My 1998 Toyota Corolla

So my clutch decided to crap out on me. It was so bad that normal driving smelled like burning clutch. As you can see in the picture of the flywheel that it has heat marks on it. This was all cleaned up before it was put back on. All I have to say is this has been the biggest pain in the ass for everything I've done to cars before.

Taking everything apart-

New clutch assembly-

Flywheel before getting cleaned-

Old clutch and pressure plate-


I am pretty sure it is the stock clutch and throw out bearing, because they were made in Japan. If this is true then the clutch had roughly 156,000 on it. I knew when I bought the car that the throw out bearing needed to be replaced, just did not think the clutch was that bad.

 

Alright, my dad and I finished putting everything back last night at about 11:15 last night. This has taken what seems like forever, but saving some money on labor was probably worth it. It took us roughly 21 hours to complete. Using 2 jacks, 2 jack stands, air tools (impact, ratchets, grinder) and hand tools (screw drivers, ratchets, wrenches, breaker bars, and pry bars). It took longer because we did not have a socket to take out the nuts that hold the C/V axles into place, and with the car being 13 years old, a lot of bolts are rusted or corroded into place. I have 2 more pics, 1 being the cleaned flywheel and the other after we got the transmission back into place.

Flywheel-


Transmission back into place-

 

i've done this on my brother's 2000 corolla. it's not a fun job, but it is worthwhile...

 

No it's not fun at all. At least I have a good clutch and new gear oil in the transmission. I think it is worth it too

 

Ah i miss the old Corolla i grew up on, a 98' Demo vehicle. My mom worked in the dealer body shop as an insurance adjuster. She got it for a sweet deal, I hit a deer with it back in 2000 and paid for all the repairs myself. Damn deer got up and ran away! SOB. My sister wrecked it in 2006. Been thinking about buying a corolla once the Taco's paid off, as a daily driver.

 

I definitely like mine. I got pretty good gas mileage before my new clutch, 22-26. Hopefully that will improve. I try not to do to much that will get me in trouble cause I've put so many hours into the car that I would be really pissed if it got totaled. I would say go for it. Check craigslist for a used one.

 

It has been a long process. I think I have around 45 labor hours into the car between the stereo, rust repair, and the clutch. I'm taking it into the shop on monday to have my exhaust fixed cause I had a small leak, that once I hit a small pot hole, turned into a roaring leak We shall see how that goes

 

It is nice to see Corollas getting some love.

I have one as a daily driver, as well... She's a 2009 XRS with 203,000 miles though. Heh.

 

Thank you. I like driving it for the most part even though it seems we fix one thing then something else needs to be fixed I hope to have the car until after I graduate college. Jeez 203,000 on an '09?! thats pretty crazy. Hopefully mine is that reliable.

 

I put my capacitor in about a week and a half ago. I really like it. No more dimming lights and the bass seems to sound a little better. I also realized i forgot a picture of my new radio so I put that in, even though I got it for christmas.

Radio-


Capacitor-

 

How in the...

 

Yea seriously right?

 

I drive a lot, yes. Mostly trips back home to Wisconsin. Also random weekend trips. She currently has almost 205,000 miles...in about three years. The mileage would be higher if she hadn't sat in the garage for a few months last year.

 

makes sense. still insane to see that kind of mileage for a 3 year old vehicle

 

Yes, they are great little cars though... You will get plenty of use out of yours.

Old photo but she doesn't look much different:

 

looks good I got it with 154,000 on it in November, now I have 156,000 on it.

 

Yours will probably last longer than mine...

 

Very impressive OP. Well done!

 

Thanks! I hope it lasts me until I can get a legitimate job. I has been good to me so far for just driving to school, the hockey rink, friend's houses, and the lacrosse field.

Thank you I try to take care of it. If anything happened to it I would be pretty pissed because of all the time I have spent working on it.