2.3L ('83-'97) Time for a new clutch 96 2.3

[justinae]

I've been teaching two people in my house how to drive stick and I think it wore out my clutch. At 161k miles it was gonna be due soon anyway.

What I know
- Luk is a close OE based on research
- Replace the slave cylinder at the same time, also Luk

What I'm not sure about
- Fywheel: resurface, replace, or just inspect?
- Recommended vid tutorials to follow

I'm was actually getting ready to sell it and upgrade to a 4wd. I guess the next owner gets a nice new clutch!

Thanks!

 

[Uncle Gump]

It's actually LUK...

It's a bunch of work not to resurface the flywheel. If you have a shop close that does it reasonably.

Do the pilot too.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Yeah, that... Sometimes it's a wash price wise for resurfacing the flywheel or replacing it so check the prices first... FWIW I had the NAPA in McMinnville resurface the flywheel for my F350 a couple years ago and it was $50, similar for my brother on his tractor flywheel there last year... last flywheel I bought for my 2.3L I think was $65 but that was a number of years ago...

Pilot bearing is kind of a pain on these but doable, if it comes to it a dremel will get through the shell...

 

[justinae]

Luk, right. Fixed. Thanks for catching that.

I'll look into the pilot as well.

A Luk flywheel is $55 at Rock. Can't image a resurfacing is any cheaper.

 

[justinae]

I see self adjusting and non self adjusting.

There's a Sachs option for self adjusting clutch: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=15206605&cc=1138081&pt=1993&jsn=21211

 

[Uncle Gump]

They're all self adjusting.

 

[scotts90ranger]

They're all self adjusting.

Yes, with a hydraulic clutch you are correct but there's pressure plates that have unneccessary complication in them for cable operated applications that they decided needed to be everywhere...

I would get the non self adjusting...

 

[justinae]

thanks.

I've narrowed it down to 3 options. Any input?

Option 1 – Budget ($183.67)​

• Perfection MU721581 Clutch Kit – $81.99 (includes pilot bearing)
• LuK LSC574 Concentric Slave Cylinder – $46.79
• LuK Flywheel – $54.89

Option 2 – Premium ($252.67)​

• LuK 07-140 RepSet – $150.99 (includes pilot bearing)
• LuK LSC574 Concentric Slave Cylinder – $46.79
• LuK Flywheel – $54.89

Option 3 – Complete System ($258.79)​

• Perfection MU721582SKP Complete Clutch System

Includes:

• Clutch disc
• Pressure plate
• Flywheel
• Concentric slave cylinder
• Master cylinder
• Hydraulic line
• Pilot bearing
• Alignment tool

I'm not too worried about the higher prices but if the Perfection is just fine then I'd happily keep $70 and put that into other areas the truck desperately needs (like new struts!)

 

[scotts90ranger]

If you're thinking of selling, I'd just get the cheap one unless they have bad reviews... the physical part isn't what normally fails I don't think, it's usually the hydraulics...

I have a spare flywheel but I haven't pulled the clutch off of it to se if it's any good and probably not worth putting a used unknown clutch in...

 

[justinae]

that's how I'm leaning. A good CSC and a new flywheel plus a mid level clutch manufacturer (Perfection) seems agreeable.

As for future I'll probably sell soon but I've got a teen I may pass it on to but probably sell and upgrde to a 4wd. Even still I don't want to put the cheap stuff in and pass that along.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Fair, I'm not up on standard clutch brands anymore... somehow my '97 just keeps going and I put performance clutches in my '90 Ranger and F350... If Perfection is middle of the road they I'd feel safe there.

 

[RobbieD]

As for future I'll probably sell soon

"I'll take 'Things that I really regret doing now, for $1,000, Alex'".

 

[scotts90ranger]

"I'll take 'Things that I really regret doing now, for $1,000, Alex'".

The market is pretty good over here, much stronger for a 4x4, easier to find a standard cab 4x4 than extended cab and depends on the year range you are looking for... then there's still the "previous owner modifications" lottery... but yeah, I couldn't sell any of my currently running vehicles either other than the Camry's... gotta get on that...

 

[justinae]

"I'll take 'Things that I really regret doing now, for $1,000, Alex'".

haha. only if I don't upgrade to a similar vintage 4wd.

 

[justinae]

I went with option 1. Looking forward to it. Used the savings to get 4 new struts.