Fidanza Stripped

[TurboWizard]

Need some advice...
I brought my car into a (new) shop to get the clutch replaced and it looks like they stripped the threads off the inside of the flywheel where the pressure plate bolts on. It's only supposed to be torqued down to 20 lbs...right? The guy's telling me he needs to go more to get it all to fit together.

(It's an ACT 2600 btw and it would have been only the 3rd time it was torqued to a pressure plate)

It seems to me this guy is doing something wrong, but I reluctantly admit I don't know enough about putting a clutch back together to tell him exactly what!

[drcustom]

What's he torquing them at?

It sounds to me like he should replace it.

[TurboWizard]

I guess enough torque to strip it out!

I brought the flywheel to a machine shop and he's putting in helicoils. Which by the way, the speedshop attemped without a press and screwed it up badly! Cost me about $100 extra and I'm not even sure it'll work right.

[drcustom]

I have a fidanza that 2 of the holes stripped out on and I was going to helicoil but a few people recommended against it. $100 is a lot of money, a kit costs less than half that.

Anyways, after talking to some people the only thing I would consider is time-serting the holes. You can buy a new fidanza for like $200, so I'd go that route and not risk it. If something goes wrong, it will likely go way wrong...so don't take your chances especially if you're not sure about it.

They stripped it, it's not safe to fix, they should replace it.

[TurboWizard]

I ended up buying a new Fidanza. Hopefully there will be instructions included, so I can show this guy how the install should be done! :mad:

[drcustom]

get the FSM and show him they don't need that much torque...or take it to someone else.

[92tealTSI]

I guess enough torque to strip it out!

I brought the flywheel to a machine shop and he's putting in helicoils. Which by the way, the speedshop attemped without a press and screwed it up badly! Cost me about $100 extra and I'm not even sure it'll work right.

What the hell do you need a press for to put in a helicoil?!

[drcustom]

What the hell do you need a press for to put in a helicoil?!

I thought the same thing, but then realized maybe he means a drill-press?

[TurboWizard]

Yeah sorry, a drill press!

Whoever did it the first time, did it by hand and it sucked. Then of course the helicoils didn't have any matal to bite in to and it was all over after that!!

My FSM has gotten little feet and walked away...
If someone has one handy, could you post what it says about installing a flywheel?! :)

[Super4x4Duty]

You mentioned this was the third time this clutch was installed. Did you use new pressure plate bolts every time? Just wondering.

[TurboWizard]

Did you use new pressure plate bolts every time?

I bought a new pressure plate, since the last one was possibily warped. (That one was also been new)

Anyone have a FSM (mine is seemingly lost) that can tell me what it says about installing a pressure plate to the flywheel? :cool:
I want to give this guy the instructions, because whatever manual he's reading SUCKS!!

[Super4x4Duty]

You misunderstood my question. Did you replace the bolts that hold the pressure plate to the flywheel or did you reuse them when the holes stripped out? Those little TTY bolts are junk after you use them once and will cause problems sometimes when you reuse them.

[DRW]

Since you're getting new pressure plate bolts (right?) get longer bolts so they engage more of the threads in the aluminum flywheel. Stock bolts are 8x1.25 16mm long. I'm using 20mm long bolts in my Fidanza.

The manual says to engage the PP bolts finger tight, then center the friction disc with the clutch alignment tool, tigten the PP bolts a little at a time in a criss-cross pattern so you don't warp the PP. Make sure all bolts are snug, then torque them to 11-16 ft.-lbs.

FYI bolt torque on the flywheel-to-CRANK bolts is 94-101 ft.-lbs. I thought you'd like to know just in case you feel like bitch-slapping your mechanic. Enjoy!