Best Way to do a Clutch Replacement

[aj951]

Another thread regarding engine removal from Top vs. Bottom has me curious.

I will preface with I have never taken an engine out or replaced a clutch in a 944. I have read the many procedures that are out there on clutch replacement and how long it takes and what all is involved in getting to the clutch. Every procedure I have read on clutch replacement involves leaving the engine in the car and removing the transaxel and puling torque tube back to get to the clutch.

My question is, would it be advantageous to remove the engine to do a clutch replacement instead of leaving it in as the procedures state? Has anyone replaced a clutch doing it both ways and what are the pros and cons? I know my question may open a can of worms on which way is better, but I would like to know from someone who has replaced a clutch on a turbo with two piece crossover.

Thanks,

AJ

[CHICKS]

If you pull the engine, there's a ton of stuff you can do to it while it's out. Do you have the money/time/want to do it? Stuff like: rod bearings, pan gasket, reseal balance shafts, BS bearings, pan gasket, FOES, belts, etc....

If you don't want/need to do any of that, I would just pull the trans instead.

[mytrplseven]

Chicks: +1

[v2rocket_aka944]

It's much nicer to replace a clutch while sitting down with the engine in front of you, instead of above you...

[djantlive]

i just had my clutch done. i have no engine issue so didn't mess with that.

[John_AZ]

Dropping/lifting the transaxle is awkward if working on a garage floor.
For years I just would bench press the transaxle from the support to install and use my knees to balance while I bolted it up.

I bought this jack at HF (use a coupon for a lower price 20-25% off most Sunday papers)



Have expensive hex and cheesehead wrenches. Cheap Lisle will fail.

The other BIG tip. Have plastic baggies for parts and label.

Now read the DIY tutorial...
944 Online Forum - The Porsche 944 Forum For The 944 Enthusiast.

...easy.

J_AZ

[mikepellegrini]

Originally Posted by v2rocket_aka944

It's much nicer to replace a clutch while sitting down with the engine in front of you, instead of above you...

+1 Sitting on a nice chair wrenching, with the engine on a stand. Oh, yeah!

[grendiers]

How do you replace a clutch with an engine on an engine stand? I can see doing it while the engine is still attached to a hoist; swinging in the air!

[aj951]

Thanks for the replies.

I am about to do a front engine reseal, belts, and water pump. I have some life left on the clutch, so i don't know if it's worth it to pull the engine and do everything at once at this point. I'm just trying to gather as much info before I make the decision. If I don't pull the engine, I will definitely get the trans jack that John mentioned from HF. I won't be bench pressing that thing back into place. LOL!

AJ

[John_AZ]

"After the front seals & WP"....

The top cam seal is a "maybe".
Read the Arnnworx info on front seals. I have seals never used...
944 Front Engine Seals : ArnnWorx Specialty Tools

There used to be a very good cam seal DIY from Nick but he has taken it down.

I used Curil-T on my recent WP (green) gasket replacement. No leaks.
BTW, Green WP seals are pretreated, and black need to be sealed. I seal both type.

GL
J_AZ

[mikepellegrini]

How do you replace a clutch with an engine on an engine stand? I can see doing it while the engine is still attached to a hoist; swinging in the air!

Mmmm. Good point.

It was a couple years ago when I did it and you're right. The engine was hanging from a hoist (oil pan resting on the floor). It was the last thing I did before I reinstalled the engine.

I had to have a person steady it when I torqued the bolts; I had a breaker bar on the crank nut resting on the floor. It was so much easier than with it in the car.

[v2rocket_aka944]

Originally Posted by grendiers

How do you replace a clutch with an engine on an engine stand? I can see doing it while the engine is still attached to a hoist; swinging in the air!

Build a stand that supports the engine by its mounts rather than the back of the block maybe...

It'd be cool to build a 944-engine test-fire stand...

[djnolan]

Is the job any easier if just replacing the disk (for a bad rubber center) and not the pressure plate? Or is trans removal still needed?

[John_AZ]

EDIT---I did not see you have an Automatic needing a new flex disc.


J_AZ

[djnolan]

I am asking about another car with a manual trans with bad rubber center disk.

[Chunkerz]

Originally Posted by djnolan

Is the job any easier if just replacing the disk (for a bad rubber center) and not the pressure plate? Or is trans removal still needed?

Transmission removal is necessary if you're not removing the engine. You need to slide the torque tube back to remove the bellhousing so you can get to the clutch. You can't slide the torque tube backwards if the transmission is in the way.

[Jrboulder]

Originally Posted by djnolan

Is the job any easier if just replacing the disk (for a bad rubber center) and not the pressure plate? Or is trans removal still needed?

Taking out the transmission is not as bad as a lot of people make it out to be.

[v2rocket_aka944]

(manual) Trans removal is almost too easy in the 44...

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by John_AZ

I used Curil-T on my recent WP (green) gasket replacement. No leaks.
BTW, Green WP seals are pretreated, and black need to be sealed. I seal both type.

GL
J_AZ

John, that's another whole debate!


Aj, Do you have a 951 or just working on a regular 944? Also, personally I wouldn't pull the engine unless you need to do the oil pan gasket.

[djnolan]

Originally Posted by v2rocket_aka944

(manual) Trans removal is almost too easy in the 44...

So if the job is done on a lift, what is the best way to handle the transaxle removal or whatever? Can it just be unbolted, and slid back? How does it need to be removed, or just slid back and supported? Does it need external support?