Replacing my Jeep clutch

[bluedog225]

What are the odds an old man can replace his own jeep clutch?

It’s a 2013 JK you with about 85,000 miles. I figure it’s going to need it soon.

I’m getting crazy quotes in the neighborhood of $2800. Seems a tad high to me. I’ve got normal tools, good torque wrenches, etc but no special expertise or experience.

This would be on the flat driveway.

Is this best left to the mechanics?

 

[Spud McGee]

Those crazy quotes, do you have the breakdown? Some of those OEM clutches can get nuts. Then remember the shop marks up any parts 50%. And you may want to replace other stuff like the slave cylinder and throwout bearings while you have everything apart.

My neighbor just did the clutch in his hyundai genesis. Every shop around was quoting like $4500 to replace it using the OEM parts. Just the clutch disc was like $1300.

Its not hard work. Especially if you're in a jeep or a truck thats high off the ground. In many of those, you can drop the transmission without ever lifting the wheels off the ground. All you need is a jack, a 2x4, a socket set, and a few extensions to reach the tough bolts.

I'd say watch somebody else do the job on youtube and decide for yourself if its something you think you can do. I've had my 50yr old mom up under my T-bird more than once helping me install transmissions. That car was a PITA cause the gas tank goes under the drive shaft. You have to lower the gas tank to do anything with the transmission.

 

[Sumboodie]

Those crazy quotes, do you have the breakdown? Some of those OEM clutches can get nuts. Then remember the shop marks up any parts 50%. And you may want to replace other stuff like the slave cylinder and throwout bearings while you have everything apart.

My neighbor just did the clutch in his hyundai genesis. Every shop around was quoting like $4500 to replace it using the OEM parts. Just the clutch disc was like $1300.

Its not hard work. Especially if you're in a jeep or a truck thats high off the ground. In many of those, you can drop the transmission without ever lifting the wheels off the ground. All you need is a jack, a 2x4, a socket set, and a few extensions to reach the tough bolts.

Genesis clutch kit is around $500-600.

 

[Spud McGee]

Genesis clutch kit is around $500-600.

Now add the shop markup and tax to it.

 

[BillK]

Shopkey is showing 6 hours labor which is usually conservative. That is also figuring you will have a lift and a transmission jack ? Most shops in my area are upwards of $130 and hour so thats $780 Add an additional $100 for resurfacing the flywheel. Shopkey showed $700 for parts but I dont know what they cost retail.

I would say $4500 sounds a bit steep unless I am missing something.

Where are you located and exactly which model Jeep with which engine do you have ?

Just curious . . . . why do you think it will need replacing soon ? The clutch in my S-10 is getting close to 180K miles and still working just fine.

 

[TractorJeff]

What is your definition of an "An Old Man"?

 

[msharley]

You will have the transfer case to deal with.

I would install at the minimum a new slave cylinder with the clutch/throwout bearing...Flywheel? (can it be cut? Or need a new one?)

Every thing is awkward and unbalanced...

You can get a ****** "adaptor" for your floor jack....will be a help.



May be able to rent one at the parts store?

You will want someone to help.

I don't care how many tools you have in your tray under the Jeep with you? You will need that "one more"...a set of legs to go fetch is priceless. As with someone to work the handle of the blame jack!

 

[unslow1]

Unless it's slipping or you have it apart for some other reason I wouldn't touch the clutch.

 

[JRC3]

I'm guessing something makes the OP think it needs replaced enough to take it to a shop and they say it does too...Then It probably needs replaced. Maybe it wasn't driven properly and got burnt up.

Inexpensive trans adapters can be had too. I've had one like this for almost 20 years and used on FWD, RWD, transfer cases and rear ends. It's not perfect but it works well enough after you get it set up and adjusted. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0813SYM5Y/?tag=atomicindus08-20

So does the flywheel get machined on something newer like this? Or has things changed and it's also replaced??

 

[Toolfreaky]

My 2 cents:
I did my 1983 cj7 in the driveway. It's on 35" tires so I was able to sit up under the jeep. I used a regular jack and the yellow ratch straps. I hooked the ratchet straps around the frame to support the t case and ****** (either did it 1 by one, or together). Then another one to ratchet it out, with Jack under it. I lowered the jack and undid the ratchet straps in steps.I was around 20 years old.

To hold the flywheel from turning when taking off / putting on the flywheel, screw in a couple wrenches onto the pressure plate bolt and then have the opened end rest on the bolts of the bell housing.

When you install the pressure places, it will come with a plastic centering tool. After tightening the pressure plate, be sure to start engine and verify it looks balanced. I had to readjust once.

I brought my flywheel to a machine shop to get resurfaced. Could probably just get new one

 

[Wolley]

You can do it. A Trans jack is a big help. I have a scissor action one from Horror Freight. It's good because it's not hydraulic and won't leak down when you get pissed off and leave it for a week.

 

[TexMedium]

I did one in a 1995 C-3500HD, IN THE STREET, in front of my house about eight years ago. During an absurdly cold spell in November. That would have made me about 52yo. The street is sloped some, and it was an NV-4500 transmission, heaviest god-damnned box i ever wrestled with. No jacking on the truck(sloped street,remember) but i did use a Harbor Freight transmission jack for the transmission. Interesting job, the emergency/parking brake is on the tailshaft, sloped street, remember. It wasn't a terrible job, itself, but i felt it for a while afterwards. The wife kept reminding me, "You're not 25 anymore!" I refrained from reminding her she wasn't either. I may be dumb enough to do a clutch job in the street, on a hill, in November, but i am not stupid enough to cross HER! Now, when i WAS twenty-five, i did one on a 4X4 S-10, on a gravel driveway. It was level, and summer, but i did not jack the truck, OR the transmission or transfer case. Just muscle power, flat on my back. Funny, that one didn't hurt afterwards for nearly as long. Just BE SAFE underneath!!!

 

[GreenIron]

Clutch job on a Jeep?
Easy Peasy.

 

[nadogail]

It has been more than 65 years since I replaced a clutch disk and pressure plate.

When I am asked how long should a clutch last in a vehicle, before I express an opinion I want to know who is driving and where. I would expect a clutch in a flat city to last longer than one in a car driven in San Francisco.

 

[npp]

What are the odds an old man can replace his own jeep clutch?

It’s a 2013 JK you with about 85,000 miles. I figure it’s going to need it soon.

I’m getting crazy quotes in the neighborhood of $2800. Seems a tad high to me. I’ve got normal tools, good torque wrenches, etc but no special expertise or experience.

This would be on the flat driveway.

Is this best left to the mechanics?

I’m a retired tech and have never done a clutch job on any family vehicle, wife can’t drive a automatic or wants to, I would not do a clutch job unless you need it. 85K is nothing on a clutch if it has been driven properly. i serviced a customers Jetta with 500’000 kilometres with original clutch. Don’t go looking for trouble.

 

[ChevyEFI]

So does the flywheel get machined on something newer like this? Or has things changed and it's also replaced??

When you install the pressure places, it will come with a plastic centering tool. After tightening the pressure plate, be sure to start engine and verify it looks balanced. I had to readjust once.

Adding to this,
Plastic alignment tools work fine, *if* you wobble it up and down and tighten the PP bolts while the alignment tool is in the middle (or 5/8 up) of up/down movement. People who say they **** may need practice.

When you get the new pressure plate and disc, straight edge verify the PP surface is flat. When you have the flywheel machined (or on a new one), verify it is flat. If not, have machined until flat. A concave or convex surface of one with a flat surface on the other is a good way to get a disc to wear unevenly and fail.

A new PP surface and disc does not get installed with a used flywheel surface, period.

Jeep may have a replacement recommendation for the flywheel for dealer service instructions. That doesn't mean the flywheel can't be turned, or doesn't have a min. thickness specification.

 

[dcg9381]

What are the odds an old man can replace his own jeep clutch?

It’s a 2013 JK you with about 85,000 miles. I figure it’s going to need it soon.

I’m getting crazy quotes in the neighborhood of $2800. Seems a tad high to me. I’ve got normal tools, good torque wrenches, etc but no special expertise or experience.

Checked with the local Jeep shops? Sometimes you can find an independent that does side work.
I've done clutches on mustangs, Z-cars, 4-runners, and a few dreaded FWDs. I have not done a JK.

For the "in the driveway" mechanic, this is most likely a 2-person job dropping it and getting it back in. You're also dealing with a transfer case. You'll need a transmission jack (unless you want to do some really sketchy stuff). You'll also need a clutch pilot tool (it make come with the clutch).

Make sure you replace the pilot bearing, throw out bearing, and get a quality clutch. If the clutch slave is internal, you want to do that too. Machine the flywheel. Don't skip this stuff. Nothing is more frustrating that a pilot bearing that goes bad after a new clutch job.

I still do clutches on my 1988 4runner, but I've done a bunch of them and I have a transmission jack. I CAN do it solo, but it's not easy and it's much easier with 2 people.

 

[gmcgeo]

Wow $2800 is outrageous, if i was closer to you i would help you out and we could have it replaced in 2 hrs or less...... depends how much beer you offer lol

 

[Garcky]

Before you decide to do this job, I recommend that you watch a YouTube video of someone doing it. Frankly, a clutch job on a driveway is no fun at all, and having a transfer case to deal with makes it even less fun. If you're older, like you say you are, working on your back under a car adds to the misery for that job.

So, watch a video of someone doing it (on your vehicle type), especially if you can find one of someone doing it on a driveway. If you can't find one like that, watch one done on a hoist, just to see all the steps involved.

I've done several driveway clutch jobs, but that was decades ago, and on small two-wheel-drive cars, with light weight transmissions. I can't say I ever enjoyed that particular job. I've also done a bunch of them on a hoist, with a transmission jack and better access. That helps a lot. A whole lot.

It's not a job to take lightly, especially if you're doing it for the first time and alone. Nope.

In fact, unless your clutch is slipping, I wouldn't even consider doing it at all. Clutches these days tend to last for a very long time.

 

[tstaude]

That does seem high, shop around at your local independent guys and see where they come in price wise.

First thing I did was look at your location lol, I would do something like this for a customer for around $600 labor and let them purchase the parts.

It's not a bad job as long as you have a flat driveway and you are in decent shape. You can rent a transmission jack.
Got any friends who want to help?

 

[Garcky]

Here are some videos:

 

[JRC3]

Did an automatic trans pan on a bud's 2012 and the exhaust bolts were rusted 2/3 through and of course broke. Hopefully a TX won't have the same problem.

 

[firebirdparts]

Incredibly easy/simple/basic. You need to be able to manhandle some heavy-ish things.

HOWEVER

For God's sakes, don't touch it until it goes out. It may not go out for 10 years. We don't replace clutches preventively. No.

 

[JRC3]

Incredibly easy/simple/basic. You need to be able to manhandle some heavy-ish things.

HOWEVER

For God's sakes, don't touch it until it goes out. It may not go out for 10 years. We don't replace clutches preventively. No.

I replaced my clutch twice preventatively. Well, sorta, one rebuilding an engine and another when I replaced my transaxle. One of those 'since it's out already' things. Usually no hurry for a clutch. I've seen them start slipping for a long time, and then babied for a really long time.

 

[JRC3]

.

 

[pahummel]

Those crazy quotes, do you have the breakdown? Some of those OEM clutches can get nuts. Then remember the shop marks up any parts 50%. And you may want to replace other stuff like the slave cylinder and throwout bearings while you have everything apart.

My neighbor just did the clutch in his hyundai genesis. Every shop around was quoting like $4500 to replace it using the OEM parts. Just the clutch disc was like $1300.

Its not hard work. Especially if you're in a jeep or a truck thats high off the ground. In many of those, you can drop the transmission without ever lifting the wheels off the ground. All you need is a jack, a 2x4, a socket set, and a few extensions to reach the tough bolts.

I'd say watch somebody else do the job on youtube and decide for yourself if its something you think you can do. I've had my 50yr old mom up under my T-bird more than once helping me install transmissions. That car was a PITA cause the gas tank goes under the drive shaft. You have to lower the gas tank to do anything with the transmission.

50 Year Old Mom!
Man that makes me feel old