Clutch job on 2006 ranger, mechanic scam?

[7aawilson]

I just had my mechanic do a full clutch job on my 2006 4.0 ranger, he replaced all of the hydraulics, as well as the disc and pressure plate. I just want some opinions on how expensive this should have been, as he charged me $3100 for the full job. Another thing that worries me about this is that he didn't replace the pilot bearing, saying it looked brand new and was still packed with grease. He's always been my go to mechanic and I usual trust him, but the just feels iffy to me and idk if it sounds bad to anyone else. The truck was on its original system at 102000 miles, meaning he decided to reuse a bearing that was 20 years and 102000 miles old rather then spending $15 to replace it. Also the fact that he charged 10.5 hours of labor to do it feels super high for a clutch. It is a 4x4 so it takes a little longer, but I thought it was supposed to be around 7 hours, not 10. The clutch feels great now but I'm worried about the pilot bearing failing in 30000 miles or so and having to spend another $2000 in labor to pull the transmission for that cheap little bearing, when i could have assurance that it'll last another 100000 if he had replaced the bearing. What do yall think about this? How should I proceed? The job is already done and paid for but I just want some opinions on it.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

he charged me $3100 for the full job

Uh

What.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Hate to say it but that doesn’t sound right at all. You ALWAYS replace the pilot bearing with the clutch. Granted I’ve re-used the pilot bearing if I’m not replacing the clutch if it looks in good condition (this is usually when I’m replacing an internal slave cylinder and not the clutch).

The last replacement slave cylinder that I did was in my F-150 and I had more hours on waiting for parts than actually working on it. I used that down time to do other stuff to the truck so I don’t have a real good number on how long dropping the transmission, doing the slave and putting the trans back in, but I’d say probably 6 hours or less. Ranger transmission is lighter and easier to work on than the ZF5 monster in my F-150.

Also unfortunately, due to parts quality anymore, there’s no telling how long the repairs will last. They last until they don’t and it is what it is.

 

[7aawilson]

That's what I was thinking, you don't skimp out on a pilot bearing no matter how good it looks. And it shouldn't take 10+ hours to drop the transmission

 

[7aawilson]

Hate to say it but that doesn’t sound right at all. You ALWAYS replace the pilot bearing with the clutch. Granted I’ve re-used the pilot bearing if I’m not replacing the clutch if it looks in good condition (this is usually when I’m replacing an internal slave cylinder and not the clutch).

The last replacement slave cylinder that I did was in my F-150 and I had more hours on waiting for parts than actually working on it. I used that down time to do other stuff to the truck so I don’t have a real good number on how long dropping the transmission, doing the slave and putting the trans back in, but I’d say probably 6 hours or less. Ranger transmission is lighter and easier to work on than the ZF5 monster in my F-150.

Also unfortunately, due to parts quality anymore, there’s no telling how long the repairs will last. They last until they don’t and it is what it is.

Update, this same mechanic reinstalled my rear driveshaft backwards too

 

[Curious Hound]

I really hate to second-guess another mechanics work and price. But, i probably would do that job for $1500 parts, labor and shop supplies. And I don't have a lift. The pilot bearing is incredibly easy to replace and costs little. On the other hand, it only sees rotation when the clutch is disengaged. So that is a minimal amount of wear compared to something like a wheel bearing. So, skipping it shouldn't be a major concern if it truly had good clean grease in it.

 

[lowspeedpursuit]

It takes me like an hour-and-a-half to drop the trans or put it back if nothing goes wrong and I'm serious about getting it done. No lift, laying on my back on the floor.

Throw in another hour for the clutch, and you're at 4.

You live near me, which means maybe shit's rusty, but an actual mechanic has a lift and twice as many rust-busting options as I do.

Not to call someone I've never met a liar, but without an explanation for what took so long, sounds like your guy more than doubled the hours the job should have taken.

Pilot bearing thing is stupid because it already comes with the disc and plate when you buy them together.

 

[7aawilson]

It takes me like an hour-and-a-half to drop the trans or put it back if nothing goes wrong and I'm serious about getting it done. No lift, laying on my back on the floor.

Throw in another hour for the clutch, and you're at 4.

You live near me, which means maybe shit's rusty, but an actual mechanic has a lift and twice as many rust-busting options as I do.

Not to call someone I've never met a liar, but without an explanation for what took so long, sounds like your guy more than doubled the hours the job should have taken.

Pilot bearing thing is stupid because it already comes with the disc and plate when you buy them together.

There's absolutely no rust on it either, i have the entire underbody covered in fluid film, the frame and body are in pristine condition

 

[Uncle Gump]

No offense... but the time to question the cost for the job was BEFORE you provided the approval.

That said... it does seem a bit expensive.

This is why most here do the repairs themselves. If you don't have the time... space... tools or knowledge to do it yourself... you pay the price someone else with all those things to do it for you.

 

[7aawilson]

No offense... but the time to question the cost for the job was BEFORE you provided the approval.

That said... it does seem a bit expensive.

This is why most here do the repairs themselves. If you don't have the time... space... tools or knowledge to do it yourself... you pay the price someone else with all those things to do it for you.

I was debating doing it myself, and i do pretty much all of my labor myself as is, just didn't want to deal with dropping the transmission in my driveway without a transmission jack

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

I was debating doing it myself, and i do pretty much all of my labor myself as is, just didn't want to deal with dropping the transmission in my driveway without a transmission jack

It's not terrible, I've done them without a jack. As long as you have someone to start bolts, it's very doable solo.

The harbor freight trans jack is very good for Ranger application tho.

 

[Roert42]

I rebuild my brothers transmission about a month ago.

It took around 40 hours with the two of us working together. Granted that was a full rebuild and a lot of rust.

We broke off about 4/5 bolts that had to be extracted/ drilled out. One in the transmission crossmember, and 3/4 in the tail housing/ transfer case.

You have to remove the exhaust or lift the cab. So if the exhaust is original you have to spend time extracting exhaust bolts to save the flanges.

 

[Blmpkn]

Update, this same mechanic reinstalled my rear driveshaft backwards too

That takes some talent considering one end is a slip and the other a flange.. you must mean installed it out of time/phase?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

That takes some talent considering one end is a slip and the other a flange.. you must mean installed it out of time/phase?

Only the 2wd had a slip in the rear, the 4x4 were flange/flange

 

[Blmpkn]

Only the 2wd had a slip in the rear, the 4x4 were flange/flange

Ahh gotcha.