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Old May 1, 2021 | 10:35 AM
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Default Throw out bearing replacement

My throw out bearing is starting to make some noises when in use. I'm not looking forward to changing it. But my question is , has anyone changed one without removing the whole transmission? By this I mean is there enough room to disconnect the trans from the bell house cover, slide the trans back as far as it can go, to reach in to removed the old bearing and replace with a new one?
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Old May 1, 2021 | 10:47 AM
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At that point, your 98% done fully removing the tranny.
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Old May 1, 2021 | 10:59 AM
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Originally Posted by crf311
Is there enough room to disconnect the trans from the bell house cover, slide the trans back as far as it can go, to reach in to removed the old bearing and replace with a new one?
No. The tranny won't go back far enough on a car with a fixed crossmember. Tranny and bellhousing both have to be unbolted, and the tranny has to be "jack-knifed" out with the bellhousing.

Lars
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Old May 1, 2021 | 11:16 AM
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it is time to consider taking the sawzall to the crossmember.
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Old May 1, 2021 | 11:58 AM
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Originally Posted by lars
No. The tranny won't go back far enough on a car with a fixed crossmember. Tranny and bellhousing both have to be unbolted, and the tranny has to be "jack-knifed" out with the bellhousing.

Lars
Lars, not necessary on my '76. With the shift lever bracket removed from the fixed crossmember, the tranny will move back far enough for the input shaft to clear the bellhousing. But I don't what year the OP has.
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Old May 1, 2021 | 11:59 AM
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Originally Posted by derekderek
it is time to consider taking the sawzall to the crossmember.
He won't need a sawzall, lol.
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Old May 1, 2021 | 01:08 PM
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i feel any time trans clutch work needs done, converting to removable crossmember is the way to go. another way to go is unhook mounts and exhausts and lift motor an inch and scootch it forward a bit to add room. but you are gonna be back in there. at some point 3200 rpm down the highway is gonna get old. but if OP is gonna do it the old school way, or any way at all, it doesn't make sense to replace the bearing on a clutch that is also not young. do the whole clutch.
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Old May 1, 2021 | 06:14 PM
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Thanks guys. Sorry , I was not to clear on my setup. 69 convertible with the welded in crossmember. What really pisses me off if the whole clutch assembly, only have about 5K miles max if that. It's the center force setup, with counter weights.
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Old May 1, 2021 | 06:27 PM
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On my 77, removing shifter and it's bracket allows me to pull trans all the way back, clear of the throwout bearing and bell housing. with a jack under the engine of course. bell housing will NOT come out till tranys is out of the way. I tryed.
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Old May 1, 2021 | 07:24 PM
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Originally Posted by crf311
Thanks guys. Sorry , I was not to clear on my setup. 69 convertible with the welded in crossmember. What really pisses me off if the whole clutch assembly, only have about 5K miles max if that. It's the center force setup, with counter weights.
I have the CF DFX clutch/PP with counter weights also on my '76. I also used the recommended CF throwout bearing for that particular CF clutch combination. Has worked great for several years now. What throwout bearing are you using? They are not all the same.
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Old May 2, 2021 | 02:07 PM
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Originally Posted by crf311
Thanks guys. Sorry , I was not to clear on my setup. 69 convertible with the welded in crossmember. What really pisses me off if the whole clutch assembly, only have about 5K miles max if that. It's the center force setup, with counter weights.
If you did not set the correct clearance your TB could have been touching the diaphragm fingers and spinning along with the flywheel. You need freeplay gap. Roughly 3/8". Lars can guide you with better explanation than i. I will be converting my crossmember to removal next time. I have a Tremec TKO600 5 speed and had to pull out the motor and trans as one unit.

Last edited by twinpack; May 2, 2021 at 04:17 PM.
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Old May 2, 2021 | 02:47 PM
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I would rather have my azz beat than pull a manual trans from a C2/C3. I'm still convinced the last one cost me a anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) procedure.
Back in the day I could do this myself in an afternoon, now it's a two man job.

Last edited by Mr D.; May 2, 2021 at 02:47 PM.
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Old May 3, 2021 | 01:04 AM
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Originally Posted by Mr D.
I would rather have my azz beat than pull a manual trans from a C2/C3. I'm still convinced the last one cost me a anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) procedure.
Back in the day I could do this myself in an afternoon, now it's a two man job.

ouch! Already suffer from a bad back, so I'll take your advise.
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Old May 3, 2021 | 01:06 AM
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Originally Posted by resdoggie
I have the CF DFX clutch/PP with counter weights also on my '76. I also used the recommended CF throwout bearing for that particular CF clutch combination. Has worked great for several years now. What throwout bearing are you using? They are not all the same.

it was CF's complete kit. So the bearing was the one from the kit. I may still have the paperwork, I'll have to see. .

Last edited by crf311; May 3, 2021 at 01:07 AM.
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Old May 3, 2021 | 09:15 AM
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You can absolutely do it. You need to remove the shifter and disconnect all associated parts from the trans. You will have to remove the driveshaft. Use long bolts with the heads cut off to replace the four trans to bellhousing bolts and slide the trans back on the bolts. This will make it super easy to put back in. Takes a little effort to get the T/O bearing changed and the clutch fork back on, but way easier than removing the trans entirely and makes it a one person job.
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Old May 3, 2021 | 09:57 AM
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Originally Posted by Lark327
You can absolutely do it. You need to remove the shifter and disconnect all associated parts from the trans. You will have to remove the driveshaft. Use long bolts with the heads cut off to replace the four trans to bellhousing bolts and slide the trans back on the bolts. This will make it super easy to put back in. Takes a little effort to get the T/O bearing changed and the clutch fork back on, but way easier than removing the trans entirely and makes it a one person job.
I use the cut off bolts also to guide the tranny back into place with perfect alignment of the splines. I only use two bolts, one on top and one diagonal to the top on the bottom.
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Old May 3, 2021 | 10:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Lark327
You can absolutely do it. You need to remove the shifter and disconnect all associated parts from the trans. You will have to remove the driveshaft. Use long bolts with the heads cut off to replace the four trans to bellhousing bolts and slide the trans back on the bolts. This will make it super easy to put back in. Takes a little effort to get the T/O bearing changed and the clutch fork back on, but way easier than removing the trans entirely and makes it a one person job.
do you know the length of the bolts you used?
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Old May 3, 2021 | 11:52 AM
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Mine were were about 6", I think.
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Old May 3, 2021 | 09:56 PM
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I believe I also use 6” long bolts.
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Old May 3, 2021 | 10:22 PM
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I know 3.5 inches is risky
if taking out..and reinstalling..
i have to say though if going that far..im pulling the transmission and really inspecting everything and cleaning up, even with 5k miles..hard to believe the bearing took a dump in that short time too assuming set up with proper pedal play?
for me the hardest part was getting the transmission from the floor sideways up and in from your back.

Last edited by interpon; May 3, 2021 at 10:24 PM.
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