I'm putting a new clutch in tomorrow and was wondering if any of you had any advice, tips, or tricks to make things go smoother. Couldn't find anything searching other than clutch recommendations and how to unbolt the flywheel.

Basically just looking for anything to make the job quicker and easier and so I don't mess anything up. Thanks

 

Much depends on whether you are putting another stock clutch in or converting to an aftermarket type.

 

Guess I should have stated that. I've got a NAPA clutch with a solid flywheel. It came bolted together as a unit and includes the bearings and barring tool.

 

When I had my CON OFE put in the shop forgot to remove a spacer that is supposed to be discarded with the Dual Mass setup...and they also tore the shift boot. Read all the instructions and be careful. I wish I had had the time to do the job myself...I'll be Condemned to the Theological Realm of Eternal Punishment if I ever let a shop do a job for me again!!!!!!!

 

I've heard something about that spacer. I'll keep an eye out for it. I was about to take it to a shop since I've got 2 other projects goin and I've got a bum wrist right now, but I hate paying other people to do something I can do myself.

 

Should be very straight forward. For me, removing the dual mass flywheel was the hardest part. If you have that figured out it should be easy. Make sure the spline lineup tool slides in and out freely after getting it all bolted together. Also, don't use too much loctite on the clutch bolts..... it runs down and smears on the pressure plate and disk. I took mine apart twice because of this. For the starter spacer... if your new flywheel is like mine, the gear ring is farther away from the engine so you remove the starter spacer to get the starter farther back. Good luck with it!

 

Is it easier to pull the starter so it's out of the way? The instructions from NAPA aren't too bad, but they aren't great. I don't have a service manual or anything for this truck and it's been years since I've put a clutch in, so I'm just trying to remember what all I have to watch out for.

 

Starter is not in the way.
SOme considerations:
Be careful with the shift boot and if it tears/torn, you can replace with a universal CV boot I'm told.
There's a couple hidden screws getting the console off. If it's not loose, you still need to find a screw or 2.
Bellhousing bolts come out easily, just need a couple feet of socket extensions.
No need to rem the xfer case from the trans, get a good trans jack under the trans and strap a floor jack to the xfer case and that works good. Better to have 2 people to stab the trans back in.
Make sure to loctite the flywheel bolts and use the alignment tool to align the splines in the clutch before stabbing it.
No need to jack up the truck (if it's a 4x4).

 

Thanks for that info. At this point, I have the console removed and the shifters off. That's all the farther I've gotten on it. Hoping to get going on the rest tonight. The orange shifter boot is torn and leaking. I found a part number for an ATV CV boot that's supposed to fit perfect on it, so I'll get that ordered today.

 

Good luck with it. To me, the most important part is being careful when stabbing the trans. A good jack and helper are critical (IMO). You can mess up the clutch if you're too rough with it.

 

I just got done doing this last weekend.

My problem was not with slipping, rather IMPOSSIBLE to get into reverse or Low gear.

Come to find out, the previous owner had installed a SMF from an 04 truck, along with a clutch disk and pressure plate. The slave didn't have enough throw to release the disk therefore causing problems.

Solution, all new Flywheel, disk, P/P and throwout bearing. Received the parts only to find out the previous owner had discarded the flexplate, bolts and adapter. My truck was down for a total of 2 weeks due to parts, once they showed up it took about 3 hours to install.

I have never experienced a clutch install like this. The flywheel, disk, and pressure plate installed like a torque converter and then just slid the trans/T-case back forward and connected the flywheel to the flexplate, and reinstall bellhousing bolts then starter. It was actually really easy and straightforward once we read the instructions!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best of luck to you, and I hope yours is not Jerry rigged as mine was.

 

Well, plans got interrupted today, so I didn't get anything done on it. Leaving tomorrow to go pheasant hunting so I guess I'll get going on it next week.

 

Finally got some time today. Got the tranny and transfer case out and the old clutch and flywheel pulled. Hopefully I'll get time tomorrow to get it all put back in. Definitely wishing I still had access to a vehicle lift.

The clutch that was in there was a LUK. Is that OEM? or has the clutch been replaced before?

 

I'm told the OEM is a LUK.

 

Okay, I was just curious. I thought it was the original clutch, but I didn't know.