Clutch replacement (Sods Law!!!!!)

[737flf]

My clutch started slipping today, oh joy!! Just as I am in the middle of three weekends of Lowland Championship sprints and hillclimbs (Five events). I am about to embark on replacing it myself, unless anyone knows of somone decent in west/central Scotland who can do it for me without charging like the cavalry. As time is of the essence, I would be grateful for any advice regarding pitfalls to be aware of as the subject is not particularly comprehensively covered in the "Bible".

I am a better than averagely able spanner man and I do have access to a pit, which helps a bit, but any advice would be much appreciated as I have to get this done by Friday night.

TIA

Al

[clive f]

don`t forget to disconnect the gearlinkage arm that runs from under the gearstick back to the gearbox, it runs over the top of one of the chassis rails, so you will have to remove the trim over the tunnel inside the car to get to it.

also if you have the t5 box it can be easier if you remove the gearbox from the bellhousing first, as the bolts at the top of the bellhousing are tricky to get to, with the box out of the way you have a clear view of everything.

remember to start with you`ll have to remove the exhaust system and propshaft, and have new gearbox oil to hand, your going to loose some, so may as well give it a treat and replace it whilst you are there.

you should be ble to do it all in a good day.

[lou4010]

Hi

Just changed my clutch and spigot bearing on my S3.To get the spigot bearing out I made up a puller,flat piece of steel,with an M8 anchor bolt.Got the idea from Mep12345

couple of pics HTH

[737flf]

Well, by 15.00 last Friday I had everything stripped down to the extent that, in theory, all I had to do was to undo the four bolts securing the remote input and the four bolts holding the gearbox to the bellhousing. Could I get at them?(The ones on the remote) not a chance. The plate on the remote has an upward swaged lip which, although one can get a small socket on to them (but not be able to swing ANY sort of ratchet) also precludes the use of any spanner, ring, ratchet or otherwise. I then took off the transmission cover only to be faced with acres of GRP, so, using my trusty angle grinder I cut away the relevant bitsonly to find a remote which defied all attempts to dismantle it. Not knowing what bolts onto what (In the absence of a proper workshop manual, or photographs), I was loth to proceed any further as previous experience has taught me that, in ignorance, something expensive will be broken.

So I put it all back together so as, then at least, I could compete at the weekend.

If anyone has photos which would be of help, ANYTHING!!, I would appreciate it if they would post them as my only alternative is to throw myself on the mercy(Hah!) of (That rare beast in Scotland) a TVR specialist.

TIA

Al.

BTW Thanks for the help from all you guys so far.

[Krautchimaera]

if you have your car up on a two post lift or on a pit, use two long extensions ( about 2 feet long together) and a " flexible joint" ( kardanic???)I don't know he english expression for it. then you can fit your wrench and undo the bolts.
Piece of cake.
if possible ask a friend to help you, when you push the gearbox backwards to get the inlet shaft out of the clutchplate splines, it suddenly becomes extremly heavy and you are likely to drop it or hurt yourself