need a new clutch, recommendations on which?

[TotalControl]

I pretty much need a new clutch before progressing with the easier work on the Eunos.

I need an MX5 clutch kit for the 1.6 and wondered which, if any, were recommended? I'm not scared of attempting the job myself so a decent clutch should be fine as long as is doesn't cost over the £100 budget I have set aside for this.

I've managed to grab some ramps for a tenner to drive the front wheels over and give me a bit of space to try the change myself.

So far, I've found this clutch kit:

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=2...

Is it any good? Is there any other item I will need to change at the same time? Flywheel? Clutch slave cylinder?

Please do post some links as I'm eager to learn with this car.

Thanks in advance.

[Flatinfourth]

If you buy a clutch made by Sachs, AP Borg&Beck,LUK,or Valeo then you can guarantee superb quality. anything else is just risky chinoiserie! Most Valeo clutches come with a very useful aligning tool in the box.

Peter

[pewe]

As to which clutch to buy look at MX5 Parts or Autolink.
The last thing you want is to buy a cheappo Chinese rip-off part and only find out why it's so cheap once the job is done.
As for changing it my strong advice would be to pay someone-else to do it, preferably an MX5 specialist.
If you must DIY - instead of borrowing ramps borrow, beg or steal an engine crane as the job is much, much easier by taking the box and engine out from the top rather than scrabbling around underneath shifting big, heavy lumps of metal particularly when re-assembling.
There are a number of jobs you can do once it's all out as preventative maintenance which a garage wont.
If you look at MX5Nutz or Miatanet there are lots of "how to" posts.
HTH.
Cheers, Pewe.

[TotalControl]

I just purchased a Exedy clutch for £85.

[buzzer]

Flatinfourth said:

If you buy a clutch made by Sachs, AP Borg&Beck,LUK,or Valeo then you can guarantee superb quality. anything else is just risky chinoiserie! Most Valeo clutches come with a very useful aligning tool in the box.

Peter

good advice. Some of the cheap clutches are REALLY poor... its no easy job so only do it once! our local clutch specialist only fits branded clutches now as he got so fed up with failures on the cheap ones...

[pewe]

Which Exedy - organic or paddle?
My preference, based on having used both in a s/c 5, is the organic one as the cerametallic ones are pretty snatchy in traffic and sometimes difficult when engaging reverse.
HTH.
Cheers, Pewe

[TotalControl]

Seems to be the organic one. Plate, cover and rings. So I assume it's organic.

It's this one.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=2...

[pewe]

TC that looks like the organic one and a bit of a bargain if all points are correct.
Seriously think twice about doing it from underneath.
I read that article before proceeding and it underestimates the difficulty of doing it and time it takes especially if single-handed.
A Trade poster on ANOther forum reckons he takes c.8 hours for the whole job doing it from the top (engine and box out complete) whereas my timing underneath was measured in days!
Replace gearbox input shaft housing gasket as well as front and rear gearbox oil seals, heater matrix pipes and water blanking plug just below the camshaft position sensor (CPS)- you could well replace the oil seal on the CPS whilst you're at it. Good time to flush out the cooling system/rad/heater matrix whilst you're at it and replace the coolant with some long term additive - maybe even a new thermostat?.
HTH.
Cheers, Pewe.

[snotrag]

Advice from someone who's been there -
- Don't try do it on your own
- Don't take the gearbox out from under some ramps

- Do borrow an engine crane and take the whole lot out. Honestly, it's much much easier.

Imagine lying on your back, in the dark, bench pressing a medium sized child's weight while attempting to line up the shafts. It's doable, but sooo much easier to fit a gearbox to an engine on a pallet on your drive!

[Flatinfourth]

It really is an awful lot of unpleasantness and risk doing that from underneath unless in a nice well lit garage

[TotalControl]

Problem is, my budget for this car is pretty low to begin with, so saving money does help.

Oh well. Maybe a garage would be best for this job. They seem to quote me £250 ish for the job though.

[snotrag]

I'm not saying don't do it yourself - quite the opposite. Just buy beg or borrow an engine crane and do it that way. You could get a crane off eBay, use it, sell it the week after for no loss easy enough.

[pewe]

I'm not saying 100% don't do it yourself either, partic. if cash is tight as the service jobs you'll do when it's out are unlikely to be undertaken by a third party.
Maybe if you asked some local P/Header would lend you an engine crane?
Alt. ask on Nutz as it's quite an inclusive forum as well
Cheers, Pewe

[Flatinfourth]

If No-one can be persuaded to lend you a crane!
http://www.hss.com/g/67715/Folding-Engine-Crane.ht...

[Flatinfourth]

Also, Automotech do a perfectly good crane for a little over a hundred quid! then sell at cost

[TotalControl]

Purchasing a crane may be the better option then. This is getting somewhat expensive. All I wanted to try and do was to teach the kids how to repair on a budget with minimal skills.

[bazza white]

Just had an exedy put in mine and a lot better. If your close to Cardiff look at penarth mx5. For the price I paid and service I got i wouldn't even bother doing it myself. Well worth contacting also did gearbox and diff oil for nothing. The only time Ive ever wanted to leave a tip at a garage sadly only big notes in wallet.

It was a fair bit less that £250 to.

[Flatinfourth]

TotalControl said:

Purchasing a crane may be the better option then. This is getting somewhat expensive. All I wanted to try and do was to teach the kids how to repair on a budget with minimal skills.

That's a really nice thing to do, too many kids actually know nothing about how anything works. Look at the tool purchases as an investment in them too then!