--Evan----

[Boggin]

Evan, I read that you changed your clutch last week?
How hard was it and how long did it take?
cause the clutch is gone in my truck, that or the tranny..

Jeff

 

[CheapThrillB2]

being able to seperate the cltuch line at the slave cyl via the little plastic ring on the coupler makes the job hella easier vs not being able to disconnect it. Also haveing a body lift makes it worlds easier as well.....

 

[MAKG]

It's quite likely not the same answer for Evan as it is for you. The two of you do not have the same skill sets. It takes A LOT longer to R/R a transmission if you've never done it before (even if you've done it on other vehicle models).

The shortest answer I've heard for a clutch replacement is about 6 hours, if a reman flywheel is handy. The longest answer is several weeks. Probably, you're somewhere in between.

 

[Boggin]

ok thanks alot.

Jeff

 

[metalmacguyver]

He doesnt have that cool little pain in the ass clutch line disconnect.

 

[dusto2]

wow 6 hrs is a long time for a ranger i did mine in 3 hrs on my back

 

[kunar]

wow 6 hrs is a long time for a ranger i did mine in 3 hrs on my back

my first time was about 12, my next was probably about 8. i'd bet i can do it in 6 now assuming i dont have any unexpected issues. dusto, is yours a 2wd?

 

[MAKG]

wow 6 hrs is a long time for a ranger i did mine in 3 hrs on my back

Really?

OK, 3 hours is the shortest I've heard of.

 

[mhughes165]

??? a clutch on a rbv isnt a hard task, i kept blowin up clutches in my old one and got it down to a 1 hour job in the driveway, i suppose the body lift helped, and air tools help aswell....but then again ive prolly done like 100 rbv clutches over the time ive been workin on trucks

 

[MAKG]

Body lifts help MASSIVELY on V6s. So do suspension lifts as long as the radius arm crossmember has been dropped or removed.

I've spent two hours ALONE on frozen Y-pipe bolts with an impact wrench (got 'em out unbroken, too, and chased the manifold bolt holes and replaced the bolts with stainless so that FN nightmare will never happen again).

Air tools also speed it up substantially. Especially getting that FN flywheel off without turning the crank.

But I'm a bit skeptical about an hour. You still have to fight with the driveshafts, remove the transfer case and starter, and pull the transmission out. Just to get at the clutch.

But when you do this stuff every day, you figure out shortcuts.

 

[dusto2]

mine was 4wd body lifted with suspension lift no extended arms i have a plate that i made that supports the trans and tcase as one also too that was like the 3rd or 4th time i had done it to so i could lay down with all the tools and work till its out first time taking it out was about 4and a half hours

 

[kunar]

well i dont have a body lift... and i need to pull my exhaust apart to make room, no extended radius arms

 

[mhughes165]

i never drop the trans, just unbolted the tranny from its mount, slide it back do what u gotta do, slide it back forward, even pre body lift i never had to drop the exhaust for the trans removal....idk, i guess just with doign so many i know ho todo them

 

[Evan]

Evan, I read that you changed your clutch last week?
How hard was it and how long did it take?
cause the clutch is gone in my truck, that or the tranny..

Jeff

People have already given you some good advice.

It took me about 8 hours to change my clutch and flywheel a few weeks ago. This was my second clutch change on an Explorer. I have a body lift which as MAKG said, makes things easier, but I also have a transfer case doubler which probably added about 1.5 hours to the job. And since I had my engine out for a rebuild 2 years ago, y-pipe and bellhousing bolts came out easy.

It will be a different amount of time for everyone. It depends on your tools, skill level/experience, and the state of your truck. As a very general rule, I would expect the job to take a weekend for the average person.

When you're in there, replace the clutch disc, pressure plate, throwout bearing, pilot bearing, slave cylinder, and resurface the flywheel.

 

[MAKG]

I prefer to replace the flywheel rather than resurface it for the following reasons:

1. Cost is comparable (remanufacturing a flywheel is essentially just resurfacing it). Remans are slightly more expensive, but IMO it's worth it (see #2).
2. You don't have to run to the machine shop while your vehicle is down.
3. If your clutch has been slipping for long periods, cracks become likely.

It's really a matter of personal choice; it's just that you shouldn't assume replacing the flywheel is a lot more expensive. It isn't.