Hey guys   Help me out here...

I need details of a supplier that has a clutch release sleeve for a 2004 Grand Vitara 1.6 in stock, or can get it soon. I'm in the UK (Northern Ireland), but I don't really care where the supplier is so long as they can ship parts fast, from stock, or get them and ship them with guaranteed dates.

My local garage is a bit of a nightmare. I left my GV in with them last wed, for a one-day clutch replacement, after asking them to get the parts in ahead of this. Apparently they got the clutch alone, not a clutch kit. They realised they needed a thrust bearing, and took another two days to get that. Then they realised they needed a clutch release sleeve. They told me they were expecting it today. Except, now they say they can't find anyone who has one, and no supplier will give them a definite date, so it could be a fortnight or more.

I need this car fixed for work. I'm (newly) self-employed, I've already had to reschedule work over it, and will probably lose some over it at this rate. Either that or car rental and/or additional insurance to drive something else (over the repair cost itself) will cost me a fortune.

Any help you can offer would be really appreciated.

Thanks.

They just might be having difficulty locating a clutch release sleeve, because there isn't one on the SQ416 (a 2004, 1.6 Grand Vitara) - at least - having looked at both the parts and service manuals for the SQ416, that term is not used.

I'm going to guess they are using to describe a sleeve over the transmission input shaft, bolted on to the transmission and the clutch release bearing slides over the outside of the sleeve - if I'm right, Suzuki calls that the "input shaft bearing retainer", since what it does is retain the transmission input shaft bearing.

I'd also be curious as to why it needs to be changed - as it is not a part that would normally be replaced during clutch replacement.

SouthWest Suzuki (www.oemsuzukiparts.com) in Texas might have it, give the the chassis number so I can verify I'm looking at the right vehicle and I'll get you a part number - of course you will need to make sure the bearing retainer is what the garage really wants.

The other possibility is a sleeve that fits in the center of the release bearing and slides along the input shaft with it, and if that's what they want, then they have the wrong release bearing, because the correct one comes with the sleeve in it.