Subaru WRX
Clutch Replacement Cost by Generation

A WRX clutch is not one part. The 2002-2005 cars, the 2006-2014 cars and the 2015-2021 cars all use different clutch designs, and the 2015-2021 generation splits again in the middle of 2018. Order the wrong kit and you find out with the transmission hanging on a jack.

The other thing that sets WRX clutches apart is how many of them get tuned. A stock clutch behind a tune that adds a lot of midrange torque can start slipping within a few thousand miles. Half the decision on this job is not "what fits" but "what will hold what the engine now makes."

Which Clutch Your WRX Uses

Disc diameter, splines and clamp load vary by kit and brand, so check service info for your year and the kit fitment notes.

Symptoms and Causes

The slip test on a WRX is easy. In 4th or 5th at low rpm, go to full throttle. If the tach climbs faster than the car accelerates, the clutch is slipping. Our clutch slipping guide covers the rest of the diagnosis, and the throwout bearing noise guide sorts out which bearing is making the sound.

The clutch delay valve on newer cars

Subaru put a clutch delay valve (CDV) in the hydraulic line to slow engagement and protect the driveline from dumped clutches. On a lot of 2015-up cars owners also report the pedal hanging low for a moment after a fast high-rpm shift. Removing or drilling the CDV is a common change while the car is apart. It changes engagement feel, so know what you are signing up for, and bleed the hydraulics properly afterward.

What to Replace While It Is Apart

• Disc and pressure plate. Always as a pair.
• Throwout bearing. Every time. A noisy one is the top reason a fresh clutch comes back out.
• Pilot bearing. Cheap insurance. A dry pilot makes noise and can wear the input shaft tip.
• Flywheel. Resurface it if it is within spec and not cracked, or replace it. On a tuned car, or one with heat cracks and hard spots, a new flywheel saves arguments. See flywheel resurface vs replace.
• Fork and pivot. Inspect the fork fingers and pivot for wear and grease the contact points. A worn pivot gives a vague pedal and incomplete release.
• Rear main seal and input seal. If either is weeping onto the bellhousing, fix it now or it will contaminate the new disc.

Stock vs Stage 1 vs Stage 2 and Up

Stock or organic replacement

Right for stock cars and many stage 1 tunes with sensible driving. Smooth engagement and a light pedal. On 2006-2014 cars the Competition Clutch stock kit is a straight OE-style replacement, and there is an EJ255 kit with a nodular iron flywheel if your flywheel is done.

Stage 2

This is where most tuned WRXs end up. Higher clamp load and a disc material that holds more torque, at the cost of a heavier pedal and a less forgiving engagement. For the 2002-2005 cars there is the Competition Clutch stage 2 brass plus kit. For 2006-2014 cars look at the SPEC stage 2 kit or the Competition Clutch stage 2 for the 5-speed EJ25T. Add the lightweight steel flywheel for quicker revs, at the cost of a little more gear rattle at idle.

2015-2021 FA20DIT options

Match the kit to the VIN split. For early cars, the Clutch Masters FX100 is a near-stock upgrade and the FX250 steps up for tuned cars. The ACT HD street kit and the XClutch stage 2 sprung ceramic kit are also early-car fitments. For mid-2018 and later cars at or after VIN J-806877, use the Clutch Masters FX250 late-design kit.

Stage 3 and puck discs

Pucks and multi-plates hold big power but chatter and engage like a switch. On a daily driver they are a mistake. If you already have one, our clutch chatter guide explains why it behaves that way.

A quick STI note

The STI 6-speed uses a pull-type clutch that shares nothing with the WRX kits above. For a stock replacement, the Exedy OE STI kit is the factory-style option; check its listed years against your car.

What It Costs

Those numbers are ballpark and swing with labor rate and how rusty the car is. Labor is the big number because of how a Subaru comes apart. Some shops drop the transmission, which means removing the exhaust (on most turbo cars that includes the downpipe), the shifter linkage, the rear driveshaft, the crossmember and enough of the front suspension to free the axles. Others pull the engine instead. Either way, figure most of a day of shop time. Rusted exhaust studs and seized bolts push the bill up.

For more on general pricing see how much a clutch replacement costs, and if the gearbox itself is the problem, read our WRX 5-speed problems guide. Our sister store CoreTransmissionParts.com also carries transmission parts, and pullers and drivers are in our tools category.

After the install, follow the break-in. Most kits want several hundred miles of gentle driving before boost and hard launches. See how to break in a new clutch.

FAQ

How much does a WRX clutch replacement cost?

At a shop, a stock-style clutch with throwout bearing, pilot bearing and flywheel resurface usually lands around $1,200 to $2,000 total, ballpark. An upgraded stage 2 kit with a new flywheel can push it to $1,800 to $2,800. Labor is the biggest piece because the transmission or engine has to come out.

Will a 2016 WRX clutch fit my 2019 WRX?

Not always. Subaru changed the clutch on the 2015-2021 WRX partway through the 2018 model year, at VIN J-806877. Kits for early cars and late cars are listed separately, so check your VIN against the kit fitment notes before you order.

Is the 2002-2005 WRX clutch push-type or pull-type?

The 2002-2005 WRX with the 2.0L EJ205 uses a pull-type clutch. The 2006-up WRX went to a push-type setup. The two are not interchangeable, so buy the kit listed for your year.

What clutch should I run on a tuned WRX?

For a stage 1 tune on a mostly stock car, a quality organic replacement or a mild upgrade is usually enough. Once the stock clutch slips after a tune, a stage 2 kit with a ceramic or brass-type disc is the usual move. Pucks and multi-plate units are for big power and track use and are rough on the street.

Should I remove the clutch delay valve when I do the clutch?

Many owners remove or modify the clutch delay valve because it slows engagement and gets blamed for a slow pedal return after high-rpm shifts. It is a common change while the car is apart, but it does change engagement feel. Rebleed the hydraulics properly after any change to the line.