Clutch replacement

IRALEEB

MEMBER
2014 HONDA ACCORD
2.4L
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
60,000 MILES

Clutch burned out (luckily on surface streets not freeway)

Spoke with few different shops and all said (amongst other comments about price, time to complete, etc), clutch kit parts are pretty much unavailable other than from Honda dealer (cost would be approximately double after-market kit, they said).

Conversation with one shop led to me suggesting I would search internet for clutch kit and see what I could find and he sent me a list of what should be included in the kit - clutch disc, pressure plate, throw-out bearing, pilot bearing. Also suggested looking for a flywheel, while I was at it.

My questions are, considering my car listed above LX-S Coupe, 2.4 Liter:
1. Is there any additional part that should be in the clutch kit other than noted?
2. What clutch kit brands/manufacturers are recommended and which do not use them?
3. Same as Q 1 and 2 as to flywheels?
4. Hours for the work said to be 10-12. Decent time estimate or not?
5. Suggestions, thoughts, advice, etc, that you think might be important.

I tend to be an analytical, somewhat anal and, I'm an old fart. I'm pretty handy, not a mechanic, will not be doing this myself, and details are important to me.

Thank you for your help and advice - greatly appreciated and, hope to hear back soon.

All the best - stay healthy,

Ira B.

3 Replies

SQM

MECHANIC
6,383 POSTS

Hello,

Replacing the clutch is a fairly extensive work and does require some special tools.

Here are the answers to your questions:
1. Is there any additional part that should be in the clutch kit other than noted?
A. The pars that you noted is all that you will need for a successful clutch kit replacement.

2. What clutch kit brands/manufacturers are recommended?
A. There are few good brand that will work. I have personally used Exedy brand on Honda vehicles in the past and worked very well. You should be able to get a Exedy Pro kit, which will include everything. I think one of those kits comes with the flywheel as well. This are readily available online (amazon, eBay etc.)

3. Same as Q 1 and 2 as to flywheels?
A. Look above.

4. Hours for the work said to be 10-12. Decent time estimate or not?
A. It is a decent time quoted. The book calls for removing the transmission for this job. So 10 hours is reasonable.

5. Suggestions, thoughts, advice, etc. That you think might be important.
A. This job requires some specialty tools besides the typical wrenches and sockets. If you do not replace the flywheel, get it resurfaced, which can be done at your local parts store or machine shops.

Here is couple of helpful articles:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/clutch-doesnt-work-sometimes-or-not-at-all
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/throw-out-bearing-replacement

I have included the clutch replacement procedure for your reference.

Please let me know of any questions.
Thank you.

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Wednesday, September 15th, 2021 AT 8:35 PM

IRALEEB

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Hi again,

Thank you for your responses - a great help. Sufficiently detailed and understandable. Also, appreciate the recommendation to Exedy and Amazon/eBay.

Followed your advice to Amazon, looked for clutch kit with flywheel - lots of choices/somewhat confusing.

However, did question one Amazon vendor, Supreme Clutches, who asked me "Are you looking for an OEM kit or aftermarket? What stage kit? Lightweight flywheel or stock OEM flywheel?"

After some research into the terms (stage and lightweight) here's response I made to them:

"Assuming quality is equal or better to OEM, aftermarket.

As to Stage, again, equal or better. Based on descriptions/definitions I found on D-Series. Org website, I suspect Stage 1 or Stage 2 would more than suffice as, apparently, both are 'better than' OEM in durability/life expectancy. I'm not a street racer, just an old fart who likes/enjoys manual and likes to get the best bang for the buck without buying more than can utilize (can't hear the difference between a $100.00 speaker system and a $1,000.00 speaker system, don't buy the $1,000.00 system - hope that makes sense).

Not sure as to flywheel, but again, would want equal to or better than OEM and, again apparently (from researching on internet), OEM equivalent flywheel will have better durability than lighter weight (only upside, slightly better shift speed, downside, greater/faster wear than OEM equivalent and more often new clutch kits)"

I would appreciate your input as to whether my response was appropriate/reasonable?

Thanks again,

Ira

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Friday, September 17th, 2021 AT 12:14 AM

SQM

MECHANIC
6,383 POSTS

From your answer to the vendor it sounds like you like to get little more out of the clutch performance without being over the top. Right?
I think that is an appropriate answer and reasonable.

If you plan to drive this everyday and want to retain the same shifting characteristics, then going with the OEM style clutch kit would be the best option.

Those stage 1, 2 etc. Will have different clutch feel. Depending on the design they can have stiffer pedal feel. Some of them will be more difficult to slip as you drive, which can make the shift feel not as smooth. As they can be designed to be on or released without much room in-between during transition of the clutch.
And of course the materials will have different heat absorption/dissipation qualities.

That being said, its really all about what you want to get out of the clutch. Some of these aftermarket kits are designed to take more abuse than the factory style kits.

So really my answer is, whichever you feel like will be the most benefit to you. As all of them will work, just little differently.

Hope this helps.
Let me know of any questions.

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Friday, September 17th, 2021 AT 8:52 AM