Changing clutch on Mk1 Mx5/Eunos

[appletonn]

OK, so I experienced some clutch slip yesterday when setting off and accelerating hard in 2nd & then into 3rd.

Slave cylinder is new as is fluid, so I'm surmising that my clutch is on its way out.

Anyone changed their own MX5 clutch & how long did it take & was it worth saving the £150 labour charge?!!

Thanks

[fatjon]

Painless enough as long as you get the little plastic clucth centering spindle with the clutch. Did mine last month and it took about 90 minutes with a post lift. If you are going to be doing it on the driveway in a puddle I would say it's well worth the £150 to sip a cupt of tea while someone else does it.

[appletonn]

Thanks, that's what I thought - I really need to get access to a post lift!!

Getting too old for that lying on cold garage floor under car not quite high enough on axle stands!!

[cwinterb]

Did mine with a friend but we had access to a 2 post lift and a transmission stand for removing the gearbox. Wouldn't want to attempt it lying on my back on the garage floor. Pay a man, unless you are a masochist

[mneame]

I changed in sister-in-laws gearbox on the driveway using the "drive on" ramps. Wasn't too bad as it was summer. But I wouldn't fancy doing it in the weather we've had over the weekend though. There are places around where you can hire the place by the hour and it comes fully furnished with all tools and the post lift. But by the time you've forked out for that you might as well pay someone to change it for you.

[anonymous-user]

I changed the clutch on my old car when I was rebuilding the engine, only had access to a normal engine crane so lifted the whole thing out as one unit (which was pretty easy considering), changed the clutch and put it all back in as a single unit.

I recently tried to remove the gearbox from the car before I scrapped it (it was on axle stands) but there was almost no access to the bolts through the bellhousing to the starter motor so it proved impossible to completely unbolt the gearbox, so unless you have a lift / engine hoist I'd just pay the £150, sounds like a good price to me.

[appletonn]

Well, best price I've had is local garage who specialise in clutches - Exedy clutch supplied & fitted for £180 + VAT.

Strange thing is, that none of their suppliers could source them a spigot bearing for the flywheel, so I've ordered one from Autolink for £8!

For that price, it's really not worth the torture of lying under the car - I've done the rest myself (suspension, brakes, PAS etc), but here I am drawing the line!!

[snotrag]

Done it on my back on the drive. Getting it out isnt too hard.

Bench pressing it back in, upside down, is a lot, lot more unpleasant. Took ages.

Its lots, lots easier to pull the whole engine and box out and do it that way, if you dont have a ramp.

I must be getting old though as for £180 even I would be tempted to just 'pay the man'.

[skinny]

i will give most jobs a go myself. but not clutch.

was quite happy to hand over £450 for a clutch swap and diff change.

[appletonn]

It's going in on Saturday morning - I'm supplying the spiggot bearing (£8 from Autolink) and they're supplyingthe Exedy clutch and labour.

Best £180 + vat I'll have spent

After that, I should finally be able to get it on track...

[J-Tuner]

What clutch are people using for mx5's with power increases? I am predicting i will need a new on soon but want something thats uprated, but as close to the standard analogue feel as possible. none of these stage 3 on/off hardcore items lol

[Darkslider]

If doing it on the floor and you have an engine crane, I find it a lot easier with an inline mounted motor to remove the engine rather than drop the box. Recently done a clutch change on my Impreza this way and it's a lot easier than grovelling about on the floor, also makes lots of other jobs a lot easier so while it's out you might want to change the cambelt as well and give the engine bay and especially the front chassis rails and subframe a good wire brush, rust treatment and a few coats of hammerite, possibly followed by some waxoyl or similar.

[skinny]

J-Tuner said:

What clutch are people using for mx5's with power increases? I am predicting i will need a new on soon but want something thats uprated, but as close to the standard analogue feel as possible. none of these stage 3 on/off hardcore items lol

I have a competition clutch stage 2 which is more on/off than stock but as it's not a paddle clutch you can still slip it and pedal is light

[MX-5 Lazza]

J-Tuner said:

What clutch are people using for mx5's with power increases? I am predicting i will need a new on soon but want something thats uprated, but as close to the standard analogue feel as possible. none of these stage 3 on/off hardcore items lol

Surprisingly, mine still has the stock clutch. 60k miles of a fair bit over 200bhp and it's still going strong.