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Changing clutch Qtn

Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 11:32 pm
by Insurgence
Hello

I have a NB8A and want to change the clutch myself.

I have found some good tutorials on miata.net regarding changing the clutch on a NA (1990).

Is it possible for me to roughly follow this guy/pictorials to change my clutch?
How different is the NA/NB drivetrain?

Thanks!

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 9:25 am
by Boags
I would say it is fairly similar.

The gearboxes are interchangable, so use all the same mounting points. You might have some more/less difficulty with the powerplant frame etc...

Make sure you leave plenty of time, have plenty of friends to help, and don't stop for too long at lunch to drink beer and eat wingzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Boags :mrgreen: :lol:

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 10:44 am
by CT
Unless you have a well stocked garage and are quite mechanically adept I'd be leaving it to the pros. There are many little tricks to the whole process that it is a very big job. In fact, for the $500 bucks it cost me a couple of months ago to have my road car NB8B clutch changed including machining the flywheel - I wouldn't bother doing it myself at all. Remember to check that your clutch kit includes a new pilot bearing too -they are not included in some clutch kits.

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 8:05 pm
by Insurgence
Thanks for the replies :)

I'm fortunate to have all the tools myself and am planning to use air tools as well :D

I've got the workshop manual, and will study the walk throughs before I start.

I see it as a bit of a challenge, and am not taking it lightly. I've changed my suspension and done the usual services of my car.. so hopefully I've worked myself up to a level where I wont make a mess of things!

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 10:09 pm
by CT
Changing a coilover is pretty simple compared to changing a clutch!! Have you got a dial gauge to check for runout on the flywheel? Also, make sure you lubricate the gearbox input shaft when you put on the new throw-out bearing (I use a moly one - probably should use something else but it seems to work OK and is able to withstand heat.) and grease the pivots for the clutch fork with something suitable, usually a heavy white grease will suffice. Of course, the trick is lining up the clutch so that the box just slips on and into the pilot easily......much easier said than done usually. Good luck with it. 8)

Posted: Sun May 27, 2007 7:14 pm
by Insurgence
I was planning to just get the flywheel machined.
In this case will I still need a runout gauge?

Thanks for the tips :) I hope the clutch alignment tool works as advertised.

Posted: Sun May 27, 2007 10:59 pm
by CT
Nope, but make sure you clean the bolts and threads and apply loctite to the flywheel bolts when you put it back together. 8)