How do you replace the clutch on a 1997 4-cylinder GEO Prizm?

Answer 1

I am a mechanic and changing the clutch on that car is not that difficult ((for me anyway)). Well before you start doing anything I have to ask a few important questions.

1 How strong are you physically? (you will have to be strong to realign the transmission once the clutch is changed if working with home facilities.)

2 What kind of mechanical background do you have? If none don't even attempt this job. Now onward to the work part.

Be sure to read all these instructions through before you begin.

First remove the front hubcaps. Then loosen the all the lug nuts just a little. Now get out the largest breaker bar you have (3/4" drive recommended) Now break loose the drive axle hub nuts (both sides!). This will probably be incredibly difficult and you might need someone to stand on the brakes to keep the wheel from turning.Make sure the socket stays squarely on the hub nut while standing on the breaker bar.

Now raise the vehicle and support it on jackstands make sure the car is very steady.Ok now remove the lug nuts and take both the front tires off.Now your neighbors are probably eyeing you skeptically they always do that,ignore them.Ok now loosen the bolts that hold the brake calipers on,remove the caliper assembly and suspend it out of the way with a coat hanger.((((do not remove the brake lines from the calipers!!!))) Get out your steering knuckle splitter.Remove the cotter pin and take off the steering knuckle nut.Now use the splitter to separate the lower steering arm from the upper part.warning This will require lots of banging and cursing.

The steering arm that comes out of the powers steering assembly may also have to be removed in a similar fashion to the steering knuckle.To find out if you need to do that first climb under the car with a flat prybar and pop the drive axles loose from the transaxle. Now try to remove the drive axles from the car. You will have to push the end of the drive axle out of the assembly with the brake disk and wheel bearings first.Them pull it out of the transaxle and let it hang there. You will not need to remove them any further unless they get in the way. Now go inside the engine compartment and remove anything that is in the way of removing the transmission. (pretty much most of the junk in there including hoses and wiring assemblies)

Now put a jack under the engine to support it while the transmissions out.Also put a jack under the transmission this will be needed to lower it. Now break loose all the bolts holding the transmission to the engine. Then unbolt any other mounts from the transmission to the car. Remove all those suckers. Make sure to take loose the shifter linkages, fluid cooling lines (plug these since fluid will come spewing out) also remove the torque bar if present. It may also be necessary to remove part of the exhaust system to get it out of the way. Now make sure everything is loose then take out the bolst holding the engine and transmission together. Now slide the transmission away from the engine by rolling the jack. Remember this is never as easy as it sounds so that strength I asked about earlier will come in handy about now. Now lower the transmission and remove the clutch assembly from the flywheel. Also replace the throw out bearing and pilot bearing. Installation is reverse:)

Results are not guaranteed.