My car shutters a little when i release the clutch in first when its cold. And it rocks back and forward slightly when i take my foot of the gas in 2nd, 3rd, 4th and fifth. And sometimes i hear a faint grinding noise going from 2nd to third etc.
My employee discount at work gets me $35/h labor instead of $77.
I went back to the transmission dap today and checked out their books and a 944 turbo needs 15.7h labor for a new clutch. I talked to one of the tecs back there and all they do day in and day out is to replace transmissions/rebuild them and clutch jobs on GM/Chrysler cars. He told me that hes done 3-4 944's about 8-10 years ago. I was thinking of printing him out the directions from clarks garage, buy every part i need for a clutch job and have him replace it.
For $549 labor i don't think i can really beat it. I was quoted 2300 parts and labor at the regular place i take my car.
Where is the best online place to get a stock OEM clutch kit for a 86 turbo and whats the best price on it?

And do you guys think i should let him replace it?

Thanks for the input in advance.

 

Is your clutch slipping? What you are describing sounds like transmission issues. . .

 

while there are a few tricky parts to the 944 clutch job I think that he could probably do it. The question is.. do you want to take the risk that something will not be done right? or you may end up paying for things that were done wrong at the time of the clutch. Remember when yo do a clutch job, you are gonna want to probably do some other things with it, Rear main seal, torque tube bearings, tranny mounts, etc. etc.
al just depends. If you feel comfortable with the guy, then I say go for it. I am not sure if he knows what he is getting himself into for $549 haha

 

Those symptoms do not sound like a failing clutch on a 951. Have you looked at the trans fluid lately? Checked the window in the bellhousing to see how much clutch is left?

 

The rocking back and forth was what led me to believe it was a failing clutch he was dealing with, but the goes away when it warms up definately screams transmission fluid. Get some redline in there.

 

Antonioali,
I just finished my clutch job. Make sure whoever is doing it follows the instructions to a T, its very important. Your car is an 86 so i'm positivie it has the 1 peice x-over which from tech-session (paragon) it states 22hrs. I'd say it took me more like 40hrs, but could be pushed down to 22hrs. (The 1peice means the entire crosspipe must come out! This means pulling the intake to gain access to the turbo bolts.)

I got my parts from Zims, kirk was great. I would highly suggest getting the Cup Clutch Kit since it removes 6 small springs that are prone to failing. I would also get intake gaskets and what others have stated Pilot Bearing, needle bearings for clutch fork and TT bearings.

Good luck, if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.

 

But, would you have the rocking with a spring centered clutch? I could see that if it was a rubber one like on the N/A, but it isn't. Right?

 

Correct Tifo, the turbo discs are not rubber centered like the NA's.

Shuttering is a good sign that its starting to go out, next look for slippage in higher gears.

 

Rocking back and forth as in the shift lever or the whole car?

 

you are right sir, for some reason I thought that maybe the early, 86, turbo had a rubber centered clutch... wrong!
I guess it still could fail, but would not produce the same VIOLENT bucking that the rubber centered one does.
It's probably the tranny, good catch tifo

 

Vertex will be your cheapest bet. Pick up a recent Excellence magazine to get the discounted advertized prices.

 

When i had it in for the belt work the first week i had the car the tec told me it was the clutch. I asked him to look over the transmission and he said it checked out great. I don't know what to check on a transmission but i trust the guy, hes been working on 944's for 25+ years.
I changed the transmission fluid 1500 miles/6 months ago. Ill rechange it with redline.

 

Contrary to the consensus of this board, I liked Swepco 201 a lot more than redline. It really rejuvenated my worn 260k transmission.

 

When you guys say slipping at higher gears, how exactly does that feel? Help me understand and i can say if it does it or not.

 

Antonioali,
You can't miss clutch slipping. When you acclerate in say 5th gear, your car will rev fast like you push in the clutch or have it in neutral. Then the clutch will grab and feel normal.

Mine didn't do it all the time, only every once in a while, then after time it got worse and worse. Before i did the clutch job, the only gear it wouldn't slip in was 1st.