Preparing to Replace Clutch & RMS

[WhatAmIDoing]

Where are located? Can I get the engine bar to you on East coast travel?

I move around the eastern/central USA/Canada a lot, so it's hard to say where I'll be when you happen to come around. I have a few potential garages lined up for where I'll do this job over a weekend this summer. If all goes well, I'll have access to a fully equipped heavy truck and machine shop.

[polskamafia mjl]

Without a lift I don't see the advantage of going out the bottom but as mentioned earlier both methods are about the same level of difficulty. I recommend replacing the axle seals while you have the transmission out and replacing the gear oil is a no-brainer. If you were to pull the engine it would also be easy to do the timing belt, replace coolant hoses to the turbo, and do the oil pick up o-rings.

I found removing the old RMS to be quite tricky. I carefully drilled a small pilot hole into the old seal and then screwed in a small screw. Once some of the threads caught in the rubber I just pulled on the screw and the RMS started coming out as well. I would also recommend snapping a picture of the old RMS before you pull it out. Use that as a reference when installing the new one so you can tell whether its seated correctly.

[tryingbe]

Done it both. Top is easier.

[abscate]

You can just lower the engine and pull the trans out - the MT only weighs 70 pounds.

You have to lift the car a bit higher than 'tire change height' but not much more.

I was 12 hours in but worked slowly and hit a couple of snags.

[polskamafia mjl]

It may not be heavy but the thought of trying to line the transmission up with the engine still in the car sounds like a nightmare.

[Ozark Lee]

It may not be heavy but the thought of trying to line the transmission up with the engine still in the car sounds like a nightmare.

I used a ratcheting strap off of the engine support to take the weight, it was surprisingly easy to line it up going back in.

...Lee

[abscate]

It may not be heavy but the thought of trying to line the transmission up with the engine still in the car sounds like a nightmare.

I had a rare moment of inspiration and found an easy solution to this, I have to find picture and attach....stand by

There the trick. Thread to long m10 bolts into the trans, then offer up the trans on a jack, second person helps with tilt. One you get 4-5 threads into the top you now have an alignment rail to slide the trans on.

One person from below can line it up by just keeping trans level Andy working it down the guide rail until it mates

It took me 6 minutes once the pins were in.