2003 KJ Clutch replacement.

Renicknow · **Posted:** Tue Feb 23, 2010 5:38 pm

Hello everyone-

My clutch randomly went out this past weekend, and now I'm trying to find the best clutch to replace the stock clutch with. I was looking at centerforce clutches, but apparently they don't offer any for liberty's at all. Anyone have any suggestions on what they found best to use? I'm open to suggestions.

Thanks Jake

Prospect62 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 23, 2010 6:37 pm

I've heard good things about LuK brand clutches, seen here on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Jeep-Lib ... ccessories

When I had my motor replaced last month, I had a new clutch installed and went with the cheapest replacement I could find as the bill was already for thousands. Got one like this for half the price of a Luk or Centerforce and the shop said it looked like a very high quality unit to them:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CLUTCH-K ... ccessories

A new clutch is a new clutch as far as I'm concerned. It works great!

Donkeykong · **Posted:** Tue Feb 23, 2010 8:59 pm

+1 to having heard of LuK and Centerforce.

Don't lighten your flywheel.

While it's great for peppy racecars, your libby will stall out too easily. I had and loved the lightened flywheel on my 94 Integra GSR, having it while wheeling on the liberty would just plain suck.

What is wrong with a stock replacement? Are you putting down a lot more power? While it is tempting to upgrade, I found with my integra that EVERYTHING is a compromise. The stock clutch is nice. Why ruin it? I just turned over 120,000 on my 06 libby with the stock clutch.

Call Jparts. (www.jparts.com) I like their prices.

How many miles did you get out of your clutch?

Hope this helps

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 24, 2010 3:39 am

Centerforce doesn't make a multifriction clutch for our straight drives??????

i find that hard to believe!? wth?

I've always used Centerforce, and Hays in that order of preference

Have no experience with LuK none of our suppliers carried them when i was still in the shop, but i wouldn't want to "Try my LuK" hehe

Donkeykong · **Posted:** Thu Feb 25, 2010 8:54 pm

Hmmm, I would do a bit of research, I know they are a big name...

http://www.luk.com/content.luk.de/en/index.jsp

They are a reputable company who has been doing business for years. I am sure some of our european/austraulian KJ'ers can chime in... they have sponsored Hans Rey for nearly his entire career... I wouldn't write them off.... they are a big name... and as far as handling torque, I believe they make a lot of clutches for semi trucks.

Hopefully this helps.

Renicknow · **Posted:** Fri Mar 19, 2010 1:59 am

Donkeykong · **Posted:** Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:37 am

Why did you bump the thread?

You could have simply replied to the last comment.

It comes over as a little insulting that you would completely ignore what I suggested and bump the thread to look for more (better?) responses.

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:44 am

No need to bite his head off.....

Having more than a few people reply is always better when you are talking about a new part that will probably out live the vehicle.

Donkeykong · **Posted:** Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:55 am

Diggerfreek wrote:

No need to bite his head off.....

Having more than a few people reply is always better when you are talking about a new part that will probably out live the vehicle.

I hope I didn't bite his head off

It was more of a call-out, but I might be a bit abrasive having a 2-week old baby who isn't sleeping.

So sorry if it came out wrong, but I still maintain my comment...

With 15 posts on a forum which I have always regarded as one of the friendliest ones online I figured a little nudge in the right direction would help. Perhaps I was a little heavy handed, but I did find it a bit insulting that he didn't even come back and say something like "thanks DK, but I didn't come up with anything" or "Thanks DK, but I was just wondering what the US drivers are doing to replace their clutches" Bumping the thread when someone has commented on your thread has always been something that I have felt was an internet no-no... maybe we had aught to ask abbey?

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Fri Mar 19, 2010 9:05 am

Donkeykong wrote:

Diggerfreek wrote:

No need to bite his head off.....

Having more than a few people reply is always better when you are talking about a new part that will probably out live the vehicle.

I hope I didn't bite his head off

It was more of a call-out, but I might be a bit abrasive having a 2-week old baby who isn't sleeping.

So sorry if it came out wrong, but I still maintain my comment...

With 15 posts on a forum which I have always regarded as one of the friendliest ones online I figured a little nudge in the right direction would help. Perhaps I was a little heavy handed, but I did find it a bit insulting that he didn't even come back and say something like "thanks DK, but I didn't come up with anything" or "Thanks DK, but I was just wondering what the US drivers are doing to replace their clutches" Bumping the thread when someone has commented on your thread has always been something that I have felt was an internet no-no... maybe we had aught to ask abbey?

No problem :wink:

stumpjumper_09 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 19, 2010 9:57 am

I have always run ZOOM although I have not taken the time to see if they make one for the libby. I had a stage 2 in my GR6 VW and loved it!!!

Renicknow · **Posted:** Sat Mar 20, 2010 3:45 am

To those concerned, I would like to show my appreciation and thanks for said information. I mean no disrespect when searching for additional information from other members on this board. DK- thanks for taking the time to aid in my clutch issue, don't take it to heart when trying to cultivate alternate solutions, and in future inquiries I'll try to be a tad more appreciative to those who do decide to lend a hand. I'm trying to figure out what the best clutch replacement to use, be it LuK, spec, or perhaps another brand. Unfortunately the brands I familiar with such as Centerforce don't even offer a libby clutch kit. In addition, I've spent quite a healthy amount researching what to use, and well still no confident in making a decision. I was looking at some of the different stage clutches you can use, over factory. There is a minimal change in price to go from stock to a stage 3 clutch. Now I know increase in abrasiveness is only needed when adding greater torque to the equation, but would a "Stage 2+" withstand more of a beating then a stock replacement?

stumpjumper_09- As a FYI I researched Zoom clutches and they do in fact offer one for our libby. Thanks for the heads up.

Donkeykong · **Posted:** Sat Mar 20, 2010 1:17 pm

Sorry for being so jumpy... I haven't been sleeping well with the new baby in the house.

One thing I just learned is that if you shift while wheeling in deep mud or water that you can ruin your clutch as well :shock:

I don't think there is any fix for that... just an inherent problem with Manual Transmissions.. (but I wouldn't give mine up just because you have to think before you drive thru some mud)

I am interested in what you end up doing.

I had an aftermarket clutch in my 94 GSR, I think it was a centerforce... I just found it harder to pull away without chatter... and the lightweight flywheel didn't help either (but it let the engine rev like a motorcycle)

Unless you come up with some revelation I can't see myself going with an aftermarket clutch when my clutch disc goes.....

Did you tell us how many miles are on your libby?

Mine is an 06 with 122,000 miles on her clock

Renicknow · **Posted:** Sat Mar 20, 2010 5:18 pm

DK- No worries you didn't seem too jumpy to me, just a bit flustered is all. My jeep has about 76,xxx miles on it. It actually shocked me when my clutch went out, wasn't slip'n at all prior to its current state. I think I'm going with either a Zoom or a LuK clutch, zoom seems to be the more favorable of the 2 companies. Last night, I found that some wrangler clutches work with the Liberty. Not too sure on how to distinguish those that do, and those that don't. Theres this local jeep specialist shop, who won't call me back on this. Kinda pisses me off, going to spend anywhere from 800- 1,000 bucks there and they don't have the common curtsy to call back. I'll keep ya updated on what happens DK, and on a final note all performance clutches will have a chatter when they engage its just the nature of the clutch.

kskj · **Posted:** Sat Mar 20, 2010 6:51 pm

I just installed a LuK clutch in my sons truck a couple of months ago. I had one in the truck I used to have and put over 100,000 miles on it before I sold the truck. So I have had good luck with them.

Renicknow · **Posted:** Mon Mar 22, 2010 5:34 pm

So I called up Centerforce Tech today, and they noted that Jk clutches work with the liberty. As long as you have the 3.7 liter, and its between 2002 and 2004. In 2005 the liberty got a dual mass plate. DK- just ordered my clutch, I'll let ya know how it turns out, I went with centerforce cause I've used them in the past and they make a great clutch.

Donkeykong · **Posted:** Mon Mar 22, 2010 6:14 pm

That's great to know, except I have a 2006

Are you going to do the install yourself?

If you do can you document it with pics?

If you look up the thread "FSM" here on LOST there is a link to a full-blown manual

I'm in the reply mode ATM... so I can't see where you are from, but how far from Cleveland are you?

Mark

Jackson02 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 30, 2010 7:24 pm

I just replaced the clutch in our 02 with one from Luk seems to be a very nice quality clutch. On a side note after 150k the stock disk was still in good shape but showed a lot of ware on the fingers of the pressure plate as well as the throwout bearing was shot and had wear ring from the fingers and caused a loud metal on metal squeel while releasing the pedal.

2003 KJ Clutch replacement.

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