3-second answer: Slipping under load, high engagement, or a pedal that's nearly to the floor = clutch time. Budget $250-450 in parts (clutch kit + flywheel resurface + slave) and a weekend. Do the slave cylinder while the trans is out — it's $40 now vs pulling the trans again later.
Symptoms
- Engine revs, speed doesn't (slipping)
- Pedal engages near the floor
- Chattering/grabby engagement
- Clutch smell after hills/towing
The job
- Trans out (M5OD comes out from underneath; support the tail).
- Flywheel: resurface or replace (a glazed flywheel kills a new clutch fast).
- Pilot bearing — always. It's $15 and the #1 "why does my new clutch vibrate" cause.
- Pressure plate + disc + throwout bearing (the kit).
- Slave cylinder + hydraulic line — do it now (the internal slave design means it's inside the bellhousing).
- Align the disc (alignment tool), torque the pressure plate in a star pattern, bleed the hydraulic system.
Numbers
- Clutch kit (Luk/Exedy/Sachs — avoid no-name): $150-250
- Flywheel (if needed): $100-150
- Slave cylinder: $40-80
- The M5OD uses the brake fluid reservoir (DOT 3) — bleed the clutch after.
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Threads
- FTE search: clutch · slave cylinder