Last Fall I had my clutch replaced by the gas station mechanic in my neighborhood. As I was leaving the station I remember him telling me that the new clutch may not have solved the sticky shifting problem that I had been experiencing.
As I left the station the shifting was fine, but as I continued to drive my truck the shifting became stiff again. Since I had already plopped down $600 for a new clutch, I wasn't able to turn around and have further work done. So I let it go.
Recently, in addition to the stiff shifting, my truck has begun making grinding noises. This time I took my truck to a Nissan mechanic who told me that the throwout bearing wasn't replaced and that is why I'm experiencing stiff shifting.
Should I take it back to the mechanic that replaced my clutch and expect him to do the work for nothing? Or should I pay to have the Nissan mechanic do the work?
Even when you buy a new clutch it always comes with the throwout bearing. Nissan is going to charge you a LOAD of cash to do it. BTW from the estimates that I got to have my clutch done on my truck (mine is 4X4) $600 is pretty good!
I just talked to the mechanic in question and he said he remembered replacing the throwout bearing when he installed the new clutch, but he doesn't think he's liable for the repair.
The receipt for the clutch install is dated May, 2002 and according to him that is long enough for a throwout bearing to go bad.
Not knowing the life of a throwout bearing, I don't know what to do.
A throughout bearing should last at least 100K miles...it should ALWAYS be replaced whenever the clutch is replaced...to claim that a bearing could go out in 15 months is crazy....UNLESS you are driving 6k miles a month...
The mechanic in question is going to tell you he remembers replacing the bearing...to say he didn't do it means he is either knowling ripping you off...or he is just flat out a bad mechanic...
If your reciept has an itemized list of parts installed, it should, and if the bearing is listed, you are pretty much SOL...
On the other hand, if there is no list of parts installed, then it's your word agains his...
Your best best would be to take him to small claims court, and you would have about a 50-50 chance of getting some $$$ on this deal...Small claims ONLY deals with money, not with service, in most states...so you cannot sue him in small claims to replace the bearing...you have to sue him for the cost of replacing the bearning and most likely you will have to have someone else do it and present that invoice as the proof of cost...
Now, here is another question...How did the Nissan mechanic troubleshoot the throughout bearing as the problem???...The only I know of to really determine if a throughout bearing is the problem is to remove it and check the roller bearings for wear...I really don't think he did that...
Now, you can put a stethascope on the housing and listen to the noise and a throughout bearing should sound a little different that the bearings in the tranny...but it's "iffy"...
This is a tough call...
I would get a 3ed opinion from another mechanic...another Nissan dealer for example...
The price shown for the clutch kit is about right...and the kit comes with the bearing...and the flywheel surfacing is about right also...
I assume you have a 2wd truck, and about $400 for labor on a 2wd is pretty good...good mechanic could do that in about 6 hours...
Take it into a different Nissan mechanic and see what they say...depending on how the noise "sounds" it could also be the bearing on the input shaft, although less likely...
The price shown for the clutch kit is about right...and the kit comes with the bearing...and the flywheel surfacing is about right also...
I assume you have a 2wd truck, and about $400 for labor on a 2wd is pretty good...good mechanic could do that in about 6 hours...
Take it into a different Nissan mechanic and see what they say...depending on how the noise "sounds" it could also be the bearing on the input shaft, although less likely...
$325 for labor on a 4wd clutch install I think is pretty cheap...
More work to do, drop the front drive shaft, taking the trans and transfer case off is heavier and it is "off balance" meaning you pretty much have to have a trans carrier big enuf to handle both units...If you are fairly strong, or 2 guysa, you can take a 5 sp tranny off and on with out a transmission jack, but pretty darn hard to do it with the transfer case attached...
The cheapest I have ever seen is about $800 for the entire job, labor and parts...you got yours for about $200 less...of course that depends on where you are, what the going rate is etc etc...
The input shaft bearing has NOTHING to do with a clutch swap...this bearing is located inside the trans and is difficult to get into and replace...I have never done one, and don't want to try...
It could also be a bad shift fork inside the transmission.If it cracks where it engages the synchronizer on one side, it will still shift but be hard to shift since it is pulling on the synchronizer unevenly.Another possibility is a bad blocking ring.
__________________
1998 Nissan Frontier XE/2wd/5spd 1 owner, 264k miles
1985 Olds Cutlass, 350 Chevy, owned for 14 years
WANTED: 1968-1973 Datsun 510 or 1991-1994 Sentra SE-R http://www.myspace.com/junkyardengineer
It's kind of a common problem with the 4cyl 4x4's for the t-bearing to go out way before the clutch does. It doesn't make any noise, but the clutch will stay engaged even with the pedal fully depressed. I've been living with this problem for 65,000 miles now and I'm just waiting till the clutch starts to slip before I replace it.
Luckytruck, try to find out if your tech used an after market clutch kit or a Nissan one. You might be able to get it under warranty.
__________________
95 WD-21 DVD/TV system-otherwise stock kid hauler
95 D-21 KC XE 3" lift- built for rockcrawlin!
The AutoGuide.com network consists of the largest network of enthusiast-owned enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
AutoGuide.com provides the latest car reviews, auto show coverage, new car prices, and automotive news. The AutoGuide network operates more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share opinions as a community.
Throwout Bearing
Linear Mode
