clutch on 87 5K

[quk@isham-research.demon.co.uk (Phil Payne)]

In message <6485B8420179440F@mail.co.albemarle.va.us> Mark Trank writes:

> An Audi mechanic (indy, not dealer) recently told me that a clutch 
> replacement on my 87 5KCSTQ would run approximately $800 - 1000 US.  
> Yikes, I thought, that seems way high.  Audi demigods and God willing, I 
> won't have to face this expense for awhile; I'm at 143k and the clutch 
> seems fine.  Since I've poured lots of money into this car, an expense of 
> that magnitude may trigger a decision to sell.  Anybody have any 
> comments/thoughts/experiences to share?

Sorry.  Clutch replacement on a quattro is $$$$.  It's simply a question of 
mechanic's hours, and there are no short cuts.  I had my rear crankshaft seals 
done at around 120k, and I had just about everything around the clutch replaced 
at the same time just because of the cost of getting in there.

I have one friend with an ur-quattro that he absolutely _HAMMERS_ all day long 
- he has reached 165k without any clutch symptoms whatever.  When we examined 
my clutch plate and bearings, replaced at 120K, we guessed they were good for 
25k to 40k more at minimum - perhaps twice that.

Actually, $800 to $1000 is a fairly reasonable price for the labour and basic 
clutch parts.

-- 
 Phil Payne
 Committee Member, UK Audi [ur-]quattro Owners Club