I have a 88 Fiero formula 5-speed manual tranny and I store it 9 months a year so it's very low mileage (44,962) but over the past three years I've gone through two clutches and one flywheel. The first clutch replacement was at a Pontiac dealership, the second was at a trusted garage and the mechanic said that the dealership put the wrong clutch in. When I shift I sometimes feel a rolling vibration in the clutch pedal, the last time I felt that the clutch froze and I needed to replace it and now I feel it again. It doesn't always do it so getting a mechanic to see it has been a problem so I was thinking of a total transmission upgrade, any opinions on a brand, type and total cost? Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Your transmission has nothing to do with what's going on, unless the input bearing has lost it's sleeve. I suspect your flywheel may be to blame, or the wrong clutch. Do a search here for LUK clutches...they have been reviewed very positively for street use.
LUK Clutch Set 04-088 is the proper clutch set. Pep Boys carries them. Includes the throwout bearing. When you replace the clutch, check the back end of the crankshaft to see if one of the previous installers might have stuck that pilot bearing in there. I don't know if it's possible to mount the transmission with it in there, but it isn't used in the Fiero.
Was there a parts replacement for the clutch pedal from aluminum to a steel pedal......Could this be at fault? ------------------ Mark ' 85 2m6 3.4PR In the Great Northwest!
[This message has been edited by NW-Fiero (edited 09-19-2017).]
With the limited driving, I would check the clutch release cross shaft. It might be sticking, which is causing excess drag on the clutch and increasing the wear on your throw-out bearing. Check the throw-out bearing sleeve is also a good suggestion.
As for you question, you really have 3 options. 1. Upgrade to a HTOB version of the 282 Getrag. You will need a new shift lever, connect the clutch line, and rework the VSS, but all other parts (mounts, axles, shifter cables, clutch, flywheel etc) from your current setup will transfer over. You should be able to get a rebuilt version from ManTrans or other builders (if you have one rebuilt, you might be able to ask them to swap the VSS wheels as well). This upgrade gives you the newest version of the 282 and eliminates the slave cylinder, cross shaft, and throw out bearing sleeve (3 of the more problematic areas).
2. Upgrade to the F23. It is newer still, and allows you to keep your flywheel, clutch and axles, but you will need transmission mounts, 1 shift cable, shifter brackets on the transmission, clutch line connection, VSS solution, and possibly clutch (some pressure plates interfere with the differential bulge in the bellhousing area). The stock ratios for the F23 that will bolt up are lower than the 282 getrag, so it will feel sportier as the expense of higher cruise RPM on the interstate. The F23 appears to be much stronger than the 282 getrag, but you don't really need a stronger transmission for your application. The F23 is the smoothest shifting transmission of all 3 transmissions.
3: Upgrade to the F40. This will be the most costly as you will need everything that the F23 needs, plus a new flywheel or flywheel spacer, new clutch (23 x 1 spline vs 1x14 used with the 282 and F23), new axles (27 spline inboard tripods), intermediate shaft and bearing support. The F40 will give you the lowest cruise RPM which helps quite down interior noise, it is the highest rated GM FWD manual transmission, you can buy a zero mile transmission, and has the widest variety of gear ratios and final drives available allowing you to mix and match parts from various transmission to best suit your application. Again, you probably don't need this for your application.
I have done all three upgrades. Given the low miles and limited use of your Fiero, I would first try to fix the issue with your clutch and transmission (I think the failed clutches are a symptom, not the cause). This will be the cheapest and most original. If that doesn't work, I would upgrade to the 92-94 HTOB 282 getrag.
