legacycentral bbs

I have the transmission out of the car as we speak, and some people are telling me I should go ahead and replace the clutch disc while everything's apart.

There are valid arguments for either...

For: The car is apart, and I think that the clutch that's in there now is an OEM clutch from that time period of the clutch shudder TSB's running rampant (supposedly substandard materials were used in the construction of the disc). I can get the clutch to shudder pretty bad if I try.

Against: The clutch is only 17,000 miles old, and performs great aside from the shudder. Plus I don't really have the $$$ to buy a new $300 clutch, and I'm not well-versed into installing one, using the alignment tool and all.

What do you think?

I think you should replace the clutch while you've got everything apart. But if you cannot afford it, then put it back together. How long do you think you'd have to wait to afford one though? If it's only a few weeks I say wait.

17k? Driven nicely, a clutch will last 300.

At only 17K, consider it possible that the new clutch you buy might fail before the one you currently hold in your hand! I wouldn't do it.
Since you have a bit of clutch judder, and haven't seen thousands of clutches in varying states of failure during your lifetime, why not take the clutch and pressure plate into a decent independent subaru mechnic, drop him $5 and ask if it looks ok. Or do the same at a reliable parts house.
FWIW, I always replace the release bearing and clips when I have things apart -- it's cheap to do and when they fail, you aren't left with many options. A clutch usually fails slowly, with lots of symptoms and a range of options (live with it, curse it, replace it, upgrade it . . .)

I also remember that my clutch judder was 90% solved by setting up the lever free-travel properly. The spec. is larger than you might think.
Chris

Well, my friend and I got the transmission back in today. Took about 2 hours. A lot of that was trying to get the tranny properly positioned on the jack, and getting the input shaft lined up properly with the clutch disc.

I did not replace the clutch, I don't have that kind of scratch. I really don't see the point of throwing away a perfectly good $300 part.

I will definitely do it more carefully next time, I can't count the number of times the thing almost fell off the jack and crushed my little head. A learning experience, most certainly!!

Can't wait to put the rest of it back together and drive it again!!!

Cool, congrats Subyluvr!

I haven't ever done any tranny work yet myself even though I'm working hard to need a new clutch . Seriously though I really would like to do my shifter bushings, mounts and stuff this spring or summer.

I would have bought an upgraded clutch only if I had the money. If the upgraded clutch were to fail, you'd always have your stock one to use during one of those overnight clutch swaps.