The clutch has started to slip on my Cappuccino (front engined, RWD) and I'm thinking of doing it myself. I've never done one before. Is it a difficult job? Do I need special tools? The other option is saving myself the trouble and getting a garage to do it. What might an independent garage charge for a clutch change? If an expert can do it in an hour, it might be worth paying them to save me the hassle.

I believe it's entirely dependent on the car. My old Vauxhall Cavalier cost £95 for the clutch, an extra tenner to have it fitted as you only need to crack it open and slide the clutch out from above. Whereas my current SEAT Toledo needs the engine and gearbox lifted out of the car first, then the gearbox removed to replace the clutch.

Certainly get a garage quote first, you might find it does need some special alignment tool or a hoist. If the garage come back and quote an hours labour, then you can look at perhaps doing it yourself.

Once out of the car, the clutch is easy to change. The absolute pain in the arse of getting things out of the way so you can work on it, is where the money goes, and it is not generally a bad deal. A hoist helps.

I believe the gearbox can come out on its own but as it's a very small car it's a very tight fit and not particularly easy to do if you have it on a ramp and can get to it.

I wouldn't like to do it on the drive lying on my back even if I could get the car up high enough but anything is possible!

I changed a dual-mass flywheel, clutch and slave cylinder on a VW Bora diesel, once the gearbox was out the way, it was easy. But getting the gearbox out and back in again was a proper PITA, especially as I was doing it on my driveway.
If I had to do it again, I would rather stick the extra hours in at work, and pay my mate at his garage to do it.
Brad.

Engine out jobby (to make it easy). If you have the time it will pay you to change it yourself - if the engine has to come out of course.

If you take it to a garage - depending on the clutch I wouldnt expect to see much change out of £250-£300. That is supplied and fitted though.

The usual money V time issue!!

Hope that helps

N

http://www.suzuki4u.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4785

How easy depends on the car's design I don't know the Cappuccino (my neighbour had a grey import about 10 years back one only thing I know was it left rust stains on his driveway). most RWD cars are very easy to do you just take off the propshaft and pull the gearbox back BUT small sports car tend to not have enough room to pull the gearbox back so end up being an engine out job.

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Originally posted by Slimy38
I believe it's entirely dependent on the car. My old Vauxhall Cavalier cost £95 for the clutch, an extra tenner to have it fitted as you only need to crack it open and slide the clutch out from above. Whereas my current SEAT Toledo needs the engine and gearbox lifted out of the car first, then the gearbox removed to replace the clutch.

Certainly get a garage quote first, you might find it does need some special alignment tool or a hoist. If the garage come back and quote an hours labour, then you can look at perhaps doing it yourself.

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Thanks all. It sounds like a PITA job so I'll get some quotes.

done a couple of tin-top ones on FWD cars, one thing is certain - its alot easier with a ramp if you can get the use of one
(pulled a few engines and boxes from RWD donors too, but that left the shells in a bit of a state )

and one of those supports that sits across the inner wings and lets you hang the engine off it

gearbox out...

and maybe a hoist or one of those tall gearbox jack things (could of done with one of them the last time I did one - a focus gearbox is kind of heavy when you ballance it on your head )




but once you can get at it the clutch is easy, then come the tricky bit of getting the gearbox back on - for some reason they never seem to line up perfectly and take a bit of effort....

I'd find out how much someone else is going to charge you to do it before considering anything else! As others have said, changing the clutch itself is the easy bit - getting to it and putting everything back the way you found it is usually a HUGE pain in the arse!

I have changed the clutch in a Cappo. There is loads of room and it is a very easy job, Manly because every thing is so light and small.

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Originally posted by mcerd1
but once you can get at it the clutch is easy, then come the tricky bit of getting the gearbox back on - for some reason they never seem to line up perfectly and take a bit of effort....

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Originally posted by roadrunner

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Originally posted by mcerd1
but once you can get at it the clutch is easy, then come the tricky bit of getting the gearbox back on - for some reason they never seem to line up perfectly and take a bit of effort....

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Understatement of the day.

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I have actually today just put the gearbox back into a hilux after doing the clutch! We had an old gearbox for it behind the workshop, so I robbed the input shaft so everything was lined up propperly and would just slide on in... WOULD IT F*CK! about 2 hours later and many wigglings, the whole thing lurched forward about half an inch and it was on! All done on a garage floor, no need for ramps she was tall enough!
My advice would be to have a look underneith, and if you think there is enough room, give it a red hot crack, it will be nice and (relitivly) light!