HELP!!! Taking out my Cabby's tranny. I'm lost!

My88Tortugo · Post by **My88Tortugo** » Tue May 23, 2006 10:24 pm

My tranny went out and I have no idea what I'm doing!!! Please help!!! I went on a short 3 hour road trip and noticed a whining noise as I was pulling into the drive. The next morning I left for work. I made it about ten miles, heard a "pop", and then my car stalled and pissed transmission fluid all over the HWY. It's now sitting on jack stands in my buddies garage. He is a transmission teck for Ford Motors but the VW is very foreign to him. I should probably mention that my car is an '88 Cabby. I don't have much money but I have to get it fixed ASAP. We tried to follow the steps in the Chiltons manual but it's very vague.
I think I may have just blown a seal but I won't know until I figure out how to get the tranny out. I'm stuck on the step where I'm supposed to take the axles out. Do I really need to take off the hub nut? Cuz I've been told that's a real pain and almost impossible to put back on as tight as it needs to be. I'm basically asking for someone to talk me through this step by step and diagrams would be awsome. Anyone???

Post by **Briano1234** » Tue May 23, 2006 11:19 pm

first is it an auto or manual tranny we can go from there...

each is different..

I have owned both and have had both out I just need to know so I can give you the proper play by play

speedtek · Post by **speedtek** » Wed May 24, 2006 1:13 am

you don't have to pull the axles completely to yank a tranny (std or auto), but you will have to unbolt the six 12-point serrated hex bolts (8mm 12-point tool, btw) on the inner of each axle and then support the axles with wire so they aren't hanging on the outer CV joint. From the description of the problem I take it you have an automatic tranny?
Putting the tranny back in may require you to remove the passenger side axle completely and possibly both. It's no big deal, 30mm socket on a 2 and a half foot breaker bar....give it a good sharp kick and it will break loose no prob. installation requires 175 lb/ft of torque, but you can apply that easily with the same bar. I just torque the crap out of it until it's too hard to turn and then check it against my 150 lb/ft limited toque wrench. I peg it to the 150 reading and then give it a good extra "heave-ho".......... close enough for government work.

CalAltaDubber · Post by **CalAltaDubber** » Wed May 24, 2006 2:39 pm

speedtek wrote: It's no big deal, 30mm socket on a 2 and a half foot breaker bar....give it a good sharp kick and it will break loose no prob. installation requires 175 lb/ft of torque, but you can apply that easily with the same bar. I just torque the crap out of it until it's too hard to turn and then check it against my 150 lb/ft limited toque wrench. I peg it to the 150 reading and then give it a good extra "heave-ho".......... close enough for government work.

White knuckles and back off 1/2 turn!

Post by **Briano1234** » Wed May 24, 2006 3:33 pm

For an auto tranny you don't have to remove the axle on the drivers side,just wire it up out of the way.

I removed the drivers side mount bracket it gives you an extra 2.5 inches of clearance.

Also Tie the Torque convertor back, use the holes on the opposite sides of the bell housing to keep that sucker seated.. Trust me on that one...

Going back you have to make sure that you have 1 13/64 inches from the button of the torque convertor to the edge of the bell housing...

I use a 5 foot cheater bar, and the umpf to get the nut loose is the umpf that I put them back on with....

My88Tortugo · Post by **My88Tortugo** » Wed May 24, 2006 4:31 pm

it is an automatic. let me get the six hex bolts off and go from there. Thanks for your help guys! I'm sure I'll be back with more questions very soon. Hopefully I won't have to post my car for parts through this

My88Tortugo · Post by **My88Tortugo** » Thu May 25, 2006 2:19 am

I'm having trouble finding any 12 point torques bit. Any suggestions? I'm in SD, Cali.

Post by **Briano1234** » Thu May 25, 2006 9:21 am

My88Tortugo wrote:I'm having trouble finding any 12 point torques bit. Any suggestions? I'm in SD, Cali.

NAPA has them... but they are inserts to a wrench.
Cornwell tools
Snapon
MAC Tools

sixsracing · Post by **sixsracing** » Thu May 25, 2006 9:28 am

For ease of identification don't call them torx wrenches. They are technjcally called serrated wrenches. Both Lisle and KB bubble pack them and they can be had almost anywhere if you call them by their name. Most of these guys behind the counter know as much or less than you do about tools, every little bit helps.

Post by **Briano1234** » Thu May 25, 2006 9:45 am

http://napaonline.com/MasterPages/NOLMa ... ted+Wrench

1lowcab · Post by **1lowcab** » Thu May 25, 2006 11:23 am

autozone has them also.

My88Tortugo · Post by **My88Tortugo** » Thu May 25, 2006 7:38 pm

Thanks guys! I found the tool. I'll be out of town for the holidays and back to work on my car Monday. I'm sure you'll here from me that night. Everybody have a good one!! And try not to drink more than me

(b)

Post by **Briano1234** » Thu May 25, 2006 8:30 pm

Be sure to clean out yout screws with brake clean, then insert the tool and tap it home with a smack or two from a hammer.

It has to be seated firmly in the socket or you will strip the heads.

My88Tortugo · Post by **My88Tortugo** » Thu May 25, 2006 11:52 pm

Got it. Thanx. I'll let you know how it goes.

My88Tortugo · Post by **My88Tortugo** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 11:48 pm

You guys are a life saver! Got the axles very easily. What now?