I am fully aware of the search feature but have been unable to find results.

Tomorrow I am replacing my clutch for the first time in my life.
I am very mechanically inclined, however I want to know what I'm getting into.

Can anyone who's done this give me a step by step?

Thanks a lot!


- 1987 Camaro 2.8, 5-speed

 

I've done it so many times I have lost count. I just recently did an engine/trans rebuild on my son's 87, and even more recently a T5 swap on my 88 GTA.

1. Raise the car and support it on jack stands
2. Remove the torque arm and driveshaft (use a spare yoke or one of those plastic plugs to keep the fluid from leaking out the tranny tail).
3. Disconnect all wire pigtails from the transmission.
4. Disconnect the speedometer cable (if applicable).
5. Remove the nut that holds the transmission mount to the crossmember
6. Support the transmission with a jack, and remove the 4 bolts securing the crossmember to the frame.
7. Remove the crossmember.
8. Since your car is V6, it may have a counterweight installed along with the torque arm mount. You'll probably want to remove this before trying to remove the transmission.
9. Support the rear of the engine with a jack (under the oilpan).
10. Remove the 4 bolts that hold the transmission to the bellhousing.
11. The transmission is relatively light (~75 pounds) and you can muscle it out, with or without help, or ease it out on a jack and remove it.
12. Remove the two bolts that secure the slave cylinder to the bellhousing and just let it dangle off to the side.
13. Remove the bellhousing to engine block bolts and remove the bellhousing.
14. Remove the throwout bearing from the clutch fork.
15. Remove the six pressure plate to flywheel bolts slowly and carefully. It helps to support the clutch assembly to keep it from falling.
16. Remove the pressure plate and clutch disc.
17. Remove the six flywheel to crankshaft bolts, and carefully lower the flywheel.
18. Replace the pilot bushing. You can either remove it with a slide hammer tool, or pack it with grease and drive it out hydraulically, and then drive the new one in using a large socket as a punch.
19. New flywheel and pressure plate bolts are recommended.
20. Resurface or replace the flywheel. Do not re-use the old flywheel without resurfacing. Torque bolts to specs.
21. Install a new clutch disc and pressure plate, using an alignment tool or an old input shaft to position the disc, and take care not to install the disc backwards.
22. Tighten the pressure plate bolts slowly and evenly. Torque to specs.
23. Re-install the bellhousing.
24. Install a new throwout bearing in the clutch fork, and make sure that the bearing floats in the fork, as opposed to attaching the bearing to the clips.
25. Carefully raise the transmission and reinstall it. You should use a jack or have a friend assist, unless you happen to have the strength of a gorilla. You may have to wiggle it a bit to get it to seat against the bellhousing. DO NOT FORCE IT into place.
26. The rest is just the reverse of disassembly.

 

Exactly what I needed! Thanks so much.
I'll have it back up and runnin in no time

 

I forgot something: You have to remove the shifter plate, lower shift boot, and the shifter before attempting to remove the transmission.

It should be between #9 and #10

 

Is it easier to install the clutch and flywheel before you put the engine in? I have a engine to put in the car, just waiting to get those 2 parts, i was wondering if it would be just as easy if i put in the engine now and just drop the trans to put on the clutch and flywheel?

 

Ya I know. I know the basics(bit of googling:P).
But the list you gave was great, thanks.

 

It is much easier to install everything (especially the trans) before you drop the engine in. Then you install the whole thing as a package.

There is a little trick to getting it in that way, but I and others here have done it.

 

well the trans came already in the car, i think it would be harder for me to put in everything all together though