What seemed like a good idea

[MarkM]

As the title says...
I have been getting a judder on pullaway since I got my van and the clutch pedal was high also when changing gear if I did it a little quickly the revs would sort of not work... all signs of a dying clutch and eventually next to no power, so ok time to do the clutch. I phoned around a few places and they were basically pricing it way too high in my head 4-5 hours labour!!, I reckon to put people off from actually having it done...well I didn't have the option (or that kind of cash) but the clutch needed doing so I figured I would do it myself...how hard can it be?

Got myself decent axle stands propped it all up. Removed the gearstick. Removed the plastic bellhousing covers and dropped the prop ..so far so good, took the bolts out of the bellhousing..again so far so good (actually missed two bolts to begin with but that sorted I carried on)
Dropped the box after realising that the gearbox crossmember was really in the way so took that off...ok all good so far then I I took all the clutch parts off...yes they were well and truely shagged...especially as a spring was sticking out of the friction plate, the flywheel was unmarked so that was a bonus. I tried alligning the clutch plate etc and no way could I get the box back in...didn't matter how I jacked it up...bit the bullet and bought universal alignment tool....was a waste of bloody money as it wouldn't align through into the engine so gave up for the night. Today after asking a mechanic friend he told me the trick was to jack the engine up to create a slight angle that would make it easier to line the gearbox up...well yes it did but I aligned the clutch plate by eye this time! Got it all back except the plate on the top of the bellhousing holding the diesel feed pipes to the filter got caught in the bellhousing, I had to unclip the hoses and then after some strong words etc it came free and all was good.
Bolted everything back adjusted the clutch cable as per Haynes and it all works but I really don't want to ever have to do this again...sure I saved a bunch of money but the aggravation and possible non refitting was enough to make me decide I will pay someone next time.

[woody]

GET AN AUTO MATE, THEN YOU WON'T HAVE TO DO THAT AGAIN.

[MarkM]

GET AN AUTO MATE, THEN YOU WON'T HAVE TO DO THAT AGAIN.

No real control with an auto and Transits are thirsty enough without adding in an autobox. Can't bump start an Auto either, you use the brakes way too much with an auto too....but I do understand what you mean, I won't be doing it next time anyway I will pay someone and keep totally clean overall I shouldn't complain too much I suppose as this is the first clutch I have had to put in a vehicle in about 15 years and that one I paid to be done.

[woody]

TROUBLE IS MATE WITH THE WAY THE TRAFFIC IS NOW,YOU ARE CHANGING GEAR ALL THE TIME, SO THE MORE CONGESTED THE ROADS GET I THINK MORE PEOPLE WILL BE THINKING ABOUT AUTOS, MUCH LESS STRESSFUL. EVEN IF I COULD STILL DRIVE A MANUAL, I THINK I WOULD STICK WITH AUTO, STILL EACH TO THEIR OWN

[vannut]

Use the brakes too much with an auto??? Me thinks that your driving style may be the reason for having to change the clutch in the first place.

With modern braking systems there shouldn't be any need to use the gears to slow down. Brakes to slow, gears to go is the motto!

Brake pads are far cheaper to replace than a clutch and or gearbox.

As for having less control with an auto, I can't see that either. I will concede that you can't bump start an auto, but you shouldn't bump start anything with a catalytic converter either...


In case you hadn't guessed, I'm a fan of automatics by the way...

[Luke]

is this thread gonna turn into an auto vs manual argument .............. i mean discussion!!!
btw. im maunal all the way

re. the alignment tool - the best alignment tool is an old gearbox input shaft every time i scrap a box i cut off the i/p shaft - i now have quite a collection

[100ps_drw_hicube]

manual for me need it for drifting etc and whats this about brakes to slow gears to go i hardly ever use the brake gears are excellent for stopping the van brake pads last me ages in fact i have only ever put 1 set in my current van that was because they were grinding when i got it 28k later and theres loads left

[MarkM]

Use the brakes too much with an auto??? Me thinks that your driving style may be the reason for having to change the clutch in the first place.

With modern braking systems there shouldn't be any need to use the gears to slow down. Brakes to slow, gears to go is the motto!

Brake pads are far cheaper to replace than a clutch and or gearbox.

As for having less control with an auto, I can't see that either. I will concede that you can't bump start an auto, but you shouldn't bump start anything with a catalytic converter either...


In case you hadn't guessed, I'm a fan of automatics by the way...

Hardly, the clutch pedal was up in the air when I got the van...my last two Transits both did at least 80-90k with the clutches in that they came with...so my driving style had nothing to do with the failure.
Lift off the throttle with an Auto and it doesn't slow anywhere near as fast as a manual...this is what I mean by lack of control...also add in the extra fuel you use as the Auto "hangs" onto the gears way longer than with a manual. You are able to change up by choice when you want, Auto boxes take this consideration out of your hands.
Matching gear speed to road conditions and low brake use is actually taught at Advanced driving level...so that kinda blows your theory out of the water
Granted costs are less for brake pads but add in disks as they WILL get abused a lot more on an Auto.....plus I certainly wouldn't like the bill for an Auto box over a manual one.
As a regular driving vehicle I have only driven the one Auto and that was a Granada and yes I did like the "Feck Off & Go Away" pedal but I didn't like the constant refuelling...I missed out on a manual one when I was looking around....shame as it was a race support vehicle and totally sorted both in looks and performance.

Bump starting might not be recommended with a Cat fitted but at least you "can" do it...with an Auto you don't get the option
You talk about modern vehicles well ALL makers quote lower MPG figures for autos. I spend enough on fuel as it is without adding to it by choice.
I will say that driving in London is a lot easier with an Auto but for what I normally have to do I would be wasting my money for the occasional bit of easy driving.

So you might have guessed I am Manual all the way

Luke, I know that is what I would use if I ever had to do this again....might even go and get one assuming I can find a scrappy that would let me dismantle a box to get the shaft...I know what I have said originally about not doing it again but I guess I do have a deep down feeling of satisfaction knowing I did this myself and didn't give the several sharp intakes of breath a good saturday night out Sorry Rover, Nighthawk but take that as it is intended afterall this entire forum is about "how to do it" for the majority of the threads.

[Luke]

I know what I have said originally about not doing it again but I guess I do have a deep down feeling of satisfaction knowing I did this myself

quite oftern i'll mess about all weekend doing a job on the van and think i could have gone into work, been paid more money than it would have cost to take it to a garage, who would have done it in half the time but will i ever do that? ......................................... no way!! never!!

[Hairylex]

on the auto vs manwell thing i tow a lot and autos suck for towing and as for getting dirty fixing my van i just get my lass to do it.
ALEX

[vannut]

manual for me need it for drifting etc and whats this about brakes to slow gears to go i hardly ever use the brake gears are excellent for stopping the van brake pads last me ages in fact i have only ever put 1 set in my current van that was because they were grinding when i got it 28k later and theres loads left

"Gears are excellent for stopping the van"? so which gear do you actually use to stop then?

[MrMPuk]

1st is the best one for stopping the van!

[madmark]

well sorry guys the auto for me anyday ,the auto transit that i had recently was the best van i have drove for along time! and if the box was ok i wouldnt of sold it!

also i ran a mk3 with a rover V8 auto for nearly 4 yrs and wow what a van to drive!

[Andrew-v4]

I'd have an auto again any day, yes it was slow and thirsty but around MK it was ideal. And it sat at 70@ under 2500rpm. Wish i never sold it now

[vannut]

So how do you use 1st to stop the van?