Removing Manual Trans /Axle question

[DailyDriverMark]

I need to drop my manual trans ('06) for a clutch replacement, can anyone tell me about removing the axles..

Looks like if I just remove the lower ball joint bolts and I'll have enough room to slide them out of the tranny..

Thanks for any insight...

[Daox]

That is how I did it when I pulled my engine out. With the lower ball joint removed you have enough room to slide them out.

[DailyDriverMark]

One more bolt and Im ready to slide the tranny away from the engine and investigate this noisy t/o bearing.

[DailyDriverMark]

Well, job almost done... and sure enough it was the clutch and throw out bearing. bearing was disintegrating.

Well, I have the tranny back up against the engine with long bolts installed as dowel pins.. But I cant get the tranny to mate to the engine that last inch! Im pissed thinking I might have to lower the tranny again and re check the clutch plate install. I used the alignment tool as instructed.

[Daox]

I've never tried to align a transmission to an engine that is still on a car. Its a pain in the butt enough when its off. I'd keep trying before removing it.

[DailyDriverMark]

I tried yesterday afternoon. It still wont clear the last inch. I tried to use some bolts (gently) to coax it in, but you can tell it's resisting. So I dont think I have the clutch lined up right. trouble is I think I over torqued the pressure plate bolts, and I dont want to loosen them again.

Actually while I type this I thought of my next move.. With the tranny as close as I can get it, I'm going to set the trans-jack I have up to hold the tranny a little better, and remove all the dowels, to really be able to wiggle the tranny around. This should allow the input shaft to 'find the hole'.

If that wont do it, then I just lower the tranny back down, and re align the plate.

My guess is that you can get the pilot tool to fit into the pilot bearing, but still not realize it has a slight angle to it and end up getting the disc clamped in, just off centered enough to give you hell. This is also why jack stands and garage floors suck.

[xintersecty]

I've never tried to align a transmission to an engine that is still on a car. Its a pain in the butt enough when its off. I'd keep trying before removing it.

i have yanked my 96 ford ranger tranny so many times for a crappy made plastic throw-out bearing slave cylinder. Usually, there is a magic sequence of moves that will make it pop out.

[DailyDriverMark]

So I had to realign the clutch disc. Didn't seem like much of anything, but after I got the tranny back in place, and had a friend push lightly, while I rocked the tranny a slight bit from underneath, it just clicked right into place.
Of course this was no earlier that 1:30am..so I left it bolted up to the block and now just have some re-assembly to work on.

Phew, what a pain.

When I first installed the clutch disc, I was a little to lazy and trusting. While laying on the floor, I just set the pilot tool in place and bolted the pressure plate on. This resulted in the disc being just a smidge to low. This time I took my time and used my fingertips to ensure the disc was as centered as I could tell.
This was the trick. Probably also that I moved the tranny in with a little help and little more gently than before.

Now getting the axles back on, the shifter hooked up properly, and the fluid refilled is going to be final tasks.

Thanks everyone for the help/suggestions, I really appreciate it.!!!!

[xintersecty]

Congratulations! If you could document any gotchas or bit of advice in removing/putting back in would be lovely.

[DailyDriverMark]

Yep, I took some pics and going to add the info to my DIY page when it's all complete.