Make sure you put the clutch disk in the right way. It fits both ways. I think most have a flywheel sticker on one side and a PP sticker or marking on the other. I had an early ACT that only had one marking and I was rushing in a poorly lit driveway and installed it backwards. Went together fine. Wouldn't go in gear. I adjusted the pedal every which way. Finally pulled it apart to see the disk was in backwards.

Frank

so I just went nuts at sears...and in addition to all the other necessary tools I bought 1 26" 1/2" drive impact extension. Cool.

Basically, about the clutch disc, the flat side goes toward the flywheel and the raised side of the hub goes toward the transmission. If you already knew that, then you just got refreshed anyway.

Aside from breaking 3 bolts on the cat, everything else went smoothly...now I have no cat. It was fun to drive the car with nothing past the dp to the muffler shop.

Pretty common to break exhaust bolts. Good job.

I swapped part of my exhaust out yesterday. First the nut backed out, then the stud started to unscrew then the stud sheared off anyway. They should just make the damn studs with a narrow cut in them so they shear off by default. Why pretend?

they should at least do something that makes them easy to replace.

The car also had an exedy clutch, which I assume was not stock. A couple springs broke out of the center section. So far the spec s3 feels good. Hopefully I'll have some power on it soon.

just call me next time and ill breack it loose for ya man. ;)