Don't sweat it bro. I have more than one plate spinning. A buddy (total engine builder) that I served with in the Army who I still keep in touch with will be out here from FL. for 2 wks. In December. Unless the clutch takes a complete shit then he said he'll help me for free, which is usual w/us cause we always have helped eachother out.

 

I just finished installing a clutch in my 98 gsr a couple weeks ago and it went smoothly. I did everything myself except for the part when the transmission gets dropped and put back on. The rest of it I did alone and it seriously wasn't bad at all. Just took it step by step and it went fine. I did tear my ball joint boots, but they were cheap and easy to replace. If you have a few days to really take your time and not rush it, then I say save yourself potentially $500 while learning about your car. I had fun

 

if anyone lives in PA i have a great mechanic that does my trans work had a clutch installed in 3hrs for only 200.00 and have never had a problems and if there is they guarantee with a 90 day warranty had my trans also put in for 800.00 thats with them gettin a trans and the only problem i had with that is the axle pins sheared off so i couldnt move called them up and they came and towed my car and fixed it for free with no tow fee also. place is very good in my eyes very good work and very fast. they will never turn you away if you have a problem EVER

 

A few days huh? I'm married w/2 children a combined age of 4. I'll ponder the thought. What manual do you recommend I have handy? So you yank on the axle and boot tore huh, I've heard of that happening, but easily repaired.

 

Actually, I have a pdf integra manual, but it can't be a Helm's. It doesn't go into much detail, so I maybe only referenced it twice for pictures. What I did use, however, was the dyi on TI. Let me just say that it really made it easy having a step by step guide. I suppose there are potential problems that could arise. I think worst case would be a completely rusted or stripped bolt or something like that. Luckily, my car is very clean underneath and everything came apart with ease save the ball joints. If you have any mechanical inclination at all you will be able to do it. But if you do decide to do it and in the process something completely goes wrong I will feel guilty, so on second thought you had better think it over.

Oh, and I ripped my ball joint boots from using a pickle fork to seperate the joints. You are thinking of the cv boot on the axles. Yeah, don't do that...I think that would have been much worse. Anyways, the next day I found a dyi that implemented the ratchet method of seperating ball joints, which maybe would have worked in my circumstance. Has anybody used the ratchet?

 

I have the same manual in PDF and printed format. It is the factory service manual (same as Helms) and it doesn't go into much detail at all. The only thing it is really good for is torque specs.

Ron, if you want the manual, I will bring you a copy on disk when I am out there and you can look through it and print out the pages you need for the job. It is always handy to have a service manual.

 

Cool, bring it along. That would be good to have. Thanks Steve.