GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

long story short its time to replace the clutch. knowing the cost of labor alone will probably be in the neighborhood of $500-$600, obviously i want to save money somewhere.car is stock. dont need anything for high performance, just better than stock. any suggestions?

I'm sure someone will chime in with a reliable brand, but this may be one of those instances where cheap may not be the best way to go. I've read a few different threads from GT owners who replaced the stock clutch and had the replacement fail 10-15k miles later (I'm wracking my brain trying to remember the exact brands, sorry). Then again, some people say the stock clutch is junk, and mine's lasted 86k miles and going strong. Hard to know, I guess. What's your mileage, btw?

around 60k

Something like this?http://www.autopartswarehouse....train

do not skimp on the clutch. it's that simple. take it from a guy who just put in his vibes 3rd, thats THIRD clutch. stock went at 70k, so i replace it with a exedy clutch thinking, that is better than stock, well just had to take it out two weeks ago at 130k. replace it with a 440$ clutch masters stage 2 clutch kit. And it is amazing. Insane clamping pressure. my vibe is faster than it has ever been!

Hi -where did you get the stage 2 clutch kit? For how much? Thanks.

replaced my original clutch with the Clutch Master FX 200 stage 2 after the original failed at 55000 miles. thought that was much too soon so figured i would go with the heavy duty one. well it is now 9000 miles later and i think it is starting to slip. it was an amazing difference at first, much heavier spring and better grab just don't know why it would start going so fast. got it on ebay for $424.00.

I would tend to think the/a Centerforce clutch to be among the best options. This is all inside my head and as I have read various posts on the subject, not to mention knowing about Centerforce since the mid-'80's when I first heard about them and wanted one, in the worst way, in my 1980 Honda Civic DD/weekend warrior car.Why do I think this, you might ask? A good question indeed. Here's why:1) The design of the Vibe/Matrix OE clutch looks like a corporate man's DREAM!! Cheaply made, poor engineering design and most people will not know the difference so they will buy one after the other, after the other....What the corporate man does not seem to realize is that after a time, even the stupidest car owner will tire of this cycle and get rid of the car and/or Pontiac/Toyota as their vehicle supplier.2) The Centerforce clutch is a very unique design. Very similar in nature to an average OE clutch, it has one overall advantage: The faster the flywheel, and therefore the clutch spins, the tighter the grip against of the disk against the flywheel... kind of like a Chinese finger puzzle. It's the simplicity of design. 3) Because of the similarity to an OE, it can be made at a reasonable cost, sold by the company for a profit and still be a very good product for the consumer. It will also have the softer "feel" of an OE which seems to concern many consumers.From my own non-scientific research, it seems to me that both Spec and ACT clutches are $100-$200 more w/o being the equivalent in improved quality or longevity.Spec clutches are said to have inferior, or even incorrect throw-out bearings included. I have read posts from several weekend racers say they must use OE throw-outs w/their $500+ Spec clutches. So why do they use them you may ask? Because to compete in certain racing series, it is "required" that you use certain parts... Mazda Miata/MX-5 SPEC series for example.In short I am saying, don't buy into the corporate hype. Think for yourself and do some research before choosing what the "racers" use. (I hope you understand the point I am trying to make and think about ANY decision you make before making it.