Clutch replacement

I have a dilemma. I wrote on a local forum about if someone can replace my clutch at a lower price than a garage, I had someone who told me of a Land rover enthusast mechanic that can do it who is good, then someone said he was dodgy. I then asked people how hard is it to remove the clutch myself, they said its very difficult to replace the clutch yourself others said it was very easy.

Now for £400 for a clutch replacement is a lot of money to throw away if it breaks as soon as I get onto the road. I was wondering how hard it is to replace the clutch myself? I have hardly any knowledge of removing a clutch but can learn before doing it. Shall I do it myself or go to this potentially dodgy fellow OR go to a mechanic who will charge about £600 to £700 with money I dont really have?

Sorry this post is confusing, but I can't get a straight answer from anyone at the moment. Thankyou

The Isle of Man said:

I have a dilemma. I wrote on a local forum about if someone can replace my clutch at a lower price than a garage, I had someone who told me of a Land rover enthusast mechanic that can do it who is good, then someone said he was dodgy. I then asked people how hard is it to remove the clutch myself, they said its very difficult to replace the clutch yourself others said it was very easy.

Now for £400 for a clutch replacement is a lot of money to throw away if it breaks as soon as I get onto the road. I was wondering how hard it is to replace the clutch myself? I have hardly any knowledge of removing a clutch but can learn before doing it. Shall I do it myself or go to this potentially dodgy fellow OR go to a mechanic who will charge about £600 to £700 with money I dont really have?

Sorry this post is confusing, but I can't get a straight answer from anyone at the moment. Thankyou

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Asking someone how hard is it to fit a clutch is impossible to answer, for me its easy cos im a mechanic and ive got my own garage , but ask some one like lets say Discobluebell she probably wouldn't have the first idea.

How are you going to learn how to change a clutch before you do it?? Some one on here must know some one in your area who would be able to do it for you.

If you pm me the reg no. i'll give you a price for what it should cost then you will know roughly what sort of money you can expect to pay if that helps.

oldskool said:

Asking someone how hard is it to fit a clutch is impossible to answer, for me its easy cos im a mechanic and ive got my own garage , but ask some one like lets say Discobluebell she probably wouldn't have the first idea.

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DBB is gonna love your example :doh:

oldskool said:

Asking someone how hard is it to fit a clutch is impossible to answer, for me its easy cos im a mechanic and ive got my own garage , but ask some one like lets say Discobluebell she probably wouldn't have the first idea.

How are you going to learn how to change a clutch before you do it?? Some one on here must know some one in your area who would be able to do it for you.

If you pm me the reg no. i'll give you a price for what it should cost then you will know roughly what sort of money you can expect to pay if that helps.

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Ah yeah, I wish I was a mechanic :/ I am a Country boy and only fixed minor things on tractors never touched cars much I have my own whole 4 foot drive to work on Haha same with me I don't have an idea either

Good point, I thought a good book with fancy pictures may help, Haynes are usally good at how to check the glow plugs and how to use a spanner but cock up on the really important stuff like how to change a clutch

By Reg No. I think you mean the big plate on the front that has fancy no's and not the vin? I will just say my Reg no here as I can't be bothered to PM its: DMN 345 B. Is that chinese to you? Because I live on the Isle of Man and you may know we have our own 'special' plates

Why give the job to a cowboy who may or may not do a decent job of it and who certainly won't guarantee his work. He also is undercutting genuine mechanics by not paying his taxes therefore putting genuine businesses out of work. Either use a proper business or learn to do it yourself.

hughesy said:

Why give the job to a cowboy who may or may not do a decent job of it and who certainly won't guarantee his work. He also is undercutting genuine mechanics by not paying his taxes therefore putting genuine businesses out of work. Either use a proper business or learn to do it yourself.

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Now you put it that way you make a really good point, I have a very limited number of mechanics around where I live as the Landrover won't make it far on the hilly terrain. The prospect of me doing it myself is looking more and more likely but I don't have any knowledge in the subject so I will have to learn as I go and find as many sources as I can on whats the best way to do it and how. My budget won't strech far above £500 and proper business are asking £600 to £700 :/

Oh how far can you go before messing up big time, with a job like a clutch?

blue beasty said:

DBB is gonna love your example :doh:

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I think she'll be cool wiv it she know's as much about cars as i know about orses , actually she probably knows a bit more about cars than i know about orses cos she can drive and knows where the fuel goes

The Isle of Man said:

Now you put it that way you make a really good point, I have a very limited number of mechanics around where I live as the Landrover won't make it far on the hilly terrain. The prospect of me doing it myself is looking more and more likely but I don't have any knowledge in the subject so I will have to learn as I go and find as many sources as I can on whats the best way to do it and how. My budget won't strech far above £500 and proper business are asking £600 to £700 :/

Oh how far can you go before messing up big time, with a job like a clutch?

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£600-£700 sounds expensive to me i'll try and have a look on my computor tomorrow for you, if you do try it yourself im sure people on here will beable to help if you get stuck, be aware though it's a heavy gear box and i know some on here use an engine crane to lower and lift the g/box.

hughesy said:

Why give the job to a cowboy who may or may not do a decent job of it and who certainly won't guarantee his work. He also is undercutting genuine mechanics by not paying his taxes therefore putting genuine businesses out of work. Either use a proper business or learn to do it yourself.

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Well said hughesy, ive lost work to these type's before then had the customer come to me because its gone wrong or just ain't right and have had to do it again which quite often costs more than my first quote. I also know of some driveway mech's that charge more than me and i run a propper busness

if youve got fork lift engine crane do it your self ,remove tunnel floor plates ,undo props ,hand brake ,speedo ,cross member, gearbox lower to floor

oldskool said:

£600-£700 sounds expensive to me i'll try and have a look on my computor tomorrow for you, if you do try it yourself im sure people on here will beable to help if you get stuck, be aware though it's a heavy gear box and i know some on here use an engine crane to lower and lift the g/box.

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if they have the market sewn up (small island not many mechanics) they can charge what they like pretty much

but £600-£700 is a bit excessive should be closer to £400 inc parts

say ****part clutch (inc 10% they will put on it) @£60

if they go genuine it will be about £200

say 4 to 5 hrs labour (i think book time is 4 ish) @£50 per hour labour rate *depending on location and size of business*

G-man said:

if they have the market sewn up (small island not many mechanics) they can charge what they like pretty much

but £600-£700 is a bit excessive should be closer to £400 inc parts

say ****part clutch (inc 10% they will put on it) @£60

if they go genuine it will be about £200

say 4 to 5 hrs labour (i think book time is 4 ish) @£50 per hour labour rate *depending on location and size of business*

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£50 pph wish i could charge that

anybody paying £200 for a valeo clutch is an idiot you can get them for £50 but borg and beck are better

oldskool said:

£50 pph wish i could charge that

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i know of a garage that charges over £60 + vat

jamesmartin said:

anybody paying £200 for a valeo clutch is an idiot you can get them for £50 but borg and beck are better

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where can you get one for £50 thats less than cost! (unless you are buying 1200 units at a time)

i buy them all the time but arent as good as borg and beck AP . you can buy them from britpart or bearmach

Its not rocket science. But having said that its not a five minute job and you will need a few tools (such as an engine hoist) because the gearbox or engine are heavy old lumps depending on which way you attack the job. I nearly always prefer taking the engine out as I can also do any other maintenence work under the bonnet while it is out. Also a mate or two to help you is a bonus.

I've done more than a few clutches in most of my vehicles but thats because I had no option and could not afford to pay a mechanic. I've learnt a lot and would change my clutch tomorrow but I have the room on my drive and the use of a second car to go and get the bits I may have forgotten.

The first time is always the hardest as its a venture into the unknown but once done you will understand your motor much better and have a sense of achievement that is hard to explain along with the knowledge that the job has been done right and a pocket full of beer tokens.

think im guna do mine next weekend. maybe without the use of an engine crane aswel.. as i can get hold of one. il let you kno how i get on!

Get yourself a workshop manual. Buy yourself a reasonable quality set of sockets/spanners and an engine crane. Clutch parts 100quid or less, couple of hundred on the engine crane and tools. Set aside a weekend. If there are any enthusiasts local get them to pop round and advise you. If you're stuck post up on here the help will be here. You'll have the job done, save yourself a few hundred precious quid, and you'll have the tools next time you need them. Job's a good un.

Ok I think I am conviced, I am in the mind to do it myself because I will save lots and lots of money because it can break as many times as it wants and it all it will cost is a new clutch and my patance not my dignity and my wallet with this cowboy By removing the engine and getting it through that way is there any really hard parts like hard to reach bolts or complicated matters that will take a weeks effin and blindin to get right? as I haven't got much time before I need her on the road.

Oh does anyone know of any good book that will give a clear instruction on how to remove the clutch plate and put it back properly?

Thankyou, saved me on the brink of going to a cowboy

if you remove tunnel and plate in front screwed to bulkhead gives good access clutch plate will need aligning with bought tool or home made tighten bolts evenly