Car- Clutch change

[chris-red]

How difficult is it to change the clutch in a FWD shopping cart? My Fiesta needs it doing and I was considering having a go myself. Is it something doable in a few hours on my drive?
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[Polarbear]

I gather you need alignment tools to set the clutch up.
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[RhynoCZ]

Doesn't seem too complicated: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhPhfnqXhjM
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
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[sickpup]

[pompousporcup...]

[arry]

[weasley]

I did my Mk4 Escort inside a day as a first-timer. The worst of it was getting the suspension and driveshafts out of the way, plus the wiring and gearbox linkages. After that it was a few bolts holding the gearbox to the engine and you need enough clearance to be able to pull the 'box away from the engine so the shaft comes out of the clutch/flywheel. You also need something to hold the 'box whilst doing all this manoeuvring (eg trolly jack).

The clutch itself will then take 10 minutes tops - a centring tool is easy enough to get hold of or improvise.

Refitting is generally the reverse of removal, although getting the box lined up to mate with the engine can be a faff, so can getting the driveshafts to pop back in. You may lose some oil from the 'box, so be ready with top-up.
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[B5234FT]

Leave yourself a whole weekend, it wont take that, but better to start sat morning and have sunday spare, than start sunday and need it done for work on Monday.

Alignment is easy, sockets and insulating tape are normally good enough.

The biggest pain is lifting the box back up into place and getting the first bolt back in. You really need a spare pair of hands for this.

Otherwise its all easy, unbolt all the stuff in the way, box off, swap the clutch, box back on and bolt all the rest back in. Worth doing the slave cylinder/release bearing whilst there.

[mrbox]

[MarJay]

The gearbox is effectively bolted to the side of the engine on a FWD car, and you need to remove the drive shaft in order to pull the gearbox off. A car mechanic who used to be on the forum told me the only thing that was harder to do on a car than a bike is to replace the clutch. Which is significantly harder.
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[skatefreak]

Have done a couple but all on Peugeot's...
Its a lot of stripping back and fiddling around but as long as your are patient and methodical then do-able.
If the transmission does not slide in then it is not aligned and ramming it in there just won't do. Its either not straight or the clutch is not properly aligned.
Make sure you grease the release bearing if it needs it (some do, some don't, should indicate in paper work that comes with the kit).
Remove the right hand drive shaft, it can be done without however there is a good chance of damaging other parts and makes re-aligning the transmission much harder.

Your going to need to support the engine whilst the Transmission is out... Engine hoist/jack etc? Figure this bit out before starting...

What jobs have you done on a car in the past?

[arry]

[MarJay]

[charlie74]

as an addition if you go ahead..

avoid the temptation of wiggling it out while its over your head.
its surprising how heavy they are when not being held up by the gubbins

many years ago took a mate to A&E after he dropped the box on his chest( heavy sierra MT box), thankfully he just cracked a rib and bruised the crap out of them.. but it didn't half give us a fright

[Robby]

Gearbox benchpress. I've done it a few times. Not a job I enjoy.

[andym]

Done the clutch on an mk6 Escort a few years ago on a drive, the job itself was fairly simple with a trolley jack, axle stands a hefty piece of wood and patience..... I found dropping the engine at 1 side and pushing the gearbox back into place aligned the clutch up nicely though (tighten the pressure plate enough to stop the clutch plate slipping around, but not too tight to stop it moving when the gearbox is pushed in).

The only part I had trouble with was getting the gearbox side engine mount back in place, which required the engine to be lifted, pushed back, jiggled and tilted all at the same time.... which was a pain without an engine hoist.

If I was to try doing another clutch I would either have an engine hoist or winch and sturdy roof beam

[CaNsA]

[Pete.]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Done a couple over the years on various cars. And don't want to do it again.

Gearbox is a heavy lump, and a pain to manoevre into place while holding it up. Gearbox off a friends Fiesta was a pain as we just didn't have the clearance to get things lined up (there was a trick we were missing - just don't know what!)

All the best

Katy
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[techathy]

[binge]

2 hours work (roughly)
Supply the bits and I'll do it for you for a sensible price mate.
Make sure you buy a 3-piece kit though as the Fiesta runs a CSC.

[Hong Kong Phooey]

Don't forget the slave cylinder. Pain to bleed on some cars, may need to reverse bleed. Ratchet straps to hold/hoist the box if working alone (not recommended from safety POV).
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[stevo as b4]

I did one on a metro once with a mate who'd worked on them before. That had more room as the gearbox was under the engine like a mini.

If it's a simple small std hatch I'd these days get it priced up by a decent local garage first for the sake of the hassle you'd have on the drive at home.

I might need to change the clutch on my old Rover though, as it's a bit fierce and not very drivable in traffic, so not sure yet? It's only a single plate but it's super heavy and probably overkill for the use it will get. Thing is it's a very packed engine bay and there's little room around the lump without stripping the whole front end and lots of pipework.

[chris-red]

[Evil Hans]