I have a beat up as heck 1993 Nissan pick-um-up-truck. I got the timing chain replaced a while back, and the other day it started spewing oil out where the bed meets the cab. Just great, I need a new rear main seal. They have to drop the transmission to replace it. And I get a call today, I need a new clutch, my old pressure plate was worn down to the rivits!

I only have 208k miles on this truck, and besides the timing chain, this is the only time it has been in the shop except for maintenance. I have been told the clutch usually goes out around 80 to 100k miles.

Well, now to the reason I drive this pile of junk looking truck. Clutch kit $95, rear main seal $15, oil sender switch $10. I am getting a killer deal with my old boss on the work. I have already paid for the parts plus some cash, and will most likely pay him another $100 or so plus tips for the guys that did the work, $300 or so for a new clutch and a rear main seal, and an oil sensor... And I do not have to even touch a wrench. Sweet.

Heck, at $500 it is still a good deal. And I can drive it off the lot Saturday and pay the balance later

And yeah, I like some smiley faces tonight.

E

Ah, the beauty of a Nissan

That is an awesome deal

I wish working on my Nissan was that cheap. Then again, my car is an '87 Maxima with 225K on it. Simple, seemingly-cheap stuff like an emergency brake cable has to come direct from Japan and costs a fortune... plus it's a pain in the arse to find one that fits. The only big-time replacements have been the clutch and the trans-axles, which I replaced the axles myself for under 100 bucks a piece. One good thing though, even with all those miles, the engine is in perfect condition... I'm going for 500K

This thing is a blast to drive now. Short throw clutch now, takes some getting use to. I need a big 'ol spoiler on the back to make it more faster...

E

Actually, your pressure plate wouldn't be worn down to the rivets. That would be your clutch plate. Although, at that point you would need a pressure plate as well, or at least have the old one turned (resurfaced). Don't forget to replace the release bearing too!!! You wouldn't want to use the old one and have it go out in a couple months.

The leak is from the transmissions output shaft seal. Most mechanics I know refer to it as a tail shaft seal. I'm sure it isn't the proper name, but I just know a lot of older mechanics. Those things definitely need to be in good working order. If it starts leaking and you don't notice soon enough, LOCKDOWN! And it sucks when it happens.

Quote: Originally Posted by BuffaloChips Actually, your pressure plate wouldn't be worn down to the rivets. That would be your clutch plate. Although, at that point you would need a pressure plate as well, or at least have the old one turned (resurfaced). Don't forget to replace the release bearing too!!! You wouldn't want to use the old one and have it go out in a couple months. The leak is from the transmissions output shaft seal. Most mechanics I know refer to it as a tail shaft seal. I'm sure it isn't the proper name, but I just know a lot of older mechanics. Those things definitely need to be in good working order. If it starts leaking and you don't notice soon enough, LOCKDOWN! And it sucks when it happens.

There is a reason I do very little work on cars. I change my oil, brake pads, plugs, filters, and a few other things, and I pay people to do the more complicated stuff. Clutch plate, pressure plate, I know how transmissions work. They work like computers. Magic Smoke makes computers work, and FM makes transmissions work F'n Magic!

It leaked. Shop fixed it and put in new parts. It no longer leaks oil, and it shifts great, I got a killer deal on the repairs, so I am happy!

But thanks for the info about the pressure plate/clutch thingy.

Hope you all had a good weekend.

E

Congrats, Fred. I'm sure you are tearing up the streets and amazing the girls with your truck. Glad to hear it is so cheap. Again, congratulations!

Hope you really didn't think I was being condescending. I was really trying to relay that you might have been slightly misled. Unless it is a mechanic you really know, they can prey on your lack of knowledge. Just like you get a leak like that and they manage to convince you that your entire tranny is shot. It happens sometimes. I really do hope that they did replace the release bearing with the clutch assembly. Did you ask for the old parts? I have seen it where they tell you things and then just put the old crap back in and claim that they replaced them. Or replace unnecessary stuff. That is why it is always a good idea to ask for the old parts.

Quote: Originally Posted by BuffaloChips Hope you really didn't think I was being condescending. I was really trying to relay that you might have been slightly misled. Unless it is a mechanic you really know, they can prey on your lack of knowledge. Just like you get a leak like that and they manage to convince you that your entire tranny is shot. It happens sometimes. I really do hope that they did replace the release bearing with the clutch assembly. Did you ask for the old parts? I have seen it where they tell you things and then just put the old crap back in and claim that they replaced them. Or replace unnecessary stuff. That is why it is always a good idea to ask for the old parts.

No problem at all BuffaloChips, you gave some good info for car repairs. It is just an unusuall situation where I got mine repaired at. It was done where I used to work, the rear main (or whatever the proper name it, O'Reilly's sold me a rear main seal) was the initial problem. They told me I needed a new clutch, and at a little over 200k miles, I believed them, heck, this is a '93 truck...

It was done at a shop that works on Mercedes Benz autos. I paid around $200 and got my truck. If I owe him some more cash, I will be glad to pay him. But I would not have to. I signed nothing, and I got the truck. I need to meet with him and see how much more I need to pay him. In all honesty, it is probably $100 or so.

New rear main seal, new clutch kit installed for under $400 That would be at least a grand anywhere else.

E

$185.

Rear main seal (or whatever the correct name is). New clutch kit. New oil sensor, well, I got the part, they forgot to put it on... I think I can handle an oil pressure sensor.

$185. Parts, labor... I am speachless.

New clutch and pressure plate, rear main seal, and the forgotten sensor, $185 parts and all labor. Now that is a deal.

E

That is an issue at an auto parts store if you ask for a rear main seal. They are going to be thinking engine seal. Kinda clues you in if they don't start asking questions about what transmission you have in there. Of course that matters more when it comes to auto tranny's.

As for the cost of that job. My brother and I did several on trucks a couple years ago for about $250.00. Clutch, pressure plate, release bearing and output seal.