turbotuner20v

I have a MaxJax lift system in my garage that I can lift the car 45" with. I'm looking for the best setup to lower my driveline for a clutch change and any future driveline work.


This table looks pretty nice for lowering the rear subframe with the tranny/diff:

http://www.harborfreight.com/500-lb-...ble-94822.html

500lbs should be enough and the range is 9" to 27-1/4". I wish it would go a bit higher since i have the lift, but I could always lay down for the input shaft alignment and positioning part of the job.

I saw this too... it looks like a pain to adjust, but I could even just use it for the torque tube in combo w/ the table:

http://www.harborfreight.com/450-lb-...ack-39178.html

Maybe overkill though... I have a floor jack that could probably support the torque tube section fine.


Anyways... what do you guys use on your DIY driveline removal? I want to make sure I've got the right tool for the job given my medium lift capabilities.

turbotuner20v

Not sure if that 450lb table is enough, so here's this thing too:

http://www.harborfreight.com/1000-lb...art-93116.html

it lifts to 34.5" too... but it's getting a bit pricey.


If I'm going to spend that kind of money, it may make sense to go with something like this:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200318923_200318923?cm_mmc=Googl e-pla-_-Auto%20Repair-_-Jacks-_-144581&ci_sku=144581&ci_gpa=pla&ci_kw={k eyword}

but it has a minimum lift height of 34.5, which might not be enough to get everthing lowered and slide out from under the car.

tommie

I have a challenger 2 post lift at work,

and use an OTC transmission jack

http://www.google.com/products/catal...ed=0CHwQ8gIwAw

to remove the rear subframe, then i remove the diff,trans and torque tube with the trans jack also...

I use a stand like this to hold the trans/diff/TT in place when removing installing the subframe, and one on the front to help support the car on the llift

http://equiptool.com/i-365642-ranger...oot-pedal.html

I don't know if any of this info will help you at all, just wanted to share

turbotuner20v

yea, those would be much too tall for me to use.

here's what the maxjax looks like:

DanTTVette

I used this one to support the transmission for my shade tree clutch change

http://www.harborfreight.com/800-lb-...jack-3185.html



Table angle is adjustable which is handy.



Dave

bumble-z

That MaxJax is a nice looking unit.
I would suggest a tranny jack from H/freight to pull the cradle out, as it would be stable.
I would use two of the H/freight scissor jacks (1@ T/tube & 1 @ differential). You can use your 1/2" drive impact gun to lower/raise each scissor jack.
I would incorporate/bolt a larger thick piece of plywood to the flat lifting section of the tranny jack to help balance out the wide cradle.
Good luck.

turbotuner20v

Is this a good example of about how tight it was under the car using that jack?




I was looking at that one too, but the max lift height is about the same as the screw type jack pictured.

If there's a good high lift jack option that will allow me to have more space under the car, that would be ideal.

Something that could reach up to 48" and then lower down to 30" would be perfect.

bumble-z

Yes, using the scissor & tranny jacks mentioned, would require your car to be qiite low to the floor.
To get the propper jacks to do the removal/install at the higher elevations would be quite abit more expensive but well worth it.

turbotuner20v

yea... this thing looks pretty ideal:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...Product%20Page

$561 shipped though

DanTTVette

That Maxjax is pretty cool. Should make for an easier swap.

I think you can go a little higher than your piccy with this jack.

Here is where I set the rear of mine.
Going a little higher was possible but not necessary.

Plenty of room at the rear to work.
The front was supported by regular jack stands, so no real issues with space under the car.

bumble-z

H/freight also has a heavier duty tranny jack similar as the one pictured, but will lift up to 31-1/2" high. model 04075

Its_Go_Time

Too much free time on my hands.

I wish I had my own hoist. How sweet that would be.

RonSSNova

I was at Horrible Fright just today looking at jacks. I have an auto trans to R&R and it has that odd bump on the bottom of the pan so the one trans jack won't work well. I did look at a hyd motorcycle table that looks much nicer and promising. didn't check how high it lifts though.

Ron

striper

I've got a motorcycle jack made for lifting Harleys. Will it go high enough to lift the trans when doing the clutch job with the car on jackstands? I would think it could support the weight since Harleys are typically fairly heavy. There are also trans jacks that adapt to floor jacks by replacing the jack's lift pad. Anyone ever use one of those? I've got two floor jacks and the bike jack. I've also got two sets of 4 jackstands. Am I equipped enough? Am I crazy attempting this on the garage floor or should I just pay a shop to do the clutch swap? I've done every bit of work and mods on my car myself and it's killing me to have to pay someone a grand to work on it. Time is more available than cash, but I'm not positive about spending so much time on the garage floor. Experienced opinions, please, from those who've done it themselves?

RonSSNova

I'm in the same boat save for the automatic. And one way ot the other I'm doing it on the garage floor. At this point, I have no choice.

Ron

striper

Another part of my dilemma is my car is no longer driveable. I'd have to flatbed it to where I'm considering having it done if I don't do it myself. Then I need to get there to pick it up when finished. It's more than 2 hours away so I'd also possibly have to rent a car one-way to pick it up.

johnson-rod

I used several jacks:

a rolling motorcycle lift rated to 1500lbs for the rear and cradle
a rolling two ton floor jack for the transmission (M6)
a 10 ton truck hydraulic jack for the torque tube
a pinto jack to hold the engine

The motorcycle jack and floor jack were chained together so I could pull them back as one. The truck jack had two greased 2X4s between it and the torque tube so it would slide. The pinto jack held the engine in place at one angle. It made putting it back easier.
All of this was done on a 4X8 sheet of plywood so they would roll easily.

johnson-rod

OMG. I've got wood!

bumble-z

Believe me, Tom (It's Go Time), removed his drive train in his VERY SMALL garage (floor) not in all that snow.

However he did use his ingenius drive train apparatus.
That system allows every thing to stay togeather & remove every thing as one, once the cradle is out.

Nice design & work Tom.

johnson-rod

You have everything you need, Grasshopper. Print out Dope's clutch dissertation and go to it. It will be over before you know it.