Weekend fun
This past weekend I finally got around to replacing the dead clutch in the Defender. The poor truck has been sitting for nearly three months. Things like a vacation, 4 weeks of illness, and then another month of crappy weekend weather kept putting it off. A couple of weeks ago I started the job and Saturday was the big day for the heavy work.
In most cars you have to drop the tranny out the bottom and you spend a lot of time on your back in the driveway. With a Defender you have an ‘easier’ option. Take it out through the top.
First, remove the seats.
Then find to 60 or so bolts holding down the seat box and transmission tunnel and remove them. Once they’re removed you see this.
Next, remove driveshafts, wiring, and clutch tubing, and hook up your friend, Mr. Engine Hoist.
Unbolt everything and with a little bit of wrestling it comes right out through the passenger door. Transmission, transfer case, and all.
This gives you easy access to the clutch.
Damn, that thing is glazed pretty bad. Attack it with a grinder to clean it up and reassemble with a new clutch plate and throwout bearing.
Now just put everything back in with the help of a friend.
Simple and easy. It’s back in the truck now. I just need to hook up driveshafts and wiring, bleed the clutch, and put a seat in for a quick test drive. All told about 8 hours of work. Now that I know how, I could probably do it in 4-5 with a friend. The book rate at the shop was 9.5 hours and with parts they quoted me $1300. I did it in a day and parts were $150. Nice little savings there which will probably go to a nice shiny Detroit Locker in the rear.