to it wearing so fast.

try pulling the pedal up with your toe. Is there free play? Is there a sticky spot when you depress the pedal real slow?