I'm in the process of replacing the throwout bearing and clutch fork/shaft assembly in my 1984 4-speed.

Looking in the transaxle bellhousing, the forks that move the bearing are welded onto their shaft. Since the shaft is held in place at both top and bottom, how do you remove it? (I know I must be missing something obvious here...) My only guess is to take out the bushing at the top of the shaft, to allow enough free play to lift the shaft out of the lower bushing and the slide it down at an angle past the lower bushing mount, but I can't believe that there will be enough room to wiggle the shaft out simply by removing that bushing. As well, how would you remove the upper bushing with the shaft in place?

So... For someone that has already done this, would you please clue me in? The only manual I currently have is a Haynes one, and it just doesn't cover any transaxle work other than installation/removal.

Any info appreciated.

Thanks,
Greg

Yes, thats the way to replace the shaft....Although, cutting it in half to remove it spares you the Agony of punching out the bushings with the shaft in place. Once the shaft is removed, the bushings punch out by using an old socket. Less effort is needed with the use of some heat and penetrating oil. When you replace the fork & bushings, make sure there is sufficient play(LOOSE) between bushings and fork....or it will "BIND" in the near future. If it is tight, ream or "lapp" the bushings until loose. There's a listing in the Fiero Online Service Guide http://members.nbci.com/fierov6/OSG/osg.html for this fix....good luck.
Sandy

Ah. Yes, I had contemplated cutting it, and that's what I'll do then.

Thanks for the answer and the additional info.

Use a one-piece clutch fork if you can find one. I used a welded refurbished fork from Pep Boys for $29.99 (Not a bad price) And not a bad fork either. I've been running with it for over 2 years now with no problems. And you will have to punch out the bushing to install the new one anyway. Use a socket. The fork just slides right out. I think the fork came with a new bushing also, but I can't remember. Did you follow the clutch procedure by the book? Or did you twist the transaxle to the side? Twisting it to the side saves about 6 hours off the job.

[This message has been edited by Fiero Fanatic (edited 01-19-2001).]

I think Rodney Dickman makes a tool to do that....

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2 '87 GT Projects

Thanks again.

Actually, I neither followed the book, nor used the "twist" procedure (which I'm not familiar with anyway). I needed to take care of a couple of other items as well, so I just pulled the whole engine and transaxle out.

the one piece one uses a different shaft anyway, so u have to replace it. make sure u lube it good installing it as there is no way to do it after. i did it last year when my pieced together OEM one disintegrated during some power shifting.