Clutch Removal

NOTE: When performing operations on the transaxle system that require rotation or shifting of the transaxle tube, always wear leather gloves to avoid any risk of injury.

- Align hoist beneath car and raise car on checking points.
- Place covers over fenders.
- Disconnect ground lead from battery.





- Disconnect ground cable from clutch housing (1).
- After removing hex bolts, remove reference-mark transmitter (2) and speed transmitter (3) for DME from holder.
- Detach cable bundle to starter at upper attachment point (4).

Note: Access to attachment point 4 (starter cable) is best once the central tube has been disconnected from clutch housing.

- Remove engine ground.
- Detach both shields from starter and clutch housing and withdraw to rear.
- Disconnect electrical connections to starter and remove starter, remove hose clamp on clutch housing. Remove clutch actuating cylinder without disconnecting line.





Cars with two-part exhaust cross pipe
- Remove exhaust system as a unit. Unbolt flange connection between turbo-charger and exhaust pipe and flange to bypass valve. Remove securing bolts from suspension points, remove exhaust system and shield at primary muffler.





Cars with original version exhaust (one piece)
- Remove intake-air manifold,
- Remove guard for brake master cylinder.
- Remove single-part exhaust cross-pipe.
- Remove final muffler.
- Unscrew joint shafts on transmission end and suspend from car horizontally.





- Pull off wires for backup light switch.





- Pull off plug on speedometer drive.





- Push back dust cover on shift rod, remove lock wire on bolt and unscrew bolt.





- Press leather cover for shift knob out of center console carefully and push up.





- Remove mounting clamp for shift lever knob and take off knob.
- Remove circlip on shift lever.





- Turn shift lever 180°. Press down on insulation sheet and push shift rod forward into produced cavity by about 300 mm.





- Unscrew clamping sleeve screws through assembly openings and push clamping sleeve toward transmission.





- Push back protective tube through large opening in case far enough, that it is outside of the central pipe housing. Press in retainer with a large screwdriver for this purpose.
- Hold transmission and central pipe in installed position, placing proper size wooden block between cross tube and central pipe for this purpose.
- Place universal transmission jack underneath the transmission and attach strap.





- Remove transmission suspension mounting bolts.
- Remove transmission/central pipe housing mounting bolts.
- Pull back transmission and remove downward carefully.





- Remove transverse strut between body and rear-axle carrier.





- Slacken hose clamp on fuel filter and transmission carrier and remove.
- Unbolt bypass valve with holder from central tube and sliding flange and remove.
- Remove central tube/clutch housing mounting bolts (4). Slacken both suspension clamps of exhaust system, but do not remove.
- Unbolt shift lever with bearing bracket from central tube.
- Separate central tube and clutch housing, pushing selector rod to rear at the same time.





- Turn central tube clockwise through 90° and pull to rear. Note position of catch hooks.

CAUTION: Do not damage insulation for shift linkage.





- Withdraw release-lever shaft with 8 mm bolt after removing retaining bolt.
- Unbolt clutch housing from engine and remove.
- Uniformly unscrew bolts of clutch pressure plate and remove pressure plate with driven plate.