How difficult is it to replace a clutch?

I never took any automotive classes or mechanical classes, but i'm a smart kid and have more common sense than most people i know and work with. If i take something apart i can put it back together…

i have a 2001 2.2L cavalier which is FWD… The clutch kit is $360 something, and the guy that is gonna put it in wants more than $700 plus tax. For that much money i want to take a shot at replacing it. I've ripped apart the whole interior of the Cavy to clean and try to fix up, i've replaced my brakes and rotors, and the radiator. I have a BMW 2002 with the interior and body panels stripped for restoring, but i haven't done any real engine, transmission, or suspension work on anything.

how difficult is it to replace the clutch and its components? Do i need any special tools besides the basics? And is it something i can start and finish in a day?

also, i talked to a friends dad that used to mod cars and drag race, and is currently restoring a '39 ford (i think. I don't know about the really old cars). He said, since ill already have everything torn out, to take the flywheel out and get it resurfaced because since the clutch has been slipping for a few months, it would have created "hot spots" on the flywheel, which should be taken care of. Any opinions on that?

thanks for any help or tips. I learned to drive stick with this car at 50,000 miles, and i got it at 60k. So another 50k miles with occasionally taking it to the redline, downshifting and throttle blipping, and a burnout here and there, plus teaching a few of my friends stick, i'm very pleased it lasted this long. Oh and stupid question- is there a break in period for the new clutch, or is it get in and go?

I'd say a couple few days to get it done for your first time.

Get a repair manual, such as Haynes.

Put safety first. Take your time. Mark everything. Even the position the flywheel and pressure plate are put together is important. So mark their relation with a paint marker so it all goes back together the way it came.

You can take your flywheel to a machine shop to have it checked out and machined if necessary. I guess your other option would be to get a new flywheel and pressure plate. But if you do that you could lose the engine's balance. Technically if you replace the flywheel and pressure plate you should take your crankshaft out and have them all balanced. That's a lot of work!

Hi what you need is a workshop manual which will explain stage by stage how to do the work.

There's a reason a mechanic gets that kind of money for putting a clutch in a car. Watch a youtube video so you can see what you're in for if you want to "play mechanic"!