time for a new clutch in my 98 5spd, seems pretty straight forward, one question though, you folks who have done it, did you have to remove the crossmember to get the tranny out enough to replace disc and plate or ? also, what about the abs line that seem to run along said crsmmbr and up and over tranny ? thanks

 

Yes, you'll have to pull the crossmember. Lift the trans and knock the crossmember up and back to get it out, they wedge in there, might have to spread the frame slightly to get it back in. All the ones I ever did the engine is nose heavy and want to nose down, getting it apart isn't a problem, but getting it back together I always had to jack the front of the engine up to get the back far enough down.

That is line is not an ABS line, its the vacuum supply for the front Central Axle Disconnect (CAD) just unplug it, unbolt it and swing it out of the way.

 

thanks for the info, all i need now is the time to do it!

 

A bottle jack and a cut piece of wood works great to spread the frame rails, crossmember falls out that way. Might need an extra set of hands though!

 

How far apart are you spreading the frame? I always found it easiest to lift the trans up, remove the trans mount, unbolt the crossmember and pop it up out of the taper then pull it out the back. Putting it back in is when I spread the frame and only slightly to get the crossmember in so the holes line up easier.

 

I agree with JD730 when I removed my transmission I did not have to "spread the frame" didn't going back in ether. One good shot straight up was all it needed the rest was by hand. Going back in just used a tapered punch to line up the holes.

Floyd

 

I only spread it enough for the member to fall down a bit, then tap it out. Same when putting it back it. Just gotta watch it and spread it from the bottom to keep everything straight, only spreads about 1/2 inch in either side...if that.