Mississippi-Mud Forums

Is anything made in America any longer?

Ben (B3Concepts) and I replaced my clutch, pressure plate and throw out bearing in the Jeep, in February '08 (or around that time, I think).

I was dragging my property in the country this morning and the bearing starting squealing like a shot pig. It didn't last but 16 months and that's treating it with kid gloves! The kit I bought from Advanced Auto, had a lifetime warranty on it, but good gosh, it should last longer than a year or two! I looked at the box it came in and it's got, proudly, Made in China. Do those sorry fools know how to make anything that will last? And we still buy that junk.

Well, now, I am leaving for the Superlift OHV park in Hot Springs on Friday, the replacement kit won't be in until Tuesday and I'm up doo doo creek without a paddle.

I did go with a different brand this time. Maybe it's better and will last at least at least 18 months.


I ordered the Beck/Arnley Clutch Set. They told me this one is what the Mercedez, BMW, and other high dollar vehicles use.

dang man that sucks. i hate cheap chinese junk. you'll have a blast at hot springs though.

I have had a dyna-pack clutch in my 98 Chevy 1500 with a 4.3 v6 and have run anything from 31's to 33's on it and I have had it in there for almost 3 years and i'm very rough on the truck like ive broken 2 motormounts and one transmittion mount and only slipped tha ol cheap china clutch 4 times that i can remember.!! You could try that for a quick fix In a short time.

i know they are high priced but a southbend clutch is SUPER STRONG and its made in america

Antichrysler, what do you mean try that for a quick fix?

Several years back we got the life time warranty clutch kit for the winch truck from auto zone, it sucked! It didnt last but 4 or 4 months. Autozone replaced it, and told us come back when we needed another one, well it lasted just as well as the first one. After two cheepos we bought a good one, and it's still in the truck today!

SpoiledRotten Wrote:Antichrysler, what do you mean try that for a quick fix?

I thought he was recommending that you abuse it once in a while.

That might be just what he meant. As some of you know, when I play, it does get used.

in the past i've always had good luck with luk clutches at least i think thats the name of them

Beck/Arnley makes great import parts, but I never used them on domestics before...quality should still be the same, I guess. LUK makes excellent clutch sets, and they used to be available by order from Autozone when I worked there. You are correct about the junk bearings, though. I always buy a good, american made throwout bearing (Timken or National (Federal Mogul)) along with the clutch set, and toss the cheapie.