Hi all. I am a total neophyte on anything automotive. My lovely Porsche 2003 C$ cab probably needs a new clutch. An independant shop quoted $4000, which surprised me. This is for the clutch and 30 hrs of labor.

Is this reasonable? Does a dealer have any advantages to going independent- this person has been great in the past.

Finally, does anyone have suggestions for Southern NH Seacoast mechanic to get a "second opinion?"

Thanks for any help you can give me.

 

30 hrs seems excessive, see post number 5 on the link below:

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...h-install.html

5-7 hrs chargeable would seem sensible. I suggest call a few more places.

 

im trying to remember what i paid but it was much less..30 hours does seem high

 

A lot.
Although i dont live in US i know that most owners reports here are at 1200-2000$ range

 

30 hours is ridiculous, run, don't walk away from that shop. However you should know that the parts can be expensive. A clutch kit (pressure plate, clutch plate, throw out bearing) and pinion bearing can run $500+, and if you need a flywheel that can be close to $1,000 depending on where you source it. For $4,000 you should be able to get the clutch, RMS and a LN bearing upgrade. And that should not take 30 hours.

 

I agree, 30 hours is ridiculous. Should be 12-15 with the IMS, AOS, RMS. See the following from my thread. It may be your mechanic is adding in all the above items and more / I'd ask:

Originally Posted by Parkcity911
Int Shaft bearing upgrade $2,285.00 Bearing costs $600 + 4 hours transmission R&R + 1 hour bearing R&R

Clutch kit $850.00 (If done at the same time as the int shaft bearing) Clutch kit $450 rennlist/ebay (genuine Sachs same as Porsche) + 20 minutes once transmission is removed.

Air oil separator $425.00 (If done with Int shaft bearing) $100 part, but it is a pain in the *** unless you drop the engine. + 2-4 hours depending on how you do it.

Rear main seal $28.00 (If done with Int shaft bearing) $15 part + 20 minutes labor

Ft brake pads, sensors, rotors, hardware $1,180.00 $450 for aftermarket rotors and pads + 1.5 hours labor, or if your rotors are fine save $350 and just have them turned.

Rear brake pads, sensors, rotors, hardware $940.00 $450 prices for stock rotors and pads + 1.5 hours labor, or if your rotors are fine save $350 and just have them turned.

Waterpump and serpentine belt $1,100.00 H20 pump $375, belt $30 + 2-3 hours labor incl coolant vacuum fill
Total labor about 16 hours @ say $125/hr = $2000
Total (wholesale/DIY) parts = $2500
Total = $4500

Total dealer estimate $6808

Most indys will charge you more in labor if you carry in parts, so your estimate of the dealer being $1k higher seems about right, considering the labor hours I quote aren't padded, and the parts prices are at discounted internet prices (for example DIY).


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04-09-2012, 09:37 AM #8 Lt. Dan
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What shop is going to R&R a transmission for only 4 hours?


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04-10-2012, 09:10 AM #9 logray
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There was another thread recently here where the pricing and estimate for a clutch R&R was inline with my numbers above (an honest shop).

But even if you add an hour each way for the trans R&R, still those numbers are in the ballpark of the price range, I imagine with all that work there is going to be an hour or two each way. Considering removing the engine with trans only takes 4 hours though, I can't imagine why removing the transmission itself would take 3. If it's a tip or C4, removing the engine might be the way to go anyways once you pile up a certain number of jobs on these cars sometimes it's just easier to drop the motor than fiddle around with working in extremely tight spaces.

If this is a C2 6 speed, removing the trans is actually delightfully easy. C4 and tips, different story, need to add some more hours. Here is the 6 speed procedure.

Support engine.
Remove 2 belly pans.
Remove cross member, two bolts.
Unbolt drive shafts, 6 bolts each.
Support trans
Remove two shift cables and one reverse light cable
Unbolt rear transmission support
Unbolt bell housing bolts.
Slide trans towards front of car, then lower slightly
Remove two bolts for slave cylinder.
Done.

Install reverse of above.

I've done this several times on my car on jack stands, and the last time I dropped my trans I think it took me maybe 2 hours tops to get it out, and another 2 to get it back in. It was a less than half day job for certain, and that included replacing the flywheel.

With a lift and a proper trans jack, standing, I bet it could be done even quicker, without compromising quality of work.

 

Was looking a a new performance clutch for a 996TT so use this as a guide:

Clutch Kit (includes disc, pressure plate, pilot brg and related items)
$1053.36
Stock Dual Mass Flywheel
$1569.15
Flywheel Bolts
$36.81

Spec Clutch (performance options, Kevlar clutch discs w/ dual sprung hub pressure plates, only available w/ a lightweight flywheel)
Stage 1 (not a ‘heavy’ clutch)
$1855.00
Stage 2 (more of a performance clutch, slightly heavier than stock)
$959.00
Stage 2plus (heavy clutch, great for any type of “performance driver”)
$999.00
Lightweight Flywheel
$675.00

Rear Main Seal Do this since your there.
$42.25

Labor to Replace Clutch and Flywheel $1700.00 to $2000.00

Hope this helps