Jump to content

Replacing Clutch, Do It Yourself Or Pay?


rollex

Recommended Posts

  • Member
  • Member For: 10y 5m 1d
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Australia

What do people generally pay labour wise to change the clutch in the BF T56? I've changed the box in my other cars maybe 4-5x with the help of a mate, however they were much lighter and I could bench press it in with a mate aligning it, we would usually get it in 1st or 2nd go so wasn't too bad.

I'm guessing the T56 is heavy as f*ck and you need a trolley jack to hold it up, how hard is it to do in a driveway? I can get access to a hoist if that is easier but might need 3 people to hold the box then.

Many of you guys do it yourself, if so any tips? Mates got rattle gun etc so have all the tools, just wondering if hoist vs jack stands vs pay someone.

Cheers

Edited by rollex
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • less WHY; more WOT
  • Site Developer
  • Member For: 16y 6m 30d
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Melbourne

I've paid for it to be done once, ~$400 or so for labour.

I've also pulled it out myself twice. If you're reasonable mechanically inclined it's not that difficult to get out.

Getting it back in without damaging the clutch plate centre sections is the challenging part. I do it on jack stands in the garage by having a friend jack up the rear end of the gearbox and I gingerly lift the front of the gearbox and a little bit of fiddling and it's in (as long as the clutch plate(s) are aligned, of course). You have to be very careful as the weight of the gearbox (around 55kg) could easily bend the clutch plate(s) even slightly causing incorrect disengagement.

Best piece of advice - get both a good quality clutch alignment tool and a output shaft hole blocker (not sure on the technical term for this one, haha) to prevent gearbox fluid getting absolutely everywhere.

Second best piece of advice - when re-attaching the gearbox, bolt the clutch into place (and align) first, then bolt the bellhousing to the engine (detach from gearbox) and then insert the gearbox with a much easier to align input shaft (as you can see it as it goes into the clutch plates)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Donating Members
  • Member For: 14y 9m 22d
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Christchurch, New Zealand

If you just unbolt the tailshaft from the join at the gearbox instead of slipping it out the fluid stays in. Saves buying a plug when you really don't need to.

Takes a bit of time and if on hoist use a gearbox jack, as stated you need to be careful not to bend plates.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • The Toxic Rocket
  • Donating Members
  • Member For: 14y 6m 15d
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Brisbane

I'm halfway through pulling mine out today! sheitty job. Cars on stands and ramps, still a pain in the back side, trying to separate the box from the bell housing is driving me nuts

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Donating Members
  • Member For: 14y 10m 2d
  • Gender: Male

I tried unbolting the center coupling when I did mine. Every bolt out and still wouldn't budge so I drained oil and slipped joint out. When I got it out I did everything possible and the kent wouldnt separate its seized together

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Member
  • Member For: 10y 5m 1d
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Australia

400 is f*ck all, if I can find somewhere to do it for that I will.

Nothing worse than putting it in wrong and breaking something then just having to take it back out again, done that before (clutch fork sheared off)

My skyline box wasnt too bad but this sounds like it will be more of a hassle.

Cheers guys

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • less WHY; more WOT
  • Site Developer
  • Member For: 16y 6m 30d
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Melbourne

400 was a reasonable mechanic in a country town (Ballarat, Victoria) so his labour rates might have been a touch lower than other places (performance shops, for example)... so that price might not be easy to find.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
  • Create New...
'