G'day again... I suppose I should of explained myself a little better in the first post!
The vehicle isn't actually mine, it's just a car I'm doing some work on for a friend of mine... I'm a motor mechanic by trade, and I don't mind doing jobs 'on the side' to help a few people out.
The question about the flywheel bolts was kind of rhetorical, hehe, I know they have to be tight.. but geez, making bolts soooo damn tight while having Torx heads is just plain stupid!! Really f'n stupid!! By the way, the bolts are T50's.
Anyways.. I managed to score some impact Torx sockets and rattle the stupid DMF off! Only just though, as even the impact socket was showing some 'twist'
After getting it off I checked the DMF and as expected, it was r00ted! So.. the best and cheapest option for the owner, was to get a complete new clutch kit, which included a rigid flywheel.
The kit is from Exedy, part number is FJK-8136SMF and comes complete with pressure plate, clutch plate, rigid flywheel, release bearing, pilot bearing, clutch fork and retaining clips and a set of new flywheel bolts (not Torx, thank goodness). I'd say the kit (retail) would cost about $950 or so, but I do know a retailer who helps me out with pricing so I did it get it somewhat cheaper than retail.
Now, all I'm waiting for are the losers at Subaru to get their act together and get me the CORRECT parts! Man.. I've had little luck with this dealership... they make ordering parts very painful! According to them, the bits I'm after should be here tomorrow.. or day after! Fingers crossed!
The problem with this car and gearbox all started off with the release bearing! The clutch itself wasn't so bad, but the bearing had actually exploded, and completely let go! The fork then became jammed up on the pressure plate fingers, giving it ZERO drive!
This car has given the owner a fair bit of grief.. the engine light is now almost always on, along with the cruise light flashing! This issue was mentioned to the dealer while under warranty.. and they did nothing but just keep on clearing the code! I'm sure they themselves couldn't fix it anyways... although there may be some kind of software update now, to tackle the problem! I wouldn't know.. as I'm not in the Subaru dealership network. The 'squeak' sound it had on take off I'm sure was the release bearing 'crying'... it's just a shame nobody heard it before it finally let go!
Are these cars really that good? I mean, I hear some good reviews about them, and they seem to drive quite well. This particular one has 106k klms on it, and it doesn't have any other issues apparently. Interior looks nice, as do the wheels and body!
Ok.. now for the pictures. Hopefully this will work, and you can see the damage that has come about from the bearing. The bearing itself must have seized, or something, and started to machine a deep groove into the input shaft housing! Now.. I have to replace the housing, as the new bearing will need to slide over it, and I can't afford to have it jamming up on a groove! Check the bearing out.. well, all the pieces it's in! That should be all ONE piece!
Hopefully... by this weekend, I shall have all the parts I need, and will have the gearbox fitted, and the car will be driving all good again :ebiggrin:
Well.. here's hoping!
p.s: Sorry about the loooooong post!
to ORS.
