Clutch Problem - need help

[erik325i]

I am trying to replace my clutch in my 1989 325i. Does anybody know how to do this? I think I have the general idea. In order to get at my clutch, I have to remove my Tranny. In order to remove my tranny, I have to disconnect the shifter and the driveshaft. In order to disconnect the driveshaft, I have to remove the exhaust. This is where I am stuck. I tried unbulting the exhaust from the headers, but the bolts are in awkward places and are frozen. I sprayed a lot of penetating fluid on the bolt, but was only able to remove one bolt (out of six). Any advise? Please let me know of any tips regarding clutches or anything I just mentioned. Am I correct with what i have to do to replace the clutch? Thanks
-Erik

[Anthrsckmnd]

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-Clutch_Replace/E36-Clutch_Replace.htm

I think this was written for an e36, but I'm not sure, might be helpful

[E30godz]

yes you need to take those off and they are just a whore to get off......trying using a 1/2 rachet with a breaker bar on it.

[erik325i]

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-Clutch_Replace/E36-Clutch_Replace.htm

I think this was written for an e36, but I'm not sure, might be helpful

I already checked out that site. everything appears to make sence except for removing the exhaust. The instructions on the site are for an e36, thereforethey only had to remove the lower half of the exhaust. They do not show any tips for removing it from the header.
A breaker bar will not fit. The only way I could get at the nuts were using a 3/8" ratchet, with an extention and a univeral joint attached to the socket. (I had to use 3/8"because I did not have a universal joint for a 1/2" ratchet).
I think I might have to just unbolt the header from the engine so I can get at the other bolts. Any suggestions?
Being 18 years old and never having replaced a clutch, any help will be greatly appreciated.
-Erik

[Axxe]

Well, you have to get a 1/2" drive on there, otherewise it isn't going to happen. Also, if you have access to an ethalene torch, use it. That was the only way I could take the exhaust off, and it was only on for two years. When you reassembe everything give it a good does of the coppe neverseize shit, that stuff rocks.

[mcgrath]

when I was pulling the engine out of my 325 to swap into my 318 I ran into the same problem. I used a 3/8 ratchet with extenstion also. I had sprayed them with PB Blaster and the next day I torched the shit out of them. was still a bitch to get them off but that was the only way I could, and like Axxe said use anti seize when you put them back together.

[erik325i]

Great! i bought the universal joint for my 1/2" drive socket and was able to remove all of the bolts. So now I have the front half of my exhaust removed from the car. I am pretty sure I will be able to remove the driveshaft now. How am I supposed to unbolt the tranny though? I know I will have to disconnect the shifter and slave cylinder, but how do I get at all of the bolts on the bellhousing? I bought a set of the sockets needed for the bellhousing bolts (called "E" type sockets or opposite torx) . Thanks for all your help guys.
-Erik

[E30godz]

yea its just really hard...spray it with wd40 and then torch it for a bit. I know the torch isnt very high heat (comparitvely) but its how i got mine off and it was a complete whore. WHORE I SAY!

[Brew]

Yeah, those things friggin suck! I used some "stripped nut extractors' from craftsmen to get some of them off, a few came off with the correct socket and one of them had to be cut off with the die grinder.
Good fun, good fun indeed.

[Digitalwave]

Great! i bought the universal joint for my 1/2" drive socket and was able to remove all of the bolts. So now I have the front half of my exhaust removed from the car. I am pretty sure I will be able to remove the driveshaft now. How am I supposed to unbolt the tranny though? I know I will have to disconnect the shifter and slave cylinder, but how do I get at all of the bolts on the bellhousing? I bought a set of the sockets needed for the bellhousing bolts (called "E" type sockets or opposite torx) . Thanks for all your help guys.
-Erik

Loosen your motor mounts so you can tilt the motor back, and loosen the tranny mounts a bit it will give you better access to the top bolts.

Buy a Bentley manual, it shows you how to do all this stuff.

[PeterCip]

my bolts came off with relative ease.. jsut takes time and patience. you have to make sure that your universal joint on teh estenstion is not bending the worng way. otherwise you will strip those bolts. Def. tilt the engine back, it helps a whole lot. make sure not to have the tranny haning form the bolts or the input shaft...
I didn't have to use a torch. I used a short seciotn of galv. pipe that fit over the end of my ratchet as a breaker bar. it was much cheaper than buying another breaker forthe project. the one I had was far to long for being under the car.
-p

[erik325i]

I got the exhaust out of my car and now I am working on the driveshaft. I removed all of the bolts holding my driveshaft on, but have one problem. In the Bentley repair manual, it says, "On models with vibration dampener, turn dampener 60 degrees in either direction before pulling driveshaft off transmission flange." I tried turning it, but it wouldn't turn. it seems like the driveshaft will slide off of the tranny without turning it. How do I turn it and what will happen if I don't? Please help.
-Erik

[DaN]

If you have the center support bearing unbolted, and the flange at the diff, it should pull out. Might need to pry a little bit back, off the trans flange.
Don't know what the 60 degree shit is all about.

[erik325i]

If you have the center support bearing unbolted, and the flange at the diff, it should pull out. Might need to pry a little bit back, off the trans flange.
Don't know what the 60 degree shit is all about.

Yeah, it seems like the driveshaft will come off with no problem. I can move it away from the tranny very easily with my hands. It is just that the Bentley book specificaly says that I need to rotate the vibration damper 60 degrees before i pull it from the tranny. Does anybody have any experience removing a driveshaft with the vibration damper?

[erik325i]

OK. it's been a while, but I finally removed my tranny to replace the clutch. I have a new clutch plate, pressure plate and throw-out bearing to put in. I heard that I should remove the flywheel and have it resurfaced. Do you guys recomend doing that, or is not worth spending my time and money to do that? What are the pros/cons of doing this? If i do resurface the flywheel, how do you recomend I remove the bolts? If i try to loosten them, it just rotates the flywheel. Do I need to do anything special putting it back on to make sure it is centered and balanced? please help.
p.s. while i'm at it i am goint to throw in a short throw shifter. Not sure if I should get the Z3 1.9 or the Z4. I know that i will have to bend the selector rod thing for the Z4. Does anybody know about the Z3 setup? (my car has the harmonic balancer thing over the flex joint.)