Keith Collings

iTrader: (3)

Hello - I'll be removing a six speed from the car that already has the engine out.

I've been searching threads and some suggest splitting the lower ball joint to pull out the drive shafts while other suggest that it is possible to move the gearbox sideways to get the drives shafts away from the box. One thread even shows a jack being used to push the gearbox sideways.

Any advice appreciated ?.

On another note - one common theme seems to be the need for a good gearbox jack for a six speed removal !.

alessio

iTrader: (3)

It's very much possible to move the gearbox sideways and the scissor jack trick works very well.

A good gearbox jack would help immensely and I wouldn't dream of removing the gearbox on my own without one - even 5-speeds are quite heavy and 6-speed ones even more so.

Keith Collings

iTrader: (3)

Thanks for the reply - so you are saying that it can be done without splitting the ball joints ?.

I've got a decent Draper gearbox jack and will probably tackle this next weekend - weather permitting

alessio

iTrader: (3)

Yes, I did not need to split the balljoints when I removed mine. The axle assembly compresses quite a bit at the joints, I had to use the scissor jack on the left side only. Just don't let the sheer weight of the gearbox surprise you. A friend helping or at least watching in case anything goes wrong is not a bad idea.

Keith Collings

iTrader: (3)

Thanks - weather in my area looks OK next weekend so that's the plan. I have good gearbox jack and have read the various threads about the weight - which I think is 100kgs.

I don't plan to cushion that sort of weight on any part of my body

alessio

iTrader: (3)

Good luck

duds64

iTrader: (2)

why dont you just unbolt the swinging arms

Keith Collings

iTrader: (3)

Do you mean undo the two bolts on the inside of the swinging arm as opposed to splitting the lower ball joint ?.

I'll take the easiest route and given that the engine is out of the car - I thought pushing the gearbox sideways seemed favorite ?

duds64

iTrader: (2)

no the main bolt where it joins the subframe

Keith Collings

iTrader: (3)

Thanks - came out without problem. The Draper gearbox jack made life really easy.

When I had the gearbox securely strapped on the jack, I removed all gearbox supports and was then able to move the gearbox left and right to disconnect the drive shafts. No need to jack the gearbox sideways and no need to split the lower ball joint

I did have to jack the car a good bit higher so that I could roll the gearbox out on the jack