Removing gearbox from 1998 Toyota Corolla E11 1.3

[sgtBerbatov]

I need to change the clutch on my Corolla. It's had a long term advisory on the MOT about oil on the gearbox (which I can confirm is gearbox oil), and since I had the car it's had a judder on the clutch which has gotten worse. The clutch needs replacing as it's going to be contaminated with oil, and the gearbox needs to come off so I can change the seal(s) which will have perished to stop the leak.

I've got a Haynes manual and it states that I need to remove the two driveshafts to take the gearbox off. However, looking around the internet the theme seems to be you only need to remove the driveshaft on the passenger side, and the gearbox will come off.

I've never changed a clutch or dropped a gearbox before, so I'm not sure whether to believe the internet or the Haynes manual about this. So if anyone has experience in this I'd appreciate hearing the best method in terms of what driveshafts should come off.

[Martin350]

Rather Poirot-esquely I've established from a few of your other posts that you have a 1998 Corolla 1.3.

It might be possible to remove only one but I can imagine it would make refitting the gearbox somewhat more fiddly, even with another pair of hands helping.
For the sake of undoing an extra hub nut and popping one more ball joint I would take both out.

I've just looked up the repair time for changing the clutch and it is 4.4 hours, and it also states that both drive shafts must be removed.

That time is a guide for a car on a lift, air tools being used etc., so if you're at home on the drive and haven't changed a clutch before (also the flywheel will have to come off to change the crankshaft seal) then I would probably allow for double that.

I would recommend having a helper with you when you come to refit the gearbox, they can be quite awkward.

Good luck!

[sgtBerbatov]

Martin350 said:

Rather Poirot-esquely I've established from a few of your other posts that you have a 1998 Corolla 1.3.

What gave it away? It's a force of habbit asking for help with other things where the forum gets really annoyed if you don't state what the problem refers to.

Anyway, since posting the original thread it transpires the CV boot on the passenger side should be replaced as it's showing signs of cracking (but hasn't cracked right through), so both drive shafts have to come off now regardless.

I know a lad who changed the clutch on the E12 Corolla and he said it took him 22 hours to do it. So I know this won't be a quick job, but I'm not after quick I'm after a correct job. If it takes a week it takes a week, but it'll be done right.

I've scouted the engine bay and I can see the bolts that need to come off, so I'm going to remove most of them tomorrow evening ready for the gearbox to come off. I'm going to leave the mountings until the day it comes off just so I don't cause the parts any undue stress.

I'm asking around my pals to see who's available to help me. Dropping it I've decided to use a mixture of tyres and cushions underneath the car so when the gearbox does fall there is so protection.

I'm looking forward to it, all new to me but I haven't broken anything yet apart from a few bolts!

[Martin350]

I'm not sure how the driveshafts fit into the gearbox on that car, but if they are splined then drain the gearbox oil before you start, it will save a lot of mess later!

Actually, I normally replace gear oil when I change a clutch anyway, as it's often overlooked.

[sgtBerbatov]

From reading and asking some Toyota experts they said the driveshafts on either side need to come off. So try as I might I'll just remove them. It'll make it easier for changing CV boots anyway!

And yes even though I'm sure most of the gearbox oil is lying on my drive underneath the gravel, there'll still be some left in there. I'm prepping it tonight to hopefully be able to drop it tomorrow, so I'll report back about how I got on.

Thanks for the advice guys!

[sgtBerbatov]

Well it turns out both driveshafts do have to come off! I couldn't drop the gearbox without doing it.

No hassle though, it was a fairly straight forward procedure.