Replacing Clutch---Recommended Brand?

Hello all,

every time I push the clutch in, my car will make a loud, annoying, squealing sound.

So, I am going to replace the clutch and the Pilot Bearing.

The Pilot Bearing I am buying directly from Mazda.

However, where do you recommend I buy the clutch kit from? Is anything from Autozone or O'reilly going to be fine?

thanks!

The sound from pushing the clutch in is probably your pilot bearing but you probably already knew that. You can get everything including the bearing from the parts store. They will usually show you different grade options. I always get the medium grade and above. I've never had any issues with parts store clutch kits.

To me, that sounds like a clutch throwout bearing.

Nevertheless, the thing to do if you have to pull the transmission is to replace the pressure plate, clutch disc, throwout bearing, and pilot bearing. And have the flywheel resurfaced. I had mine done at a shop about 8 years ago, they used a Luk kit, the Luk guy came with his van, resurfaced the flywheel right then, provided the parts.

But any decent name-brand clutch kit should be fine. Don't cheap out either, your labor is several hours.

My Frontier has an Exedy clutch in it. My 1971 VW has a 30-year old F&S clutch in it (with a newer disc).

Yeah that sound is the throwout bearing, any clutch kit should include the pilot bearing and the throwout bearing. I usually use Sachs clutch kits, I haven't had any problems with them.

well, I ended up replacing the clutch, flywheel, pressure plate and throwout bearing and pilot bearing...I wanted to replace the main seal at the same time...but the tranny shop that there is more of a risk to replace the main seal....do you all agree with that? or should he have changed it?

My rear oil seal has never been changed. 1988 B2200, 199K miles.

If shop changes out the seal, then it leaks, it's their responsibility.