My Clutch Install. Pics Inside!

[jmgtp]

I've had the Exedy clutch and tranquil sleeve repair kit sitting around for weeks and I've finally had to time get started!

Long story short, the trans is separated from the block and the flywheel is at the machinist but won't be ready till tommorow, which really throws a wrench in the gears of my time frame to get this done. At least the machine shop is opened on Sat/Sun.

Looks like the previous owner had the clutch replaced as well since an Exedy was installed. The disc looks great and didn't slip at all, the pressure plate had a groove cut into the finger springs from the release bearing. My reason for changing was to rid myself of the awful clutch shudder - which I hope the tranquil sleeve will work!

Below is just pic of the trans seperated from the engine and resting on the transmission jack (click for bigger image).
http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/8687/clutchml0.th.jpg (http://img157.imageshack.us/my.php?image=clutchml0.jpg)

Groove that the release bearing cut into the pressure plate:
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/4462/clutch015ss9.th.jpg (http://img168.imageshack.us/my.php?image=clutch015ss9.jpg)

Floor jack with trans adapter doing its thing (that puddle is brake cleaner from spraying down the trans snout in prep. for the tranquil sleeve):
http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/937/clutch020nv1.th.jpg (http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=clutch020nv1.jpg)

exhaust and drive tube. I ended up pulling the exhaust as all 1 piece, complete from manifolds to muffler - by far the easiest way, just remember to remove the manifolds first so you don't have any weight hanging on them
http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/9576/clutch001xp4.th.jpg (http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=clutch001xp4.jpg)

Still there? Well heres a bonus... video of my worn out trans snout with the old release bearing still installed, just look at how much play there is - and no the slop is not a worn out bearing, which was actually very much like new, but it is in fact a very loose tolerance between release bearing and trans snout - this is a car with only 51k miles!
http://video.google.com/videouploadfinished?docid=-8468510345320552392&filename=wsb64__Y2x1dGNoIDAxMA.MOV

and video of the tranquil sleeve and release bearing (not installed in the vid, but you get the idea that it is a MUCH tighter fit!)
http://video.google.com/videouploadfini ... IDAxMQ.MOV (http://video.google.com/videouploadfinished?docid=3079971924623682333&filename=wsb64__Y2x1dGNoIDAxMQ.MOV)

So that's that until tommorow when I pick up the flywheel. I have more pics and I'm sure I'll snap more tommorow.

I should probably mention the car is: 2001 LegGT

-John

[Huffer]

Great detail, very informative and MUCH appreciated. :)

[shazapple]

Its definitly easiest to pull the entire exaust off as one piece (no breaking bolts!)

I wish I had a trans jack when I helped my friend change his transmission, and later his clutch. Instead I just used myself (Transmissions are heavy!)

Did you loose any fluid out the rear of the trans?

[jmgtp]

I lost a tiny bit of fluid out the rear... of course I drained the trans fluid before pulling the drive tube. It still leaked out a small puddle about the size of a CD.

It is all done! BUT... I can't drive it! Why you ask? Well before putting the airbox back in I decided to check out the condition of the air filter. On top of needing replacement due to dirt the rubber seal around the outside had a rip. So tommorow after work I'll pick up a new filter.

Everything else is 100% done. The clutch pedal has a slightly lighter feel to it, and pressing the clutch never makes that rubbing noise (lack of lubrication on the ball stud or trans snout).

So tommorow after the filter I'll have some driving impressions. I think the shudder should be gone. From what I saw the trans snout had some serious wear, suprising for a 51k mile car. The Tranquil sleeve and release bearing has a very slight amount of side to side wiggle but not even a tenth of what the old bearing and unsleeved trans snout would do.

Unfortuneately - no more pics. The batteries in my camera died and I wasn't about to hold things up for them to charge.

I have to say the Subaru comes apart in a logical and fairly easy manner - well engineered for the home mechanic.

[jmgtp]

Picked up the air filter after work and started her up...

Runs perfect! The clutch is buttery smooth and not even a hint of shudder. Only have about 5 miles on the new clutch so no real impressions yet, but so far I am very happy to see that the shudder is gone!

[BAC5.2]

Daiken/Exedy makes the stock clutch, so it very well could be (and looks to be) a stock clutch.

[jmgtp]

I figured the stock clutch was a Subaru branded Exedy but I would think it would be stamped Subaru not Exedy. If it was the original clutch it had very little wear. The diaphram of springs on the pressure plate were worn/grooved from the release bearing hitting them at weird angles due to the snout wear - other than that the clutch 'appeared' good.

There were no signs of the transmission having ever been removed (ex: no bolts/nuts had marks from tools, etc) so it very well may have been the original clutch as the car only has 51k miles and that is well under the lifetime service range of a properly used clutch.

[BAC5.2]

Nope, the original clutch is stamped with the Daiken symbol and says Exedy on it.

[jmgtp]

It likely was the original clutch then.

It has about 1,200 miles on it now. I just took it on a trip from Connecticut->Niagara Falls->Toronoto and back. Since that was 99% highway and the clutch saw little action I still do not consider it broken in but cannot express how pleased I am with how smooth the clutch/tranquil sleeve perform.

Side note: I saw my best fuel mileage to date averaging 29mpg on the trip! I usually average 24mpg with about 50/50 highway/city driving. I consider it excellent considering I had the cruise control set at 75mph for the vast majority. I might post a pic of the carnage that the nose of my car has incurred... literally hundreds of splattered bugs that will be a nightmare to clean.