How To: Vanagon Clutch Replacement
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- Опубліковано 29 сер 2024
- In this video we show you how to remove your transmission, remove the old clutch, explain how all of the parts work, and install a new clutch.
We also cover the throwout bearing as well as maintenance on the cross shaft in the transmission.
Buslab Clutch Kit for Vanagon:
www.buslab.com...
Harbor Freight Bearing Puller:
www.harborfrei...
#clutch #vanlife #t3
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I just finished replacing the clutch cross shaft bushing on my 1988 Westy. I don’t think I could have completed the job without your video. Your instructions were very helpful. Many thanks.
Glad it helped!
nate
Thank you so much. Incredibly helpful! I feel more confident in my transmission renovation project! :)
Glad we can help!
nate
Even though my bus is an automatic I watched this whole video haha! Great work my friend
Thanks Jack! Some of the transmission removal parts are the same! Thanks for watching
Nate
As always thank you so much for taking the time to do these videos! Your tutorials are so well organized and presented with practical advice. I just did this a year ago to rebuild and upgrade our trans for the Bostig conversion and I still learned some new tricks from you.
Thanks Matt! How do you like the Bostig?
nate
@@ThatBaldwinLife I'm very happy with the power and simplicity of the motor, however we've had some work to do sorting issues with the conversion. I didn't do the conversion so it's been a learning curve for me. Biggest issue has been engine temperature control. We live in Utah so every drive seems to consist of a 3-4,000 foot climb and it runs in the 220-245 degree range often. I added a a Blazecut system and it activated on the first drive and we weren't anywhere close to overheating. I think it just runs hotter than many other setups. I've replaced everything in the coolant system except the radiator, which I was told is new, so you know what is being replaced next! I hope we see you at Syncro Solstice this year!
Nate, thanks, these videos are fantastic. We have a 1990 Syncro up the road from you in Spokane and your videos have me motivated to do more of my own maintenance. It all started with rebuilding my half shafts after watching you make it look easy. Keep up the great work and please keep sharing your techniques. I’m at best a journeyman mechanic and seeing you do your maintenance without a full blown fancy garage is awesome. And of course, keep taking that beautiful van into the backcountry. See you out there! -Ryan
🙏🏻 Thank you for the kind words! So glad more people are taking the time to work on their own Vanagons. Nice work!
You plan on going to Syncrofest? We are going to try and make it down this year.
Nate
Excellent valuable video! I do all my wrenching, but i opted to pay my local classic car guru shop to do my clutch. It cost me over 2k! He also didnt get the shifting shaft aligned properly so I had to make those adjustments when I got it home so it would shift properly. After watching your video I feel confident I could take this on next time.
That's a big chunk of change for a clutch. You could have bought the clutch kit, an ATV jack, really nice torque wrench, and the flywheel lock and still had $1500 to left to spend! You can definitely do this!
nate
Clear and concise tutorial on replacing the clutch. I much appreciated your straightforward commentary. No jokes, no tangents, just straight ahead talk about the steps and techniques needed to do this job. Much appreciated. Well done.
Thanks!
nate
about to do my first clutch job on my vanagon.. thanks for the vid... awsome as aways, the way you talk and explain is SOOOO helfpul, i'm a visually learner and you make this so easy
Glad we could help. Just take your time and assure it all goes back together as you took it apart. Torque to spec and be safe!
nate
Awesome! Now come to Maine and help me do mine. It's nice to see it done with really good lighting so the process is easy to follow. Thank you for taking the time to do and share!
Man I would love to get out to Maine. Well maybe not in the winter! 😄
Nate
I’m in Maine too! Just bought my first westy!
Congrats on the Westy Jack! Sounds like we need to get out to Maine
Nate
@@ThatBaldwinLife yes you do!! Check out the Bold Coast!
man.
you got all the right shots
this video was awesome. please do more.
subscribed.
Thanks!
Nate
Haha I remember in 1995 or so my dad and I tried to remount an engine to the transmission on an T2 aircooled bus. The angle was totally wrong and the splines too, which my dad didn't realize. Took us hours! Strange because my dad was good with cars but his brain must have clicked this one time. and I, being 15, had no idea, I was just helping.
Funny story as I had a very similar one when I was 14. My dad and I had to swap an engine in an old Datsun and it took us hours to get the splines lined up to mate the engine and transmission. Learned a lot that weekend!
nate
wow great video. Ive been wait for a comprehensive transmission removal video for years. I wonder how different this would be for a Syncro
Thanks. It wouldn’t be too different. Of course you would have the driveline to deal with as well as the locker actuator to disconnect.
Nate
Thanks Nate - your timing is impeccable. I was just getting ready to try to do the clutch on my 86 Westy, but this was uncharted territory for me. Your video gave me the confidence to get in there. Now I am almost done. Just wanted to add a comment in case someone is struggling with the pilot bearing. I also used the HF Slide Hammer, but couldn't get the small silver tips to hold the back of the bearing. Instead, I switched to the smaller of the 2 sets of black grabbers, which I inserted first, then attached to the bracket. Worked perfectly. I appreciate you taking the time to make this video, and all the others. Happy trails, Bob
Awesome! Glad you got it all together Bob, nice work! My puller almost slipped out but did grab at the last second. Good tip on the other attachments.
nate
Great video Nate! Always impressed with your Vanagon, and see little details here and there during your videos. Like, who else still has the rubber plug on the transaxle bell housing?
Probably not many have that still and I love that you notice that! Thanks for watching
Nate
Love these kind of DIY videos and I'm sure lots of others do too.... I was looking for a video from you, thanks.....
Hoping to get as much info out there so people can keep these vans on the road. Vanagon mechanics are fading out so people will need to learn to work on them. Thanks for watching!
Nate
Thank you for another GREAT video!!!
You’re welcome!
Nate
Thanks for your vids. I hope that they provide you a similar benefit to those of us who watch. Just 10 months have passed and the price of the clutch kit has increased by $40!
Wow, what a price jump! Glad the vids help out and we are happy to help give back to the community.
Nate
Great work, you make it look easy. I've only done mechanic-ing out of necessity and that has not made me very keen on it, although the feeling of accomplishment is great afterwards.
Thanks, it really is just taking time and doing things step by step. I just like being able to work on my own cars and if something happens on the road, if I have the part (or can get it) I know if can fix it. Gives us some peace of mind driving these old VW’s
Nate
Thanks for your videos. They are really helpful. I have a syncro and I think the main difference would be the shaft at the end of the transmission. Greetings from Denmark. Ian
Yeah the rear mounts and driveline would be the biggest differences. Thanks!
Nate
Great video. My release shaft just snapped, so I’m going in to replace the clutch and all the goods.
Hopefully I don’t find any surprises!
Thanks!
Should be pretty straight forward. Good luck!
Nate
Thank you for sharing your experience.
You bet!
nate
thank you so much for the video
You are welcome!
Nate
Awesome video, thanks so much for the info.
Glad we could help!
nate
You work clean that's all
Thanks!
Nate
Super thanks for you bro
You’re welcome!
Nate
Nice video thanks. Did you reuse the CV bolts or fit new ones.
I reused the CV bolts. As long as the heads are not stripped out, they should be fine to reused. Just make sure you have the serrated washers on and torqued properly.
Nate
I know who to call now! Remember mating that Datsun motor to tranny? Wasn't that smooth.
Oh I remember that vividly! Still happens once in a while. This one went pretty easy.
Thanks so much for doing this video. I am getting ready to do this job and this will be the deepest that I have gone into an engine or transmission before. I have already replaced the starter earlier this year. It was easy to get out but very difficult to get both the new bushing and the new starter in. It looked to me like you disconnected the solenoid but didn't remove the starter. Is that correct? Other instructions that I have researched said to remove the starter. I would rather not if possible. Thanks, Nate!
No need to remove the starter. Just disconnect the wiring to it but just be sure to disconnect your battery first.
nate
Nate can you provide a link for the flywheel locking tool?@@ThatBaldwinLife
I actually bought it at a local VW shop but they are available online as well. Just search VW flywheel lock tool
Nate
Hi, excelent video, need to do this job as we speak and the garage is telling they are fully book till end august!! can I ask you how long can this job take if all goes exactly as expected? from the video it just look sooo easy!
I can have it done in less than three hours if I'm pushing it. Easily in one day. Just have the right tools available. Good jack for the transmission. Torque wrench. Puller for pilot bearing. Correct 8mm triple square bit for CV joint bolts.
Sometimes the hardest part is lining the transmission and engine up and getting the input shaft aligned with the clutch splines. Just take your time and don't force it.
One thing to pay attention to is when you remove the flywheel to replace the pilot bearing, assure the shims behind the flywheel are not disturbed. There are a few shims and on top (facing you) is the thrust shim. If they fall out/down, place them back in that order and put a little wheel bearing grease on them so they do not fall or move during the flywheel install. Those shims along with the flywheel torque set your crankshaft end play. Very important.
nate
@@ThatBaldwinLife thank you! will print the comment you sent me and get ready with the tools.
Great video
Is it transmission jack ?
Or trolley jack for motorcycle
Yes it is an ATV jack I purchased off of Craigslist. Best transmission jack around!
nate
When you say to reverse the process to install, I’m thinking about the CV joints. The torque should be 33 foot pounds if I am correct. Do you clean the bolts up really good and use thread lock? The bolts are easy to clean. It’s the threads that I struggle with.
By the way, great video! I hope you make many more.
Yes, 33 ft lbs is right. I just make sure the bolt threads are clean and torque down then recheck torque in a hundred miles or so.
Great video! I have been following this to replace my clutch in my 1990 Vanagon without the kitchen. I am at the stage where we are re installing the transmission. Unfortunately the transmission is snug with the engine but the holes don’t line up with the part that bolts to the frame. We think the passenger side cvc joint is causing this. Any tips or tricks? Thanks for the video stupid helpful!
Sorry for the late reply, we were on the road for a few weeks! Did you get this sorted? The CV joint should not cause this as it can move in all directions.
nate
@@ThatBaldwinLife thanks for the reply. We eventually got it back together but now it won’t stay running. Noticed we split the oil cooler hose during re install of all parts. I ordered a replacement one and it’ll be here soon to see if that’s the issue. Would this cause it to stop running?
The oil cooler will not cause it to not run. Look to see if any sensor or wire was unclipped during the install. Did you plug the AFM back in?
nate
@@ThatBaldwinLife is there a better way to communicate? I replaced the oil cooler hose and it didn’t fix it. The AFM is plugged in and I believe working. The van wants to start it’s just not staying running. Love to send you a video to see if you know a solution
You can hit me up at out email address under the About tab on our page.
nate
OK. That was intimidating! I'm looking at two 1999 Eurovans. One has 103K for $22k, one has 188k. for $18k. Neither have had their transmissions replaced. Any advice?
Eurovans are a totally different animal than the Vanagon. Assume both are automatics? I would have them inspected and get the one with the most maintenance records. Rebuilding a Eurovan transmission is not inexpensive so do your due diligence.
nate
When you remove that gearbox-lever-connection , can it go wrong when reassembling? Like the adjustment going to hell.
The connection on the transmission is not really adjustable so it can be taken off without adjustment. The adjustment is in the splines where the two shift rods connect.
nate
Hello, I have a 1986 Vanagon Syncro. I seem to be getting slipping especially on the highway. I am thinking that it is likely my friction plate. I have very little issue when driving around town but the slightest acceleration on the highway will raise my RPM’s without acceleration. I’m assuming your van is 2WD. I’d like to farm this out but it looks like I may have to do the repair because no one in my area is willing to work on my van. Any tips if I have to take this on myself?
Sounds like it could be the clutch slipping during acceleration. It could also have some oil on the clutch disc causing the slippage so be prepared to fix any leak on the rear main or input shaft on the transmission.
No real tips other than what’s in the video. Good torque wrench, locking tool, and Loctite is all you really need. Syncro is the same except you need to remove the drive shaft and the rear mounts are a bit different.
Nate
Hi Nate. Thanks for another informative video. Can you advise where to buy a flywheel lock tool? thanks, Michael
We picked ours up at a local VW parts shop but I’m sure you can get them online.
Nate
What was the orange tube that you used on the flywheel bolts?
Loctite
nate
Nice video ! Do you have sent the flywheel in machine shop to remove the burnt parts ?
Since my flywheel was relatively new, I just used some brake cleaner and scotchbrite to clean it up. If your flywheel is old or of unknown condition, it is good practice to have it resurfaced.
Nate
Thanks for the answer and great content ! :)
Do you have any suggestions for sourcing a good flywheel ? Nice quality and durability
Do you have any suggestions for sourcing a good flywheel ? Nice quality and durability
Do you have any suggestions for sourcing a good flywheel ? Nice quality and durability
Also, where did you get that flywheel lock tool?
I picked it up from a local VW parts place. Most online places sell them as well.
nate
How long did it take?
Without filming I can have it done in around 3 hours or so.
nate
Last time I did it was replacing the engine, not pulling the trans!
Easier to do with the engine out that’s for sure!
Nate
@@ThatBaldwinLife Your trans axle method looked easier. I left the trans axle in place and had to do a complete engine swap, which was a lot of work. I reused the clutch that came with the used engine and it's been holding up for five years. Recent 6400 mile transcontinental trip.
Yeah an engine swap is quite involved. Clutches usually last a long time unless you abuse them like we did. And as you saw, it didn't look that bad. I think the pressure plate was giving up a bit bu the clutch disc was pretty good. But it is a good idea to change them all out at the same time.
nate
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I don't come cheap