some ?s

[dentedfender]

I started changing my clutch on my 84 gl and have a couple ?s about the cv shafts. One of the boots is ripped in half and the other doent fit sung agaisnt the shaft, with about 1/2 inch gap. I was wondering if it is extremely bad to drive it like this for a couple months till i get the money to put new shafts in? Also i have the tranny all ready to come out, and was wondering if i should drain the fluid? Also do i need to pull it all the way out, or just slide it back a bit?

thanks jacob.

[NVBigBlue]

DF,

I guess you could drive like that, I wouldn't recommend it. My suggestion would be to pull the shafts and throw on a new boot kit, see:

 

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?mfrcode=MCQ&mfrpartnumber=662301&parttype=942&ptset=A

 

Thats for an 86, so get the right part, but at less than $10 per side, not a bad deal. Not as good as replacing the whole shaft, but at least it gets new grease in the joint, and will keep the crud out. Replacing the boots is pretty easy. I've done it a couple of times to keep a car on the road until I could replace the shaft with a new one....

 

As for the tranny, you probably don't have to drain it, but doing so might keep you from having gear oil leak out the tailshaft. You'll have to slide it back enough to get to the back of the engine, so I usually just pull it all the way out. I haven't done it in a while, so I can't remember what all has to come off first. I normally pull the engine (seems to be much faster for me....).

 

Good luck.

NV

[Subarian]

The advantage to dropping the tranny is that you don't have to mess with all the vacuum and fuel lines and such. Your shafts will die pretty quickly without boots, but if you're going to replace them in a couple of months anyway, you might want to risk it.

[dave valiant]

I just did the clutch on my 87 wagon. I thought it would be alot easier to just drop the tranny. I think I was wrong.

 

If you pull the motor there are no clearance issues when trying to get your torque wrench. it is alot easier to replace the rear main, and to get everything lined up.

 

If you do drop the tranny, it is a really good idea to drain it first. It is amazing how quickly a garage floor will get covered in 80-90 as it is running out the tail shaft.

[stumpy]

Has the drive shafts started knocking yet? The boots were ripped on mine and it took 1K miles before it started knocking. 7K miles latter and winter approching I decided it was time to change them as clutch pack for the rear wheels is weak to nonexistant and I use crutches to get around. No fun being stranded in foul weather.

Have never done a clutch on a Subie yet but would pull motor instead of trans my self. Stumpy