The Disenchante

Hello Mazda owners!,

I have a 2002 Mazda Protege ES manual transmission. After a little over 5 years of service the clutch is starting to become weaker. How difficult is it to change a clutch on an 02 Protege? Does anyone have a recommendation for a good replacement? Or am I better off getting it done at a shop?

Thanks in advance!

The Disenchanted!

_Kansei_

The stock clutch (made by Exedy) is good. I know for less than $190 I got the Mazdaspeed Protege clutch (also made by Exedy) and it doesn't feel any harsher to operate than the stock one.

As for the install, let's just say it isn't fun. You have to drop (or pull as I did) the transmission, which requires a whole lot of stuff to be removed from the car.

You'll have to pull the axles, remove the battery, intake stuff, get all sorts of wiring harnesses out of the way, plus the driver's side engine mount, front motor mount, lower cross-brace, the starter, etc.

It took me like 6 hours doing it myself, and it was my first time.

It would have taken a fair bit longer but the car was already quite taken apart at the time.

If you don't want to go through that hell/fun yeah just have a shop do it.

I'm checking on the prices for the parts right now..

clutch disc - msrp $101.70 onlinemazdaparts.com $81.36
pilot bearing - $12.06
release bearing - $28.72


.. I think that's about all you need, but I know that somewhere it comes in a nice kit with all the parts and the alignment tool.

Ok here's the kit information:

Exedy Part #KMZ08
link: http://www.exedyusa.com/KMZ08

comes with everything pictured.

I've seen it go for $149.99 online

here it is for 149.95 from Protegegarage.com - http://mazda3online.web.aplus.net/pr...roducts_id=567

The Disenchante

Wow, thanks for the info. Ill have to call around to some shops and see how much this will cost me .

MDLockard

How many miles on your Protege? Have over 90k on mine with the factory clutch (lots of highway miles).

Also wondering what the advantages of the Mazdaspeed clutch are on a stock 5spd protege.

Matthew

JoshP5

MSP clutch is a little stiffer underfoot and will hold more power.

_Kansei_

The only advantage I can think of is that it doesn't have the 'clutch chatter' issues that many people with the stock clutch compain of. I was at 76k miles on my stock clutch when I removed it and it had a ton of meat left (easily another hundred thousand miles), they do last just fine.

Da P-Funk!

'Chatter' isn't the clutch - but the pressure plate/flywheel.

Go lightened sensous in dere' , eh?

_Kansei_

I had the chatter with the stock clutch, and my flywheel is a-ok (yes, I didn't install the clutch properly and take my flywheel to get machined first.. it was the first week of january working out in 10-20F weather and all I had was a mountain bike to get around).

Any clutch kit comes with a new pressure plate, hence I grouped the chatter as a 'clutch issue'

Da P-Funk!

aah. Good info - i didn't know the clutch kit came with a new flywheel.

nevermind... ><