Sacre bleu!le merde francais est kaput.. assistance, sil vous plait..juicy Renault content..

[320touring]

So, with 4.5 cars between us, the burd and I had one fully functional and legal motah-her Clio 172. At least this was the case until 6.13pm this evening..

 

At that time, the good lady rang to say that the Clio was reluctant to select gears and making a rattly squeek.

 

As I sauntered* up to the multi story carpark I prayed for a complete gearbox.

 

Happily it looks and sounds like the release bearing has failed-the rattly squeek departs when the clutch pedal is up.

 

A new Luk clutch is 90, so not too bad. Where I need help from you lot is in the following areas..

 

1. Any hints or tips for doing a fwd clutch (i'm a BMW boy at heart). as far as I can see, stripping off the pass side front then seperating the box gives enough room to do the clutch-but any Clio specific pointers would be great

 

2. Any recommendations of capable garages in/around Glasgow you'd trust with the work (if I can get a decent price I may get someone else to tackle it)

 

3. Anyone got any covered area I cous rent off them if I was doing the work?my unit is 130 mile round trio from here and I'd rather avoid towing it there if I could.

 

Thanks in advance!

As usual, last weekend I stripped the e30 for painting, and its not taxed/insured. I win at reliable cars:)

[320touring]

No one?

:(this place ain't like it used to be

[catsinthewelder]

I can't help on local knowledge but I used to have a Megane of similar vintage (though I never touched the clutch).  Expect 16mm and 18mm nuts and bolts, they start appearing just at the point that you've taken too much off to drive to the motor factors to buy a 16mm and 18mm spanner to undo them.

[320touring]

I can't help on local knowledge but I used to have a Megane of similar vintage (though I never touched the clutch). Expect 16mm and 18mm nuts and bolts, they start appearing just at the point that you've taken too much off to drive to the motor factors to buy a 16mm and 18mm spanner to undo them.

Good knowledge, cheers!thankfully my ownership of the inferior e36 has trained me to have odd sized bolt and nut capability

[meggersdog]

Both driveshafts will have to come off so front suspension dismantle on both sides.(usually 15mm not 16mm ).Depending on how much room there is sometimes leaving the 'shafts in the gearbox and just removing the suspension end means you don't end up with gear oil everywhere.Due to electronic, and therefore plastic, speedo drives I always remove them before attempting to remove the 'box.Same with the reverse switch if it looks easy enough to catch break on the chassis rail.

Never worked on a 172 so these are just general FWD tips.

[320touring]

Both driveshafts will have to come off so front suspension dismantle on both sides.(usually 15mm not 16mm ).Depending on how much room there is sometimes leaving the 'shafts in the gearbox and just removing the suspension end means you don't end up with gear oil everywhere.Due to electronic, and therefore plastic, speedo drives I always remove them before attempting to remove the 'box.Same with the reverse switch if it looks easy enough to catch break on the chassis rail.

Never worked on a 172 so these are just general FWD tips.

Thanks for that- I'm wondering if I can get away with just pulling the gearbox away from the engine and swapping the clutch without actually removing the box from the car..

 

or do we reckon it'll be a "gearbox all the way off" job?

[320touring]

best of luck to you with this one ... did a clutch on a saxo VTR the other month with a friend! we managed to do it without taking the driveshafts off of the hubs, just released them from the gearbox ( if that makes any sense to you)!

take the gearbox out is easier imho

Cheers!

I was hoping it'd just be gearbox end for the driveshafts-that way the suspension/hubs etc can come off in one piece. removing the gearbox at the roadside could be no fun, whereas if I can get enough room to slot the clutch in, then less subframe/steering rack hassle..

 

Moar investimagation and pictures needed methinks

[Talbotman]

Doing the clutch on these is a bit of a knuckle buster,it's very very tightly packed in the engine bay...and you might just have to lower the subframe for clearance to get the box out.

[stuboy]

my advice

 

 

 

pay a garage

[Station]

I would also pay a garage. There is no such thing as an easy clutch change (unless you own a 80s90s Vauxhall).

If you are going to do it yourself, make it easier by draining the fluid and removing the driveshafts - if you're methodical with these jobs, they're straight forward. You'll end up in a right twizz if you're going to find an easier route leaving stuff on.