Re: Brakes unable to stop runaway Lexus in California?

#21

On Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:56:12 -0600, "hls" <hls (AT) nospam (DOT) nix> wrote:

Quote:

"spsffan" <spsffan (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:he20uc04cf (AT) news3 (DOT) newsguy.com...

Everyone is leaving out that it isn't the transmission(gearbox) itself
that needs rebuilding on manuals, it's the clutch. The cost of two clutch
replacements about equals one automatic rebuilding....it works out about
the same in 250,000 miles.

Regards,

DAve

Depending on the automatic, a rebuild runs about $2000 around here.
With exotics it could be a lot more. It is far worse, IMO, if the tranny
goes out on the road and leaves you high and dry.

Clutches do have to be replaced on manuals. The last one I had done,
on the road, cost me about $150. This was a dead simple Ford 150
van. I could have done it with a couple of sockets, extensions, ratchet,
and a jack. Luckily, I found a good shop which didnt charge all that they
could have gotten out of me.

That can vary a good bit as well. And if you have to replace the flywheel,
it goes up a bit from there. So what are we normally talking about, middle
to upper end ?$500

Most any goober can replace a clutch, even in Claptrap, Arizona. Rebuilding
an automatic takes some moxie.

All this depends a lot on whether it's a FWD or RWD.

Last time I had auto trans work done they were RWD cars and the work
probably didn't cost much more than doing a clutch/pressure
plate/throwout bearing replacement. Not sure about the prices,
because I always did the manual clutch work myself. Replaced one
flywheel on my F-150 and that added about $200 to the cost.
But when I did the autos the trans shop guy showed me the clutch packs
he had waiting and a wall full of reworked torque converters.
Cost $125 for a complete rebuild That was a while ago. like 30 years.
'67 Skylark. Had the same guy do a '76 Caprice a few years later and
it cost about $400. And it didn't last either.
My daughter recently paid $1800 for a rebuild on her 2001 Mitsu
Eclipse.
Don't know what doing a clutch on a FWD entails, but I'm pretty sure
it's more labor than a RWD.
Have to ask my kid. He converted his '93 Corsica from auto to stick
and knows way too much about it.

--Vic

#22

Vic Smith wrote:

Quote:

He converted his '93 Corsica from auto to stick
and knows way too much about it.

Wow. I'm speechless. I mean... (shakes head) I don't get it.

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

#23

On Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:24:43 -0500, Nate Nagel <njnagel (AT) roosters (DOT) net>
wrote:

Quote:

Vic Smith wrote:

He converted his '93 Corsica from auto to stick
and knows way too much about it.

Wow. I'm speechless. I mean... (shakes head) I don't get it.

I wasn't speechless when he called a half mile from the house with a

dropped halfshaft. But he got them sized right on the next try.
Bottom line is he did it because he wanted to.
Kids. Some convert Corsicas from auto to stick, some buy a
Studebaker. Whatchagonnado?
Just talked to him.
A clutch on a FWD always means pulling the halfshafts and doing an
alignment afterwards.
Might have to pull a subframe, depending on the car.
Not nearly as easy as doing a RWD clutch.

--Vic

#24

"Vic Smith" <thismailautodeleted (AT) comcast (DOT) net> wrote in message

Quote:

Don't know what doing a clutch on a FWD entails, but I'm pretty sure
it's more labor than a RWD.
Have to ask my kid. He converted his '93 Corsica from auto to stick
and knows way too much about it.

--Vic
Depends.. Some are a piece of cake.. Others are not

#25

"Vic Smith" <thismailautodeleted (AT) comcast (DOT) net> wrote in message

Quote:

A clutch on a FWD always means pulling the halfshafts and doing an
alignment afterwards.
Might have to pull a subframe, depending on the car.
Not nearly as easy as doing a RWD clutch.

--Vic

I disagree. It isnt automatic that you must realign.. Sometimes you
can remove the halfshafts from the tranny without disturbing the alignment.

In some cases you might have to remove a subframe which does cause more
work.

But I agree that a RWD doesnt normally entail any of these issues, and is
normally
easier.

#26

On Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:20:48 -0600, "hls" <hls (AT) nospam (DOT) nix> wrote:

Quote:

"Vic Smith" <thismailautodeleted (AT) comcast (DOT) net> wrote in message
A clutch on a FWD always means pulling the halfshafts and doing an
alignment afterwards.
Might have to pull a subframe, depending on the car.
Not nearly as easy as doing a RWD clutch.

--Vic

I disagree. It isnt automatic that you must realign.. Sometimes you
can remove the halfshafts from the tranny without disturbing the alignment.

The kid says you can sometimes pop the lowers and it may or may not

affect alignment. The only way to know is put it on the machine and
do the measurements. That's a minimum.
He may be wrong, but since he does suspensions all day every day I
tend to trust him.
I even forgave him for dropping that halfshaft when he was 17.

--Vic

#27

"Vic Smith" <thismailautodeleted (AT) comcast (DOT) net> wrote

Quote:

On Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:20:48 -0600, "hls" <hls (AT) nospam (DOT) nix> wrote:

"Vic Smith" <thismailautodeleted (AT) comcast (DOT) net> wrote in message
A clutch on a FWD always means pulling the halfshafts and doing an
alignment afterwards.
Might have to pull a subframe, depending on the car.
Not nearly as easy as doing a RWD clutch.

--Vic

I disagree. It isnt automatic that you must realign.. Sometimes you
can remove the halfshafts from the tranny without disturbing the
alignment.

The kid says you can sometimes pop the lowers and it may or may not
affect alignment. The only way to know is put it on the machine and
do the measurements. That's a minimum.
He may be wrong, but since he does suspensions all day every day I
tend to trust him.
I even forgave him for dropping that halfshaft when he was 17.

--Vic

It happens. If you drop the lowers and pull the halfshafts, it is not
likely
that you have disturbed the symmetry.

In many cases if you replace the ball joints you do not disturb the
symmetry...

BUT, the symmetry can be disturbed by wear, by rough treatment, etc
so it is wise to check it.

People probably should check their alignment more than they do, even
without mechanical interventions.

#28

Vic Smith wrote:

Quote:

On Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:20:48 -0600, "hls" <hls (AT) nospam (DOT) nix> wrote:

"Vic Smith" <thismailautodeleted (AT) comcast (DOT) net> wrote in message
A clutch on a FWD always means pulling the halfshafts and doing an
alignment afterwards.
Might have to pull a subframe, depending on the car.
Not nearly as easy as doing a RWD clutch.

--Vic
I disagree. It isnt automatic that you must realign.. Sometimes you
can remove the halfshafts from the tranny without disturbing the alignment.

The kid says you can sometimes pop the lowers and it may or may not
affect alignment. The only way to know is put it on the machine and
do the measurements. That's a minimum.
He may be wrong, but since he does suspensions all day every day I
tend to trust him.
I even forgave him for dropping that halfshaft when he was 17.

--Vic

VW you don't need to align, and in fact you can always get the pass side
shaft out without popping the lower ball joint. *sometimes* you need to
do the driver's side but I've never had to.

If you are only dropping the trans you don't even need to remove the
shafts, just unbolt them from the trans.

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

#29

On Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:17:24 -0600, hls <hls (AT) nospam (DOT) nix> wrote:

Quote:

"Vic Smith" <thismailautodeleted (AT) comcast (DOT) net> wrote in message
Don't know what doing a clutch on a FWD entails, but I'm pretty sure
it's more labor than a RWD.
Have to ask my kid. He converted his '93 Corsica from auto to stick
and knows way too much about it.

--Vic
Depends.. Some are a piece of cake.. Others are not

In any case, it'll cost at least ten times than trading to a MT car.
Unless, of course, your time is worth nothing and want to engage
in an expensive pointless project.

#30

"AZ Nomad" <aznomad.3 (AT) PremoveOBthisOX (DOT) COM> wrote

Quote:

On Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:17:24 -0600, hls <hls (AT) nospam (DOT) nix> wrote:

"Vic Smith" <thismailautodeleted (AT) comcast (DOT) net> wrote in message
Don't know what doing a clutch on a FWD entails, but I'm pretty sure
it's more labor than a RWD.
Have to ask my kid. He converted his '93 Corsica from auto to stick
and knows way too much about it.

--Vic
Depends.. Some are a piece of cake.. Others are not

In any case, it'll cost at least ten times than trading to a MT car.
Unless, of course, your time is worth nothing and want to engage
in an expensive pointless project.

Ive seen a number of conversions to MT, and your observations are right on.