having problems. Options

[AWD DSM 1]

Last Saturday I put a clutch in for a realatively new member of the board, and someone who admitted to me that they were not mechanicaly savy. I charged a very resonable fee and installed the clutch in a day. Car is a 98 GSX, clutch was a ACT 2100 with a fidenza flywheel and ACT throwout bearing. Tranny was filled with Penzoil syncromesh. I discoverd a leaky clutch master cylinder when the clutch pedal stuck to the floor. Resivoir was found to be empty when I opened it, so the system was filled and bled.

Those of you that know me I hope will vouch for my abilities at being qualified to put these items into this car. Problems have now arrisen that I belive are unrelated to the clutch, and I am being blamed for them. I don't take lightly to this sort of thing. I think my record is pretty spotless, I'd like to keep it that way.

Customer is now complaining of a vibration that seems to come from the rear of the car. Also is making a noise such that he can't hear the radio over it. Also complains of leaking fluid, pretty sure it's tranny fluid.

I attributed the vibration and noise to the light flywheel and the ACT throwout bearing. I don't understand why the noise would be this loud, but I haven't heard it myself either. Bearing was lubed prior to installation. Customer has replaced the master and slave cylinders. I attributed the leak at first to possibly some fluid I forgot to wipe up, but after stating that it has continued, I suggest that it's possibly a axle seal that went bad after pulling the axles. They have stated that they are going to have to take the car to the dealer to have this fixed now for $600+, which I think is a total rip-off.

Am I totally off base here? I'm afraid that this person is, in part, having too high of expectations for a 9 year old modified car. I'd like to see him save the $600 for something more usefull. I'd invite this person to let me take a look at the car, possibly with another qualified member of the board, so we can get this worked out so that everyone is happy. I don't expect this person to reply, but I hope that they read to understand that I'm not out to get anyone.

[JBone]

It's kind of iffy with the whole axle seal. I for one am not one who did not do a whole lot of stuff with axle seals. i guess i was fortunate mine didn't leak when I changed my half shafts.

On the one hand, you did the work, and suggesting the axle seals be replaced wouldn't have been a bad idea to recommend this. His ignorance to knowing to replace doesn't help. But, how often do they go bad?

On the other hand, he asked you to do a job and you did. Then, you spotted a problem and fixed that (the clutch master cylinder).

If I was in his shoes I wouldn't be happy. My car isn't running properly, at which my friends would tell me that this is what you get with an old car, especially if you try to alter your daily driver or make it into a race car. Stuff will break. Let's also think this through: if I just got a new clutch put into my gsx, i would probably try a few of those revered about high rpm launches. After it left your hands, you can't garauntee the use of the AFTERMARKET parts on the car.

All in all, it sucks, but I don't think you're at fault. You could always donate your time to HELP him replace the seals, but that's as gracious as I would be. Then he gets exposed to some of the inner workings of the car.

Just my .02