Yummybud924

The shop that is doing the work on my car says I should probably replace the clutch fork at a cost of 400 bucks...... and they are also telling me that the speed and ref sensors might break and new ones ar 175 bucks each.

They also said labour will be between 1100 and 1700 dollars depending on how it goes. that big of a difference seems a bit odd. they charge 95 dollars / hour.

so worst case scenerio i'm looking at 3 grand repair bill and I have already supplied the clutch kit and torque tube.....

does this sound right?

I also asked them if they can just leave out the ref sensors if they break until I find used ones for cheaper adn they said no you have to install the speed and ref sensor when putting the bellhousing back in. Is that correct? I though you can just pull the spee dand ref sensors.

The guy also said that even if my clutch fork is not cracked I should replace it.



Here is the total costs they quoted me on the phone today:

funny thing is they wouldn't give me a quote before I towed my car in.


labour: 1100 -1700

hardware: $150 (new nuts and bolts)

clutch fork: $400

ref and speed sensor: $175 bucks each.


my own clutch kit: $650

used torque tube: $150

coupler: $100

tow to the shop: $160


so worst case is : $2940 for the repair at the shop not including the tow and the torque tube, coupler, and clutch kit I provide.


so total cost to replace the clutch and torque tube (used torque tube with maybe noisy bearings), may be over $3000......


and I did lots of the work myself. I removed my exhaust and transmission already before taking it to the shop.


I'm not going to bitch about it cus it's my own fault but now that i think about it, it would have been a good idea to part the car and bought another running 944.

Will Feather

Labour sounds about right, closer to the low end more like 1200. Alot of people here do not change the clutch fork, but its always a smart idea of course, would suck if it broke. Tell them not even to touch the ref sensors you can do them yourself and I think they can be found for a little bit cheaper.

87 944 C

i only paid 1500 for the clutch job, labor and all. i didn't get a fork, nor did i need a new speed sensor, they're mounted between the left rear axel and the trans, idk why you need one, unless it's broken...in which case you have a tachometer, and we can all help you with engine speed=kph/mph

Yummybud924

no the mechanic shop is telling me that the ref sensors might break when they remove them to do the clutch job and if it does that will add 175 bucks each to the cost.

he was also saying that the clutch fork may be cracked and if it is that will add 400 to my bill and if not he said I shoudl still change it at 400 bucks.

and labour he said 1100 min and if it takes longer to do something worst case 1700

total worst case with the clutch fork needing replacement and and ref sensors breaking would be 2600 without tax so about 3000 with tax.

and keep in mind I have provided the clutch kit, torque tube, and coupler at my own cost.

Yummybud924

I'm really worried about the cost of this repair so i'm wondering:

if the clutch fork is not cracked should I risk not replacing it? the mechanic says it's a bad idea not to replace it because it can break a week after the repair.

and 2 do the ref sensors usually break? the mechanic again was telling me to be prepared for them to break when they remove it and having to pay for new ones.

Will Feather

I wouldnt change the fork unless its cracked of course, and if he says it is, ask to see it.

And if this guy is afraid he will break them, maybe you should suggest to him to remove them first?

Andy1212

It sounds like you need a new mechanic.

87 944 C

dont replace anything that doesnt NEED it.

maybe you should find a porsche guy, or even just a german automotive mechanic. might charge more, for individule things, but he'll do it correct, and only things that need to be, and most important, knows what he's doing

Yummybud924

well if he tells me it's cracked on the phone what can I do? call him a lier and demand to go down there and see it?

you don't want to **** of the mechanics cus then he can just add more charges and I have no choice but to pay them.

he said labour will be between 1100 to 1700 so he can be like yeah it took 1700 because of blah blah blah and there is nothing I can do about it.


tomorrow he will phone me and let me knwo if I need a new cltuch fork or ref sensors.

he said the ref sensors are brittle and often break when removing them.

he said he was just letting me know of possible extra costs so that I'm not suprised by the repair bill.

Yummybud924

this is actually a porsche specialist shop that was recommended to me by a rennlist member.

so you guys think I should leave teh clutch fork if he says it's not cracked? he said he recommends everyone change it with the clutch replacment.

Will Feather

Hes setting you up for a big bill IMHO

Yummybud924

lol that's what I was thinking too when he told me all this.

shops always make money on parts so I thought maybe because I bought my own clutch kit and coupler and torque tube now he might add a **** load of other parts on top of that ......

I already knew the bill would be big I just didn't think it could get this big.

worst case scenerio this will be a 4000 dollar repair including the clutch kit and parts I provide.

too late now but now that I think about it I would have definately parted my car out.

I could have sold my engine, trans, fuchs with new tires, sport seats, good interior, new fuel lines / body parts and saved teh money from the repair and bougth another 944.

with the low value of these cars and the potentially massive repair bills for some things such as this, theres a point when you should just say screw it and part it out.

Yummybud924

now with my luck the timing belt will probably snap on the way home from the repair shop.

KuHL 951

Does this repair come with a large size jar of Vaseline? The worst that could happen to your clutch fork is it's worn on the tips, they don't crack they fail completely. A used one is less than $40. The reference sensors can be sourced from BMW (bit longer than a 944) for less than $60/ea. if he breaks them and it sounds like he will for sure if he's charging $175/ea. What hardware comes to $150 unless you are missing all your bolts from the PP back? If your car wasn't already there I would find someone more familiar with 944's. Is he replacing the rear main seal, pilot bearing, clutch fork bearings, guide tube and PP bolts...if not run Forrest run. Sorry to be the prophet of doom but your prognosis doesn't sound encouraging at all.

Yummybud924

lol, thanks for scaring me even more.

Well this shop is a porsche specialist and recommended by a rennlist member and they do work on 944s and 951 etcs..

yes he told me the 150 bucks included a new rear main seal ( I told him to replace that), and clutch fork bearings and pressure plate bolts and maybe some other odd things.

so if he says the clutch fork has no cracks in it should I say to keep it? he said he recommends everyone change it when the clutch is changed because it can fail.

yeah by the sound of him telling me teh ref sensors are 175 each I have a feeling he won't be too careful about not breaking them......


if the clutch fork doesn't need replacing and he doesn't break the sensors then this repair will be much cheaper......

i'll see tomorrow when he phones me.

I just didn't know what I should do about the clutch fork. if he tells me tomorrow that it is not cracked but still should replace it I'm nto sure what to do.