Clutch Replacement... started working on it this evening (2/8/08)

thorco3 · Jan 17, 2008

I've decided to go with a Centerforce Dual Friction clutch in my 95. I will be adding a vortech v2 within the next couple months as well, but I'm in need of some clutch maintanence.

First of all, where have you guys purchased your Centerforce clutch from? I've found that brothers performance has the correct clutch for me at 299... seems like the best price I can find. If you have any other places to look please throw them out there.

Second, I plan on buying a new throwout bearing, pilot bearing, rear main seal, aluminum flywheel, and bolts while I'm at it... am I missing anything that you know of? oh and an adjustment tool I suppose

Lastly I will be learning as I go, but if anybody knows of any how-to's or write-ups I would love to read them. I will more than likely have some help on the install since I've never done this before, but I would like to be as knowledgable as possible about the whole process.

Thanks for any help you guys can provide me.

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update on post 25

fastgtfairlane · Jan 17, 2008

Re: Clutch Replacement... will be replacing it myself... take a look

if you have access to air tools that will come in handy big time. never used a centerforce clutch before so i have no imput on that.

if you dont have an aluminum quadrant and firewall adjuster i recommend getting one when you do the swap. the swap itself is pretty straight forward. be sure do drain the fluid from the transmission before pulling it out or you will have a mess when you take the driveshaft out.

make sure you get the car about 2 feet off the ground so you can get the exhaust out of the way and have room to move around under the car.

when you put the pressure plate on make sure to torque it with a torque wrench or you will ruin it like i did my last clutch.

the transmission is not that heavy but if you need assistance, have someone get inside the car, put a rope under the tailshaft and have them help you hold the tranny up.

i think thats about it, good luck.

OnyxCobra · Jan 17, 2008

Re: Clutch Replacement... will be replacing it myself... take a look

I did mine last winter. I had never done anything like it before and it was honestly very easy.

Remove shifter handle
Jack up car as high as you can
Remove midpipe
Remove driveshaft
Undo the wiring, there's a long harness that goes down along the tranny
Remove the clutch cable cover and undo cable, use a large prybar for leverage
Remove the 4 bolts that hold in the trans
Put a jack up under tranny
Remove tranny mount
Slide the trans back and down a little at a time until it slides all the way out
Let the jack down and slide the tranny out from under the car
Then undo the bellhousing bolts, iirc there are 6 bolts
Then undo the PP, etc and go from there.

If that's not 100% i appologize, i don't remember it that well.

I went with a Timken TO and Pilot bearing for my setup. It was roughly $30 at Autozone, I was afraid my TO bearing would start chirping if I didn't buy a good one.

thorco3 · Jan 17, 2008

Re: Clutch Replacement... will be replacing it myself... take a look

sounds good guys, thanks for the input.

and I have access to plenty of tools. I just purchase my pops a new air wrench that needs some breaking in. I've only used it once but it seems like it will pretty much become invaluable. we've got a couple impacts as well and more than enough floor jacks for one shop.

SRT Handz · Jan 17, 2008

Re: Clutch Replacement... will be replacing it myself... take a look

i would just let a shop change the clutch. Clutch is pretty straight forward for a shop to do and they will change the rear main seal also.

mich_666 · Jan 17, 2008

Re: Clutch Replacement... will be replacing it myself... take a look

as mentioned before, an impact will be handy.
separating the bellhousing from the tranny is much easier. just make sure u lock the throw out bearing in place before u bolt it all up.

replacing the rear main seal regardless of its condition is definatly a good decision.
pretty straight forward stuff,
good stuff mengggggggg!

thorco3 · Jan 17, 2008

Re: Clutch Replacement... will be replacing it myself... take a look

alright, just want to double check on this stuff real quick...

what all do I actually need to replace the clutch?

do I def need all of the stuff mentioned in the first post, am I missing anything? I probably order it all tomorrow. Not sure which flywheel to go with either, but I'll look into that a little more I suppose. Is an aluminum fw worth the $$$...?

I just ordered a BBK TB, 255lph pump, LMAF, and 42lb inj... now all I need to order is this clutch stuff and the vortech

imp:

lotta money :noes: :happydrunks:

OnyxCobra · Jan 18, 2008

Re: Clutch Replacement... will be replacing it myself... take a look

You could save some cash and have your stock flywheel resurfaced, that's what I did with mine. You'll need the clutch kit with alignment tool, rear main, TO bearing, Pilot bearing, might want to get a steel bearing retainer also, I've heard the stock aluminum ones can mushroom at the end and/or wear a groove in them.

thorco3 · Jan 18, 2008

Re: Clutch Replacement... will be replacing it myself... take a look

sounds good, I'll probably order everything tomorrow. :happydrunks:

reivaxtorres · Jan 18, 2008

Re: Clutch Replacement... will be replacing it myself... take a look

honestly, i think an aluminum FW is worth the price. makes the car rev up so much quicker and makes the car feel lighter too. if you have the money for it, go for it. i went with Fidanza because it came recomended to me by several import guys (not ricer import guys...) and so far its been a good choice. make sure if you get one, you get the one with the friction material thats screwed in, not rivited on. makes it worlds easier to replace the $45 friction materal later.

as for everything else, i would say you get a Ford OE throw out bearing. ive used Centerforce, FRPP (from the new manufacture/souce), Mcloed, and Ford, and Ford has been the best one so far. no chirpping at all, easy engagement, perfect.

pilot bearing.....might as well. ive always been lazy when replacing my clutch/flywheel and have never done it (had the car since 92k miles, has 165k now), and i havent had any issues with the pilot bearing, but since you are going to be in there, why not.

you dont need to replace the bolts unless they are stripped or show heavy signs of wear. likewise, mine are all original bolts. never had a problem, they arent TTY or anything.

the only thing you didnt mention that i would at least look into getting would be the Input bearing retainer. lucky for all you t-5 owners, yours is easily serviced. if yours has plenty of scores or just looks worn out, replace it with a steel one.

other than that, cant really think of anything else. keep in mind that the above info is coming from a t-45 guy. hope it helps :coolsmiley:

(ps. here is a short video i shot to show how fast a 4.6L revs up in neutral with an aluminum flywheel. just a stock 4.6L with basic bolt ons --> http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a267/ender03/?action=view&current=100_4279.flv)

thorco3 · Jan 18, 2008

Re: Clutch Replacement... will be replacing it myself... take a look

reivaxtorres said:
honestly, i think an aluminum FW is worth the price. makes the car rev up so much quicker and makes the car feel lighter too. if you have the money for it, go for it. i went with Fidanza because it came recomended to me by several import guys (not ricer import guys...) and so far its been a good choice. make sure if you get one, you get the one with the friction material thats screwed in, not rivited on. makes it worlds easier to replace the $45 friction materal later.

as for everything else, i would say you get a Ford OE throw out bearing. ive used Centerforce, FRPP (from the new manufacture/souce), Mcloed, and Ford, and Ford has been the best one so far. no chirpping at all, easy engagement, perfect.

pilot bearing.....might as well. ive always been lazy when replacing my clutch/flywheel and have never done it (had the car since 92k miles, has 165k now), and i havent had any issues with the pilot bearing, but since you are going to be in there, why not.

you dont need to replace the bolts unless they are stripped or show heavy signs of wear. likewise, mine are all original bolts. never had a problem, they arent TTY or anything.

the only thing you didnt mention that i would at least look into getting would be the Input bearing retainer. lucky for all you t-5 owners, yours is easily serviced. if yours has plenty of scores or just looks worn out, replace it with a steel one.

other than that, cant really think of anything else. keep in mind that the above info is coming from a t-45 guy. hope it helps :coolsmiley:

(ps. here is a short video i shot to show how fast a 4.6L revs up in neutral with an aluminum flywheel. just a stock 4.6L with basic bolt ons --> http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a267/ender03/?action=view&current=100_4279.flv)

Hey, thanks for the info. I think I will actually spring for the alum fw. One of my buddies recommended it and I think I'd rather get an improvement instead of resurfacing mine anyways.

thorco3 · Jan 23, 2008

Re: Clutch Replacement... will be replacing it myself... take a look

WOW... went to order my clutch today from brothers performance and after a short 2 min conversation I decided I would have to order my clutch elsewhere.

Whoever I talked to tried to tell me that my 95 mustang had a t-45 in it because they stopped putting in t-5's in 93. I told him this wasn't correct but he simply reiterated that 94-04 mustangs had t-45's. :slap:

OnyxCobra · Jan 23, 2008

Re: Clutch Replacement... will be replacing it myself... take a look

yeah F that place... don't risk buying something that won't fit.

reivaxtorres · Jan 23, 2008

Re: Clutch Replacement... will be replacing it myself... take a look

oh wow. thats really, really weird. ive been there several times, and honestly everytime ive gone there, ive been helped by very knowledgable staff. the main reason i stopped going to them was because i found another shop that was even closer to my house that had lower prices. but they have always been good with their info and their tech. maybe you just caught a new guy? :dunno:

thorco3 · Jan 23, 2008

Re: Clutch Replacement... will be replacing it myself... take a look

yeah, i don't want to deal with ordering from them and get the wrong part...

I've contacted summitt about price matching, other wise I'll just pay the higher price.

reivaxtorres · Jan 24, 2008

Re: Clutch Replacement... will be replacing it myself... take a look

thorco3 said:
yeah, i don't want to deal with ordering from them and get the wrong part...

I've contacted summitt about price matching, other wise I'll just pay the higher price.

yeah, it would be a headache to deal with wrong parts getting shipped out and whatnot. if summit doesnt price match, try calling them again and see if you get someone smarter this time around.

thorco3 · Jan 24, 2008

Re: Clutch Replacement... will be replacing it myself... take a look

well, I found the root of the problem. brothers performance has they clutches listed incorrectly. They have the pre93 clutches listed as 86-95 clutches. According to centerforce.com I need a DF021057 kit and brothers performance has this clutch listed as a 96-00 kit for t-45 transmission... basically bp has a clusterfuc* when it comes to their centerforce clutch listings.

looks like the clutch I need is about 350 every place so it doesn't really matter where I order from. At least I now know what I actually need and can order accordingly. what a pain... :slap:

CanaryGT · Jan 24, 2008

Re: Clutch Replacement... will be replacing it myself... take a look

I actually have a friend who works at CF. I got my custom DF clutch, throwout bearing included for 200 bucks.... If you havent already got it I can see if I can get one for your car. I also have a Canary Yellow 95 GT so Im guessing something like the one I have would be good. The one I got was made to handle 500 LBS TQ.

thorco3 · Jan 25, 2008

Re: Clutch Replacement... will be replacing it myself... take a look

man, 200 is a freakin steal.

I dunno, I've already ordered a TO bearing, pilot bearing, alignment tool, and a spec alum flywheel... now I'm thinking about just going with a spec stage 2.

My main reason for going with the centerforce is because I like the idea of keeping close to a stock pedal feel. Cause my clutch was super soft... which was nice for any long distance road trips. (which I don't do too many of and will do even less of now that I have a DD)

How do you like the CF canaryGT? and how does the pedal feel compared to stock?

OnyxCobra · Jan 25, 2008

Re: Clutch Replacement... will be replacing it myself... take a look

Like I said in the PM the CF DF is a lot softer than the Spec Stage 2, at least in my experience. Just one question though, what do long road trips have to do with having a heavy clutch pedal, you hardly ever use it :bunny3: