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changing a clutch without pulling the motor


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i have a 98 impreza L i have to replace the clutch... i have never done one on a subaru before. i need to know if i can change the clutch pressure plate and fly wheel without pulling the engine do to the fact i dont have a cherry picker.. also how long would it take to do the change and how hard will it be ?

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More work than if u just pulled the engine... Yes it could be done, either drop trans or you could use an atv jack to slide engine forward and you could probably gain enough room if you stood on your head from the top...

 

If you got a solid tree or rafters that can hold a few hundred pounds. Go grab a 1 ton chain hoist for $30 and work in comfort

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6 one way 1/2 dozen the other.

 

If you have any other engine work that needs to be done, pull the engine.

At the very least you want to reseal the rear separator plate on the back of the engine under the flywheel.

 

You can drop the trans, but then the other work is harder.

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engine or trans has to come out.  there's no way to just simply separate them and squeeze a clutch in there.

 

borrow or rent a cherry picker?
use a come along or winch over some trees or garage trusses (weight properly spread across more than one truss)

jack the car up really high, strap the engine to something and then lower the car. 

 

transmission *can* be quicker and simpler (but it rarely is).  there's less work - just exhaust, axles, rear shaft, shifter, and out it comes.

no coolant draining, radiators, fans, A/C, power steering, battery, fuel, cruise, intake....

 

but it can be a PIG of a job too - lying on your back on a cold ground, limited working space, light, dirt and rust falling in your eyes, crawling under and out under and out every time you forget a tool, hard to get leverage with tools/extensions. 

 

dropping the transmission is also possible without any special tools.  just strap it to a jack and push it up in there. it's not very fun and could potentially take forever for someone doing it the first time trying to man handle a heavy 4WD trans under a car.

 

but - i've definitely had transmissions out quicker than engines before.  

 

kind of depends on you and the work environment. 

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If you have access to a wooded area cut three hardwood trees 3 inches around  and 12 feet long to make a tripod then get a 1/2 or 1 ton chain hoist. Tie the three together with a good strap then put two legs of the tripod on the fender sides of the car and one in front. You only need to lift the engine a few inches and slide it forward about 5 inches to get to the clutch. Take the radiator out first to give the engine more room to go forward. Also unbolt the exhaust from the heads.

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I did this on a 96 outback recently. If you drop the entire exhaust and pull the driveshaft and pins for the CV axles you can drop the trans back far enough to lay over top of the motor and reach down to do the clutch swap from above. The trans will slide back far enough to do the swap without fully dropping the trans or pulling the motor. Have several sheets of cardboard or something to lay over the motor or you'll be super uncomfortable. You also need some real arm strength to lift the trans back up to mate back to the motor. Can probably be done with a hoist, but I ended up pulling on the trans with one hand and tilting the motor with the other to slide them back together.

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that's a nice option.

would that give enough room to also replace the pilot bearing and throw out bearing?

pressure plate obviously not a problem?

 

lay some carpet or something on the engine - all sorts of things will poke scratch and grab as you lay across and reach down there.

Edited by grossgary
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that's a nice option.

would that give enough room to also replace the pilot bearing and throw out bearing?

pressure plate obviously not a problem?

 

lay some carpet or something on the engine - all sorts of things will poke scratch and grab as you lay across and reach down there.

If it was my car and I was already in there, I'd replace all 4: pressure plate, pilot bearing, throw out bearing and clutch.  If the pressure plate goes bad in the next 6-12 months, somebody will be kicking themselves around the yard.

 

I agree: easier to go in from the transmission side.

 

Emily

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that's a nice option.

would that give enough room to also replace the pilot bearing and throw out bearing?

pressure plate obviously not a problem?

 

lay some carpet or something on the engine - all sorts of things will poke scratch and grab as you lay across and reach down there.

 

It does. it's tight and uncomfortable but saves time.

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another issue i am having is the fact i dont have a garage and i live in upstate new york so everywhere around me is wet muddy and cold im a little discouraged to do it due to this fact. Im on an extremly tight budget and the lowest price i have found for a shop to do it is 475 dollars i do most of my own work and like i said in my first post i have done this same thing on trucks. which was in my eyes was simple. but with the awd setup to me seems to be more difficult or am i just over thinking it all together.  

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