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Changing Clutch, removing parts help!



Basically Im following a guide by james.f to change my clutch.
This is the first time I've done anything like this so please be nice lol.

Basically, Im on the part where I need to remove the Wishbone from the hub, and could someone please clarify that it is this bolt (circled in red)
Another thought, could I not just undo the two bolts circled blue to save me having to push the ball joint out, as I don't have a ball joint separator tool? Or will that not work?
DSC00773-1.gif


And am I right in thinking that this part (circled in red again) is the steering track rod ends, and they'll also need to come off?
DSC00779-1.gif
 
  Lionel Richie
first pic, red circle, ignore and undo the 2 blue ones
second pic, track rod end, undo

thats for the passenger side

drivers side you can just undo the 2 blue ones and leave the track rod end
 
  Astra 1.9Cdti SRi
first pic, red circle, ignore and undo the 2 blue ones
second pic, track rod end, undo

thats for the passenger side

drivers side you can just undo the 2 blue ones and leave the track rod end

Why's that Fred?

Everytime i had to work on the car in that area thats what i did as its easier, and removing one bolt is easier than two, as those can be really tough.
 
  Lionel Richie
loads of different ways of doing it! LOL

james.f - splitting the joint out the hub can be a t**t, so easier to undo the 2 bolts IMO
 
I still can't seem to move them at all, what would be the best tool/method to get them off coz atm everything I try isn't moving them whatsoever?

I can get the one I circled in red off in the top picture, so would it be easier to do that then push the ball joint out? I don't have the special tool though so that would probably be just as hard?
 
Last edited:
  330i. E30 Touring.
The ball joint can be a pain to split, and might well be damaged. I just undid the two bolts, but they are bloody fiddly. You need to angle in a spanner to keep the top steady, and then undo the bottom with a socket.
 
Yea thats what Im trying to do, but I think the nuts must be seized, I've tried putting a long bar over the socket to extent the turning circle, but its just rounding the nut off rather than undoing it and I don't want to do any more damage to the nuts?

I think the only way I can is by pushing the ball joint out now?
 

Scrooge

ClioSport Moderator
  E55 AMG
Alot easier with how fred said do it. Your not dropping the whole subframe are you?
 
Alot easier with how fred said do it. Your not dropping the whole subframe are you?

Thats the plan I think why?

Finally got the bolts out! used a adjustable spanner grip thing and a long pole.

Now I'm going to undo the track rod end for just the passenger side, or both?

Then the next step says release the steering rack?
 
Last edited:
  Astra 1.9Cdti SRi
Thats the plan I think why?

Finally got the bolts out! used a adjustable spanner grip thing and a long pole. Mole Grips

Now I'm going to undo the track rod end for just the passenger side, or both? Both

Then the next step says release the steering rack?

txt'd you back, i was busy in the reception with one of our workers sorry.
 
  330i. E30 Touring.
All you need to do is drop the passenger side. And loosen the drivers side bolts, obviously.
 
  330i. E30 Touring.
Of the subframe. Or do you not need to for a clutch change? i'm thinking a gearbox swap.
 
  Astra 1.9Cdti SRi
Well you need access to the clutch so im not sure if they way your saying would/wouldnt work, because surely there wouldnt be enough room for the box to come out through the gap, and the last thing you want is stuff breaking
 
Re. just dropping the passenger side is that why Fred said only to undo the passenger side track rod?

I think I'll just stick to the way you said James, coz then I know its been tried and tested then at least lol
 
Right I've dropped the sub frame completely out, I know others said do it differently but I just thought it would make things easier when removing gearbox etc, as its my first time doing something like this.

Now I need to remove the driveshafts, by pulling the drivers side away from the gearbox, and undoing the three bolts on the passenger side and letting the oil drain out.
When I pull them out, they will still be attached to the hubs, so do I leave them like that or undo the two bolts on the suspension strut, so the complete hubs come off the bottom and I can move the driveshafts out the way completely?
 
Right I've got pretty much everything off, and now I need to undo the gearbox from the engine, however there are a few connectors on there that I am unsure about, I just want to clarify these undo do come off yea?:

This one looks like it just pushes through, but I've pushed the clip in and it will only go so far through and not right out?

DSC00827.gif


This one looks like you need a spanner to unscrew it, Is that what I should do?
DSC00825.gif


And this one im guessing I can just unscrew off?
DSC00826.gif
 
  330i. E30 Touring.
The gearbox sump plug is a much easier way of draining the oil, lol.

Disconnect everything from the box that you need to to remove it.

Dusty as eff in that engine bay..
 
I know lol.

I've done both the bottom ones, but I still unsure of how to do the top one? Coz when I drop the gearbox that plastic bit will stop it coming free properly, so it must push out completely?
 
Last edited:
  ITB'd MK1
those connectors, in order of pictures

Lambda sensor, plug slides off the clip

Reverse switch. grab the plug, then push-squeeze-pull, no unscrewing needed

earth. Just unbolts
 
Thanks mate I've got them off now.
Is that everything apart from the bolts holding it to the engine/chassis?

Do I need to release all the bolts holding the gearbox, so I can take it right out?
Are these red ones the right ones, I know there's more..?
DSC00828-1.gif


Also do I undo any on the other side, like these?
DSC00831-1.gif


Thanks for all your help, I know Im very amateur lol.
 
  330i. E30 Touring.
^I'm not sure the ones in the top pic need removing.

One of them looks like the bolts that hold the bellhousing to the box itself?
 
Thanks for all your help.

On this one in red, you undo the nut and then youv'e got a bolt that doesn't have a head on either side, does it hammer out or something?
DSC00833-1.gif


And in the second photo in my last post of the bolts on the passenger side, they all go to the top mount it looks like so if I undo the top mount under the battery will that mean that side of the gearbox is free?
 
  330i. E30 Touring.
You undo the nut, and the stud/bolt stays in the head. Helps locate the gearbox.

There's one on the other side, too.

Once you've undone all the bolts securing it, the box won't fall off because of the two studs holding it in place..

Getting it back on is the hard part. (;
 
Ohhh I see now lol.
Re. undoing the top mount, if I undo the middle bolt of that will that mean the bits holding it to the chassis on the passenger side will all come free?

Im finding it really hard finding which ones I need to undo and which I don't lol.

Im sounding so stupid asking all these questions lol.
But I guess you've got to start somewhere!
 
  330i. E30 Touring.
Exactly. I asked all the same questions when i did mine.

I didn't worry about undoing the middle bolts. I just removed the whole mount. Much easier. There's 3 bolts holding it to the box, and three to the car itself, iirc..

Once that's out it gives you shitloads more room to move the box about and get your arms in, etc..
 
Thanks again for all your help!

Right I think I've got them all that connect the Box to the engine, as its come away slightly Its just the other side now, the passenger side.

Can I undo these three bolts, which althought means more bolts looks more simple for me:
DSC00837-1.gif


Or can I undo the middle bolt on the top mount, which I think holds the piece of metal that all three of those bolts are attached to?
DSC00836.gif


Or do if I do both will it mean that whole mount will come away, which is what I think you mean was it Budgie?

If it I am right about it being either of them, which is the better option?
Once they're off should the gearbox be now free and can be jiggled off, down and out altogether?
 
  330i. E30 Touring.
Right, make sure you've got the engine supported from underneath.

Then undo the three bolts in the top picture. That will detach the lower half of the mount from the gearbox. There's also 2 or 3 bolts which hold the top half of the mount to the car. Undo those and remove the mount.

Then, providing you've removed all the bolts holding the box to the engine block, it should come off.

Oh, and watch your fingers. The box weighs the best part of 35kgs, so if you catch your hand between the box and the car, you'll know about it!
 

Scrooge

ClioSport Moderator
  E55 AMG
Undo the whole mount mate. I know it's not much use now but next time instead of taking the subframe off undo one side lever it down and wedge a bit of wood in somewhere then slide the box back for access to the clutch.
 


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