need help replacing mazda clutch

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Mon Aug 26, 2013 4:23 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

Ryan Holton wrote:

RodneyWright wrote:

Sheared a tie rod stud and I've already ruined the drivers side ball joint boot.

And I thought I was heavy handed!!!! Damn Rodney. You save yourself some trouble by replacing the entire control arm, cutting out the ball joint rivets is miserable work.

I've ordered 2 new control arms, bushings and ball joint included.

I assume that is one for each side. Or maybe you ordered two for one side in the assumption you are going to break one somehow!

Richard

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Mon Aug 26, 2013 5:31 pm

Richard Casto wrote:

RodneyWright wrote:

I've ordered 2 new control arms, bushings and ball joint included.

I assume that is one for each side. Or maybe you ordered two for one side in the assumption you are going to break one somehow!

Richard

LOL, I sure hope so. Part numbers were different at least....

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Mon Aug 26, 2013 6:56 pm

Mapp gas babyyyyy! Got one side smoking and I STILL had to beat the crap out of it. I think new bolts are in order here.... One more side to go, but the chicken on the grill are almost ready.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Mon Aug 26, 2013 8:27 pm

Other side is off and now working on removing the LCA's. Painful. Always one bolt you can't get to w/ the correct tool....

Jordan Normark · **Posted:** Mon Aug 26, 2013 8:54 pm

Glad it's coming along and all but how was the chicken?

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Mon Aug 26, 2013 10:05 pm

Jordan Normark wrote:

Glad it's coming along and all but how was the chicken?

Pam had it soaking in some lemon and garlic marinade, turned out well. Only problem nowadays is the breasts are so freaking DD in size. I mean it's like smoking a turkey breast. Sometimes smaller is better and makes it easier to cook.

JamesMilko · **Posted:** Mon Aug 26, 2013 11:00 pm

We've pretty much switched to thighs. Easier to cook, more flavor.

Jordan Normark · **Posted:** Tue Aug 27, 2013 7:34 am

I am not a fan of the gigantic breasts either, biggest is not always better. But when it comes to chicken, I prefer thighs and legs.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Tue Aug 27, 2013 10:03 pm

A little more progress made. Drained the tranny after being forewarned on some of the forums. LCA's removed and the axles are out. Next I have to remove the starter and slave cylinder. Then I need to disconnect the shifter cables and a few misc connectors. My main concern right now is making a sturdy support under the oil point so I can support the engine, remove the trans mount I just replaced and then get the tranny out of the way. May have to cut some type of wood template out so it cradles the bottom of the pan. I have my bottle jack, but allows some rocking of the motor. Maybe I can strap it down from the top or something. I don't need this thing moving side to side w/ only 1 engine support attached as I try to wrestle w/ this beast. I have a feeling I'll be spending my entire labor day laboring on this stupid thing, but hey, hopefully I'm saving myself some cash here....

jeremy gast · **Posted:** Wed Aug 28, 2013 8:01 am

If you haven't done it yet. I have an "engine hoist" that goes up on top of the fender wells to hold up the engine if you would like to borrow that???

http://www.harborfreight.com/1000-lb-ca ... 96524.html

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Wed Aug 28, 2013 9:41 am

jeremy gast wrote:

If you haven't done it yet. I have an "engine hoist" that goes up on top of the fender wells to hold up the engine if you would like to borrow that???

http://www.harborfreight.com/1000-lb-ca ... 96524.html

wow, hadn't seen those before, great idea. I have a weight bar (that I don't use) that I might be able to kludge together a support bar. If that doesn't work, I'll be giving you call to borrow...

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Thu Aug 29, 2013 12:01 pm

So here's the current condition of the car. Hope to have the clutch out and replaced by this weekend. Only issue I'm facing right now is to be able to get the flywheel resurfaced on a holiday weekend.... The engine pic shows the air box and battery box removed along w/ the ECU.

Interesting project so far....

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Thu Aug 29, 2013 12:07 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

Only issue I'm facing right now is to be able to get the flywheel resurfaced on a holiday weekend.

Why would you asssume the flywheel needs to be resurfaced? You haven't even seen it yet. When I replaced the clutch in my Miata at 120K, I just cleaned the flywheel with a Scotch-Brite pad on the end of a die-grinder. It's been just fine for the last 30K miles.

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

Agree. I didn't resurface mine as it looked to be in great shape.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Thu Aug 29, 2013 12:52 pm

I'll take that under advisement, but if I'm going thru this much trouble to replace it, makes sense to start w/ a nice machined surface so the clutch beds correctly.

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need help replacing mazda clutch

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