[s-cars] FW: clutch issue-95.5 s6

[Wayne Dohnal]

>The clutch is original, as far as I can tell. Car has 138k miles.

Start saving your nickels (pennies aren't enough).  I know it depends on how
the car is driven, but you're about at the upper end of what most of the
clutches seem to last.  It's good that you bled the system, as many of the
failures are in the master and/or slave cylinder, and I'll bet that getting
the gunky fluid out helps avoid failures.  I've not changed an S-car clutch
but from what I hear the transmission R&R is on the very difficult end of
the scale.  The transmission is very heavy, so this isn't one of the typical
put it on jackstands and have 2 people lift it out jobs.

Besides a high labor cost, the flywheel is generally replaced because it
can't be resurfaced.  If you go with the stock flywheel it really runs up
the bill.  The PO had my clutch replaced at the dealer 4 years ago and it
ran almost $3K.  The labor costs were $800 to R&R the transmission, and $250
to R&R the master and slave cylinders.  The major parts were master cylinder
$210, slave cylinder $130, engine rear seal with flange $80, clutch disc
$123. pressure plate $295, flywheel $830 (!), release bearing $67, and 6 new
bolts $67.

Now of course most people don't go to the stealer for this.  I've read a lot
of posts saying the job ran listers about $2K.

I really baby my clutch out of fear of what it costs.

Wayne Dohnal
1994 S4