Hey,

I've searched and searched and seen so many different answers to this problem. My car is on ramps right now...can I remove the torque arm (just from the tranny, doing a clutch job) and the driveshaft in this position? I heard that there is some problems if you have your E-brake on or your tranny in gear or something? Please let me know the correct procedure, its about time to get the car back on the road!

I'm really not getting this "pinon rotating" concept, can someone explain it to me?

 

EDIT: I just reread your post.....You can unbolt the rubber mount torque arm from the tranny & the torque arm will pivot up & touch your floor pan. Now continue with the clutch job.

The "pinion rotating" is.....

With the way the springs press down on the rear axle....When the torque arm is pulled from the rubber mount on the tranny, the springs will press down on the axle and cause the entire rear end to rotate, pushing the pinion upwards.

When you get the clutch job done, all you'll hafta do is reach up, pull the torque arm down (which will rotate the axle back into position), slip it into the rubber mount, bolt the mount to the tranny & your done! Easy peasy......

 

So in order to swap the torque arm for an aftermarket one it would be best to have the rear suspention unloaded?

 

Ehhh...more like "no" then yes, here's what I did...I just did that on my 88 GTA when i went from a BW ST-10 4 speed to a T-5, the torque arms are different. When I did it, I had the rear of the car on jackstands on the frame. The rear just hung there, I took my floor jack and just put a little pressure on it, enough to just jack up the rear end by about an inch. When I pulled the torque arm, the rear didn't move that way. It makes it a lot easier to get the new one in, when the rear is on the ground it's hard to get to the top to use on the bolt heads or nuts, whichever way the bolt was put in.


You unbolt that torque arm and the minute you get it out that rear end is gonna wat to rotate up if you don't have some kind of load on it keeping it in place.

 

'Unloaded', yes....But that doesn't mean the springs have to come out.

Since the springs are sitting behind the centerline of the axle tube, they are wanting to make the rear end rotate the pinion up. Just put a floor jack under one of the spring perches & lift it JUST ENOUGH to keep the pinion from going up.

But if you are just doing a clutch job, the torque arm doesn't need to be unbolted from the axle. I've done T5 clutch jobs myself & all I ever did was unbolt the rubber mount & let it swing up. Just be sure to hold on to it (its not STRONG) & control its upward swing.

 

Thanks for the responses,

So if the rear of the car is on ramps, that would act as an appropriate load to help keep the axle from rotating? I just don't feel safe under a car with jack stands, I like having it supported on ramps. Probably my lack of experience.

Any advice on whether the e brake or transmission in gear come into play with removing driveshaft/torque arm?

 

No....The SPRINGS will still cause it to rotate. You can leave the tires on the ramps. If you leave the torque arm attached to the rear end (which doesn't need to be removed anyways for a clutch swap) the torque arm will rotate upwards & touch the floor. No problems there.

The e-brake will have zero effect on the tranny. It is attached to the rear brakes, not the tranny. Only way it has anything to do with a clutch swap, is that the handle sticks through the console & the console (top at least) has to come out to do the clutch.

 

Ah, thanks so much. Your very helpful.

So maybe I'll even put a little pressure under one of the spring mounts with a floor jack? Then again, I'll need that jack to get the transmission out.

About the e-brake and such...that was because I could have swore another article said to NOT have the e-brake on when removing the driveshaft...maybe I'm crazy.

I will give this a shot tonight!

It's not like the tires will rotate when you remove the front torque arm mount, correct? I don't have to worry about it sliding off the ramps?