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My gearbox died on the way to the East London meet, she now whines like buggery, drawing attention for all the wrong reasons. When I got home (eventually) I popped the bonnet to have a listen. When the car is stationery in neutral, you can hear the whining, as soon as you press the clutch, it stops completely. Would you say this is the clutch release bearing rather than the gearbox. Also, if I do it myself, how easy is it to drop the box??

its definetly the gearbox same thing happened me another few miles and it wont drive at all! had to fork out £250 for a new gearbox and another £150 on getting it fitted plus a few other things

Its not an extremely hard job to do, you do however need to make sure you support the engine well when you take the box off. Your best off having a couple mates help you out when you do it.

Just make sure you do the following:

undo the drive shafts from the box,
undo the shifter cables,
MAKE SURE you cut the battery live before undoing the 12mm bolt holding the starter motor live on...undo the 3 bolts holding the starter on,
theres a rear mount on the box which attaches to the subframe...undo this one.
support the engine properly...have a few helpers hold bits...

undo the gearbox mount and the 6 bolts holding the box to the engine.

Make sure the reverse light switch is unhooked from the front of the box,
make sure the speed sensor plug is undone towards the rear of the box,
and lastly make sure the clutch cable is undone from the arm on the top of the box.

you might have to use a crow bar or large flat head to prise the box from the engine and a bit of wiggling and 30mins later! it should angle out of the car.

release bearing is a peace of p*** to replace, but i'd replace the clutch at the same time! its a lot easier and will save you the hassle removing the box again!

dubbprince wrote:Its not an extremely hard job to do, you do however need to make sure you support the engine well when you take the box off. Your best off having a couple mates help you out when you do it.

Just make sure you do the following:

undo the drive shafts from the box,
undo the shifter cables,
MAKE SURE you cut the battery live before undoing the 12mm bolt holding the starter motor live on...undo the 3 bolts holding the starter on,
theres a rear mount on the box which attaches to the subframe...undo this one.
support the engine properly...have a few helpers hold bits...

undo the gearbox mount and the 6 bolts holding the box to the engine.

Make sure the reverse light switch is unhooked from the front of the box,
make sure the speed sensor plug is undone towards the rear of the box,
and lastly make sure the clutch cable is undone from the arm on the top of the box.

you might have to use a crow bar or large flat head to prise the box from the engine and a bit of wiggling and 30mins later! it should angle out of the car.

release bearing is a peace of p*** to replace, but i'd replace the clutch at the same time! its a lot easier and will save you the hassle removing the box again!

Cheers for this, I have been quoted £350.00 for a recon with 12 months warranty, £50 delivery, £80 surcharge. I am planning on also replacing the release bearing and clutch, like you said will save me removing the box again.

Muchos GrassyArse

How did it all go? Getting the box back on can be a pain unless it's perfectly in line.

"As it appens", my bro in laws mate is a mechanic. He knows someone who can rebuild the box, plus labour and parts for £300.00, reeeeesult. All I gotta do i get the box off, said brother in laws mate is helping me at the weekend, so she'll be back on the road in no time.