legacycentral bbs

So here is the back story in brief. My 92 TLeg SS is in need of a new clutch and I wanted to upgrade, if possible, for very little money (since I have none to spend). I found a complete clutch kit with flywheel from a '02 WRX with only 14K on it for a rock bottom price of $80 US. My question is: at this price with this millage and of course assuming that the parts are in good order, is this a deal to jump on? Second, the only type of clutch Ive ever worked with is modular so what should I watch out for on these components to ensure Im not putting in bad or damaged parts? My current intent for the car is the basics, ie; MBC, TMIC, MUG, the ever important boost gauge (thanks to Ken N. for his advice to a turbo/Subie newbie). Any advice is welcome however please look at my sig before you post any criticism. Ive seen some flaming as of late and I dont want one of my posts to be the reason someone walks away from such a great forum. Thanks again in advance, you guys are the best and I do appreciate the help.
Ben

That's a good price on a clutch, but personally, I wouldn't buy a used clutch, especially not one from a car which is known for having abusive owners, owners who abuse parts like the clutch more than anything else.

You can get aftermarket clutches for the 02-05 WRX and I believe they bolt up without modification. Look in Legacy777's AWD swap thread stickied in this forum. I know he's using an Exedy WRX clutch, but I don't remember if there's any adapting or fabwork that needs to be done.

Also, for your "delete" plans: The A/C isn't hard, just rip it all out and run without the belt. P/S will require belt-hunting, since you'll have to find a specific belt that is only long enough to go around your alternator and crank pulley. Then the ABS delete... I agree that ABS can be more of a hassle than it's worth, but it'd be a HUGE hassle to remove it. You'll have to redo all the brake hoses and such.

I hope this all helps, and understand that I'm not trying to criticize you. I try as best I can to avoid the elitist attitudes that plague not just this, but ALL Internet forums.

thats what i did. but, i recommend spending an additional 60 bucks to get the new clutch disc only, and then use the wrx flywheel, and wrx cover plate you just got. just dont use the disc with 14k on it. get a new one for 60 plus get a new throughout bearing.

the disc part number you need is
EXEDY DISC part number is : FJD024U Daikin Clutch
get it from grip-force clutches off ebay.

With the ABS delete, cant you just buy a set of brake lines from the 90 Legacy which came without ABS?

Just curious,

Why do you want to get rid of power steering & abs?

Just to clarify, Im hoping someone can tell me what to look for on a clutch to indicate abuse or wear. I know that grooving and stress fractures are a tell tale sign but what else should I be wary of. Ill look into the new plate thats a good Idea since I dont want to be doing this again any time soon.

Subyluvr2212: thank you for the insite and I hope you did not misunderstand, Im not overly sensitive, just looking for solid advice like you and the others have offered. I actually appreciate open candor and bluntness. After looking over the ABS system a bit more i do agree with you, it is more work than I want to do for now, AC is already out and Im hunting for a new belt to delete the PS.

Bheinen74: Thanks for the part numbers, Ill hop on eBay and take a look!

Splinter: Thats an interesting thought. I will have to find a non-abs car to compare to. Thanks.

Legacy777: This subject always raises a lot of questions and doubt. Growing up, my dad, a former cop, showed me a lot about braking and handling a vehicle without ABS. The first car I ever bought with ABS almost caused me my first accident. My "PERSONAL POV" on ABS is that it is designed to assist people, who panic and mash the brakes in a emergency situation, by preventing lock up. With ABS you loose absolute control over the vehicle under certain situations as the ABS controller kicks in. Ive removed it from every car since that near accident. I realize this is a personal choice that many will not agree with but I feel it is the right one based on my experience and ability. As for the power steering, I yanked it from an older car I once had and found the benefits to outweigh any inconvenience. By removing it you will reduce your vehicle weight, free up additional torque, and best of all build strong manly shoulders! He he eh....... Same thing with the AC. The gains are not outrageous but every bit helps when your building a budget car.

Splinter wrote:With the ABS delete, cant you just buy a set of brake lines from the 90 Legacy which came without ABS?

yes you can... i did it on my legacy. i just went to the junkyard and yanked some non-abs lines and attached them. you will need the non-abs proportioning valve because the lines connect into it from a different angle and also the master cylinder.

And the master cylinder too.

I dont think the ABS weighs much, it'd probably be easier to just disable it, rather than try and physically remove it. (pull the fuse)

Thanks guys.

Splinter your right it does not weigh much. I do have the system disabled at the moment. I really want it gone though, it eats up space under the hood.

Back to the clutch though, can anyone offer pointers??

rallitektech wrote:And the master cylinder too.

true, i edited my post to include that

you can get a new OEM spec exedy clutch/pressure plate setup off of ebay for around $250 or so. used clutches are not worth the time it takes to put them in as you will end up replacing it alot sooner than a new clutch setup