Discussion
On way back from steam rally yesterday in sunny Kent in our s3 when the clutch started to do strange things 
, first a slight judder then unable to get gears,turn the engine off put in first and start up again and al's fine till we stop again, the same again cant get gears! so stop the car and restart and al's fine but now we have a squeak from the clutch, so how easy is the gear box to get out.
, first a slight judder then unable to get gears,turn the engine off put in first and start up again and al's fine till we stop again, the same again cant get gears! so stop the car and restart and al's fine but now we have a squeak from the clutch, so how easy is the gear box to get out.Not very easy at all ! Depending what facilities you have at your disposal you might consider engine out?
Plenty been written in the past (try search, ignore Steve Heath book) but its something like dizzy cap and n/s rocker cover off and maybe disconnect top hose to allow engine to lean back further and with a lot of jiggling and tutting it may come out.
Grinding a bit off the "webs" on the alloy tail housing will help get it past the cross member brackets when you come to put it back in.
Good Luck
Full method I used for gearbox out and back in is here
Contrary to many opinions on the S3 (not the S1 or S2 due to chassis differences) it can be done with the engine in place but grinding some of the webs off the gearbox as Mike (Philpot) above suggests will help, for me it wasn't necessary.
As for how difficult, the worst part (if you don't have a ramp) is getting the car high enough once the gearbox is dropped to move it out of the way, but if just changing a clutch this should not be necessary.
I would also suggest that while you have the box off then change the spigot bearing as well they cost peanuts and if it goes shortly after replacing the gearbox you'll have to repeat the full job again.
If you are handy with the tools I'd plan on a full weekends hard graft, longer if less experienced and I reckon a garage would take most of a full day.
HTH
Mark
Contrary to many opinions on the S3 (not the S1 or S2 due to chassis differences) it can be done with the engine in place but grinding some of the webs off the gearbox as Mike (Philpot) above suggests will help, for me it wasn't necessary.
As for how difficult, the worst part (if you don't have a ramp) is getting the car high enough once the gearbox is dropped to move it out of the way, but if just changing a clutch this should not be necessary.
I would also suggest that while you have the box off then change the spigot bearing as well they cost peanuts and if it goes shortly after replacing the gearbox you'll have to repeat the full job again.
If you are handy with the tools I'd plan on a full weekends hard graft, longer if less experienced and I reckon a garage would take most of a full day.
HTH
Mark
mep12345 said:
I would also suggest that while you have the box off then change the spigot bearing as well they cost peanuts and if it goes shortly after replacing the gearbox you'll have to repeat the full job again.
My version of a bearing removal tool (I take no credit, it's blatantly copied from pictures posted by others) with a larger diameter bearing from an older V6 still on it.
Mines been in and out three times now (don't ask) and personally I prefer axle stands, I can do it on my own that way, should you have access to a lift I'd guess it takes at least two, maybe three to lift it up above head height?
sorry to hear your having trouble with your clutch,
I would check all of the hydraulics first off .
But if you do need to take the gearbox out see the link below mep 12345 paved the way. Mine was well past its wear limit.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Good luck
I would check all of the hydraulics first off .
But if you do need to take the gearbox out see the link below mep 12345 paved the way. Mine was well past its wear limit.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Good luck
locust32 said:
Well confused now! just checked the car and all is ok, all working as should so went for a twenty minuite drive and can't see anything wrong? she gona wait till I'm in the middle of nowhere and let go on me
Sounds like it's "just" the clutch not releasing fully, so as long as you know how to drive without using the clutch you will always be able to get home. (Since the clutch seems to be partially disengaging, I'd suggest you do your gear changes as if it was clutchless but do in fact also use the clutch, it reduces the scope for damage if your clutchless gear changes aren't perfect.From the symptoms I'd suspect a hydraulic problem. If the clutch reservoir filled up to the level? Fluid nice and clean?
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