NOTE: This is not meant to be a be-all, end-all clutch install guide. It is merely a rough guide to installing a clutch so you get the gist of what's involved. No flames please.

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Yesterday, myself and a few locals installed my ACT HDSS clutch kit, which had been sitting in my trunk collecting dust for months.

The culprit: my turbo 97 civic EX, with a 125k mile slipping stock clutch.

No wait, slipping is a compliment. That bitch was DEAD.

Take off the basic stuff: piping, various harness clips, mounts, starter (2 bolts), etc. It's common sense; whatever's stopping the tranny from coming off the engine.



Take off the axle nuts. Apparently they're a bitch to get off, but mine came off easily with airtools.



There's my baby, just chillin' getting her axles taken out.



Once all the various tranny bolts, starter, mounts, axles, harnesses and whatever else is in the way is off, remove the tranny from the engine. You may need to wiggle with it a little bit as in most cases the tranny's never been off the car. Mine came off after about 5 minutes of pulling, hammering with a pick and swearing.



Finally got the tranny off, look at that disgusting old stock clutch. While the tranny was out we replaced the pilot bearing with a new one supplied by ACT.



Side-by-side comparison of the old goods and the new goods (ACT HD pressure plate and SS street disc).



Look at how worn my old stock disc was!



My stock flywheel wasn't doing so well either...



...so we put in a fresh Y7 flywheel we had laying around instead (machine shop was closed ). Also put in the new ACT throwout bearing.



New flywheel installed. TORQUE THE BOLTS DOWN PROPERLY. (87 ft./lbs. for my motor)



And finally, the ACT HDSS clutch installed. Remember to torque down the pressure plate bolts down too (19 ft./lbs. on my motor).



That just about sums it up...

Oh wait, I forgot that we locked the keys in my car and had to break into it.



It was too easy

Installation is the reverse of removal. Make sure that you get some good tranny fluid and properly bleed the clutch. Also be careful not to damage the axle seals when re-installing so they do not leak.

Like I said, that just about sums it up for the clutch install. I left a LOT out, as far as specifics, but my intent was to show the n00bs that a clutch install isn't as daunting as it may seem (or at least as bad as I thought it would be).

Some other goodies I got to go along with the clutch:

-B&M Edge short shifter
-ES poly bushings (make shifting SOOO smooth)
-GM Synchromesh Friction Modified fluid (the ****)

So in total for just under $400 I got a perfectly shifting transmission for my boosted coupe.

This is boostincoupe, signing off.

 

sweet

 

Nice write up with good pics. I'll be putting in a new clutch for the B18 once it's all done. Can't wait.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by streetracer859 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> sweet </TD></TR></TABLE>

Glad you liked it

 

Good work.

Definitly helps give am idea as to what is involved.

 

So you used a stock flywheel? I've heard that it's better to use a stock one then a lightened one when you're turbo? Can anyone back that up?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Six_Inches_Of_fun &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So you used a stock flywheel? I've heard that it's better to use a stock one then a lightened one when you're turbo? Can anyone back that up?</TD></TR></TABLE>

It's true. Stock flywheels (heavier) are generally better than extremely lightweight (7-8 lb.) flywheels for turbo applications.

 

When you took off the tranny and the mount attached to it, how did you suspend the engine up so it wouldnt fall on you? Did you jack it up from the oil pan or anything?

Also how much did the clutch tool cost?

Other then those 2 things i asked good write up.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Luserkid &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">When you took off the tranny and the mount attached to it, how did you suspend the engine up so it wouldnt fall on you? Did you jack it up from the oil pan or anything?

Also how much did the clutch tool cost?

Other then those 2 things i asked good write up. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Sorry for being vague on that part. The engine was held up by the oil pan (wood block in between jack and pan) and lowered/raised as necessary to line up the engine/tranny.

I got the ACT HDSS clutch kit brand new from a local shop for $292. (I know the owner).

 

nice

 

Hmmm isn't ACT HDSS a heavy duty clutch kit? If so, wouldn't using a heavy duty clutch not designed to be used with a small engine as such would actually mess up the tranny input shaft, the gears, and the differential along the way? Since it would put a lot of stress on the flywheel when the clutch disc is engaged and since it is grabbing on the flywheel hard, it wold misalign the input shaft which in turn would affect the pilot bearing.

Someone confirm this, I learned this from automotive school today

 

Good writeup.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Luserkid &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">When you took off the tranny and the mount attached to it, how did you suspend the engine up so it wouldnt fall on you? Did you jack it up from the oil pan or anything?

Also how much did the clutch tool cost?

Other then those 2 things i asked good write up. </TD></TR></TABLE>
the alinement tool usually comes with the clutch if that was what u were talking about and u usually dont have to bleed the clutch, only if u pull the slave cylinder line off other than that great write up

 

Or if you mess with the clutch pedal while the slave cylinder isnt attached.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by streetdreams02 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
the alinement tool usually comes with the clutch if that was what u were talking about </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yup thats exactly what i was talking about, thanks.

 

subscribing

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BrokeAssPinoy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hmmm isn't ACT HDSS a heavy duty clutch kit? If so, wouldn't using a heavy duty clutch not designed to be used with a small engine as such would actually mess up the tranny input shaft, the gears, and the differential along the way? Since it would put a lot of stress on the flywheel when the clutch disc is engaged and since it is grabbing on the flywheel hard, it wold misalign the input shaft which in turn would affect the pilot bearing.

Someone confirm this, I learned this from automotive school today</TD></TR></TABLE>


hdss is quite possibly the perfect clutch setup for a low boost sohc application. i had it on my d16z6 boosting 6 psi and it was perfect.


write up is sweet, im diggin the side by side comparison pics...and it says daikin right on the old disk. i dunno if my stock disk had writing on it....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by streetracer859 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> sweet </TD></TR></TABLE>

 

I hope it's not easier said than done. Good job!

 

great write up . much needed info

 

Should have replaced your input shaft bearing, rear main seal and input shaft seal while your tranny and clutch was out. Might save you some headaches a few miles down the road.

 

How much room did you have to play with?

 

good noob diy guide to clutch install!!!

 

Nice....I'll be doing mine soon. 2 questions....do most aftermarket clutches come with throw-out bearings??? Mine is shot... and how long did it actually take you to do?

 

I bought the exact same kit, the kit includes a new pressure plate, clutch disk, throw out bearing, and alignment tool. Act takes good care of you in that respect, also there phone tech suport is great theres only two guys for there tech suport team but thats all they need because theyve actually done installs on most cars out there and where a big help to me with my proplem i ran into!

Act =