can i do clutch by myself

Clutch replacement 79-95 Mustangs

Before you get started, buy a Chilton or Haynes shop manual. You will need it for the bolt torques and patterns.

1.) Jack up the car front and rear, use jack stands to be safe.
2.) Put a 2x4 wood block under the engine oil pan to support the engine. Jack it up slightly. This prevents damage to the motor mounts when the transmission mount is removed. The oil pan is plenty strong for this purpose. Disconnect the negative battery cable. You will need a couple of extensions and a ½” swivel socket to remove the top starter mount bolt, which is accessed from the front and under the headers. Leave the starter wiring connected unless you plan to change the starter at this time.
3.) Label all the wiring for the transmission before disconnecting it. Disconnect the O2 sensor cables at their connectors. Disconnect the speedo cable by pulling it straight out of the VSS sensor, or by removing the bolt that holds the VSS sensor in place. If you remove the VSS sensor, zip bag & tag it along with the bolt that secures in place.
4.) Remove the drive shaft, the rear bolts are 12 MM. You will need a high quality 12 point wrench for this: do not skimp or you risk rounding off the bolt heads. A helper to step on the brake to keep the drive shaft from turning will be helpful. Use your foot to apply pressure to the wrench to loosen the bolts. Note the yellow markings in the drive shaft and write down their alignment.
5.) Put a catch pan under the rear of the transmission to catch the fluid when you slide the yoke out of the transmission. I recommend that you drain the transmission at this time. There is a pair of pipe plug filler ports on the side of the transmission. Use the lower plug to drain the fluid.
6.) Inside the car, remove the shifter boot and then remove the shifter handle
7.) Remove the H pipe & rear trans cross member. The chassis to cross member bolts are metric, you need a 15 MM & 17 MM socket or wrench. Note the direction and size of the humps on the cross member and write it down. Inspect the rear transmission mount and replace if damaged.
8.) Remove the transmission. You will need a long extension & a universal joint with a ¾” socket. A transmission jack or a helper is almost a must have unless you can bench press 75-100 pounds with ease.
8.) Remove the clutch cable cover and pry the throwout bearing arm forward enough to slide the cable off.
9.) Remove the bell housing using the long extension & a universal joint socket. Note how the throwout bearing rides it the throwout bearing arm, and which end faces the clutch pressure plate. Write it down or make a drawing if necessary.
10.) Remove the bolts securing the pressure plate to flywheel. Be sure to label & zip bag them separately from the rest of the parts. Work in a star pattern to reduce stress on the pressure plate mounting tabs.
11.) Remove the flywheel mount bolts, as you will need to either replace or re-surface the flywheel. Be sure to label & zip bag them separately from the rest of the parts. Tap the locator dowels out of the flywheel with a 1/4" pin punch. Zip bag them together with the flywheel bolts.
12.) Inspect the transmission input shaft where the throwout bearing rides. Replace it if worn or damaged.
13.) Inspect the throwout bearing, throwout bearing arm and ball pivot stud for wear or damage.
14.) Inspect the rear oil seal for leakage and replace if required.
15.) Remove & replace the pilot bearing. A puller borrowed or rented is helpful here. A wood block will be used to drive it home.
16.) Install the flywheel, noting that the bolts are an odd pattern, and it only lines up one way so that all the bolts go in easily. Torque to specs according to the shop manual. Install the locator dowels at this time.
17.) Install the clutch disk with the hub springs facing the rear of the car. Use a pilot tool available for $3-$4 from the auto parts store to line it up.
18. Install the pressure plate, be sure to use the pilot tool prior to tightening the pressure plate bolts. Torque to specs according to the shop manual. Remove the pilot tool when you are finished torquing the bolts.
19.) Install the throwout bearing on the throwout bearing arm, noting the direction of the bearing and it mounting in the arm.
20.) Install the bell housing. Torque to specs according to the shop manual.
21. Install the transmission, have the transmission jack or helper at hand to lift it into place. Watch out that the stub of the shifter does not tear the shifter boot. Some 7/16 bolts with the heads cut off can be used to help support the transmission as you slide it home. It may be necessary to press the clutch pedal to get the transmission to slide the last ½” or so. Remove the guide studs if you used them & torque to specs according to the shop manual.
22.) Reinstall the clutch cable by prying on the throwout bearing arm. Replacement of the stock cable or quadrant is recommended if you haven’t already done so. With adjustable cables, both nuts go on the back side of the throwout bearing arm.
23.) Reinstall the rear crossmember & transmission mount. Torque to specs according to the shop manual.
24.) Reinstall the wiring and speedo cable or VSS sensor if you removed it.
25.) Reinstall the drive shaft, slide the yoke in place. Align the rear yellow markings and install the bolts. A helper to step on the brake to keep the drive shaft from turning will be helpful. Use your foot to apply pressure to the wrench to tighten the bolts.
26.) Remove the jack from under the engine oil pan.
27.) Refill the transmission with the proper fluid. T5’s use Dextron ATF, Tremec 3550’s use GM Synchromesh. There is a pair of pipe plug filler ports on the side of the transmission. Use the top plug as the filler port.
28.) Adjust the clutch cable according the manufacturer’s instructions if you have an adjustable cable & quadrant. Set the emergency brake and use the drag it provides in order to determine where the clutch starts to engage. You should have 1 -1 ½” free play from the top. The cable will not have any slack and will have some preload on it when properly adjusted.
29.) Re-install the H pipe and remaining items.
30.) When you have visually checked all the bolts, fittings and other parts are present and not interfering with each other, then take the car down off the jack stands.
31.) Be prepared to put the car back up on the jack stands to adjust the clutch and tighten up any loose items found after the test drive…

If you have a T5, you may be able to remove the trans & re-install it if you can bench press the 75 lbs that it weighs. If 75 lbs is too heavy, don't hurt yourself, get a trans jack. If your car has a Tremec 3550 or TKO, you will need a helper or trans jack because it weighs 100 + lbs. I built a trans jack from 2x2 angle iron, some swivel casters, 2x4's, 2x6's and a cheap floor jack. PM me if you are interested & I will send you the photos (8 MB) with the write up.

While you are at it, replace the stock cable & quadrant if it is still present. When you buy the cable & quadrant and maybe a firewall adjuster, make sure they are all the same make. That way you have some assurance that they work together. I have a FMS quadrant & cable, & have had no problems with it. The FMS adjustable cable doesn't stretch and operates smoothly. The only thing is that you have to get under the car to make adjustments.

If it's your first time it will take longer than you think. Heck, I hadn't done one in like 3 years and it took me 3 nights after work, totally about 6 hours, and I've done it before numerous times. It definitely helps to have someone help, and if you can't just find anyone to help when putting the transmission back in as it will go in much slicker if someone turns the driveshaft while you're lining it up.

My clutch install took a total of around 8 hours, but it was my first real car mod I've ever done myself. I had a few friends to help with lifting/moving **** - which helps immensely. The T5 isn't THAT bad, and the way I did it was just drop it and lay right under it, lower it onto my chest, slide the creeper out from under the car, and roll it over next to me. It definitely helps to have some friends help though, and buy some beer for sure. You're probably going to get frustrated, so it'll help tone that down! I used the write-up jrich posted, and it couldn't have gone smoother. Good luck!

it will take you a while for your first time but its a good learning experience. dont be scared, just get under there and do it. pretty strait foward

yeah i say go for it. Buy a rubbermaid compartmentalized plastic tub or some baggies to keep track of all the bolts. Once you get into the swing of things youll see it isnt that bad.

pull the DS, disconect shifter and cable, pop the bellhousing bolts out, drop tranny, out with the old, in with the new, and then reverse of removal.

Good luck!

yeah i say go for it. Buy a rubbermaid compartmentalized plastic tub or some baggies to keep track of all the bolts. Once you get into the swing of things youll see it isnt that bad.

pull the DS, disconect shifter and cable, pop the bellhousing bolts out, drop tranny, out with the old, in with the new, and then reverse of removal.

Good luck!

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the beer is a good idea too, some things can get frustrating, especially if you're doing it on jackstands, cramped into that little space. Just take your time and hope all goes well

It used to take me and my buddies an entire night to do a h pipe swap, now it takes about a half hour. Things will take FOREVER at first and then you get use to it (or break 4 T5's) and you know exactly what tools to get and exactly how to set everything up.

Wait, what? People actually get help working on their car?


I never get any help. Well, my 4yr old son on occasion getting me some tools.

Absolutely you can do the clutch.

clutch works fine, but has this dumb noise

Im on my other account- i also am joes89convert- forgot i had an old one. ANYWAYS... my clutch works fine but has that stupid noise, which is there no matter if pedel is pressed or not and it does change with the speed of the engine- . before i got replacing it- any ideas?
thanks

What kind of noise? a squeak? chatter? grind?

Follow jrichker's post to a T and you will be fine. I didnt read the WHOLE thing but I do recommend unbolting the trans from the bellhousing, and then the bellhousing from the engine...with the trans out of the way it will be easier to get to the bellhousing bolts on the engine.

Also consider replacing the clutch cable, quadrant and install a firewall adjuster. DO NOT use an adjustable cable. A billet quadrant along with the firewall adjuster on an OEM replacement cable works best.

302GTS said:

The T5 isn't THAT bad, and the way I did it was just drop it and lay right under it, lower it onto my chest, slide the creeper out from under the car, and roll it over next to me. ............and buy some beer for sure.

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You do it the same way I do!

And +1 on that writeup, that looks pretty thorough. Just read that several times until you have it almost memorized, then you have a good idea of what you're getting yourself into, and know what to expect.

The only way to learn, is to just do it. That's how I learned most of what I know. Just get in there and get it done. The first time is the hardest. Next thing you know you'll be doing your own engine swaps and what not.