why is it break-downs always seem to happen out on the road somewhere - away from shop/mechanics you know and trust ??

was headed to a bull riding on friday. pulled over for a pit stop about 30 minutes from my destination - hard to shift and truck creepin' with the clutch pushed in. so, i got 'er rollin down the road and headed for the dealer when i got to town. sure enuff, clutch is toast.

figured this was a good time to upgrade had 'em install a LuK pro gold. 'spose to rate at 450 hp and 1000 ft/lbs. that outta do for me.

anyway, come monday and $1300.00 and change later im good to go.

so, did i get screwed?? anyone have a cost on this clutch and any idea what a "average" cost/hour for labor is at a dodge dealer.

 

I saw my dealers rate at 82.00 smackers an hour, about a month ago.

 

the LUK pro gold clutch runs about 450-500 bucks...the ceramettalic that holds 550-600hp runs about 560-600 bucks...

 

EDIT...

carolina clutch sells the 5spd LUK Pro Gold series for $325

 

I don't know for sure if they screwed you or not but when the clutch is draggin and not releasing completely the problem is most of the time in the clutch relase system rather than the clutch itself. Replacing the clutch master and/or slave cylinder is much cheaper as far as both labor and parts cost. Do you know what parts EXACTLY they replaced? You should also always ask for your old parts back although they could still give you someone else's old parts instead.

 

i saw my old clutch - it was toast. i just think i got hammered on the cost of parts and labor......
thanks for all your replys

 

I had the exact same problem and put in the Luk Progold but I did it myself. I paid 450 canadian. What happened to mine was the pilot bearing seized so it would keep turning the input shaft. So whether you paid a little too much or not if you would have kept using it you would have ruined your tranny input shaft. Sometimes you just have to get it done.

 

I had the same issue. It did not seize, but the neddles fell down inbetween the disk and flywheel. Same result. Replaced it with a oem LUK do to funds. The easier the start the rougher it got. If I had a load on it she was smooth. But if I was empty and slightly down hill it would shake the back of the truck up/down two inchs. After talking with the Distibutor, they replaced it and suggested HD model. Same part # just with an HD on the end. It was a completly different clutch. Disk was slightly larger and differnt dampening. The rated it at 100 'lbs higher then stock. They could not (would not) give me a number. I did find out it has approx. 4000 (or 4500) psi form the pressure plate of compression. Stock was 3500 (or 4000). It was enough to feel it in the pedel.

We had problems a 4BT destroing the damening springs about every 100,000 miles ad would give the same result. It is a little disconserting in rush hour.

Randy

P.S. It was 215 for the OEM and 270~ for the HD. Jobber price.