Punto (Mk1) changing a clutch

[ccharlieweazel]

good evening
helping a mate andin trouble. in merrow near guildford, tried to start to change his cluth today and could not get themain wheelhub nut removed. 32 mm. how difficult is this job and can it be done in the driveway with spanners.

 

[fingers99]

Don't remove the hubnut.

Pop the car on axle stands at the front. My guess is you've got the Haynes, so I'll not go into the stuff it describes, but if you remove the wheels, remove the two bottom strut bolts each side and undo the inner clip of each inner CV joint (you can replace later either with new clips or big tie wraps) you'll have just enough room to pull the inner CV joints away from the "cups" (put a plastic bag over the end of the driveshafts to keep muck out of the bearing) -- just tug on the hubs.

Then proceed as per the Haynes.

It can be done on driveway/street. With spanners if you must, but socket set is so much better and easier. The gearbox is surprisingly heavy, so an extra pair of hands (or an engine crane, or a transmission jack) is very useful.

 

[fingers99]

Just to add, fitted properly the nut is staked into the driveshaft. If you're determined to do it that way, first, use a punch or a cold chisel to drift out the staking. With the wheel on, someone sitting in the car with the brakes on, and all wheels on the ground you can use a 32mm socket, a breaker bar, and a length of tubing (scaffold tubing is ideal, but in the past I've used exhaust tubing), you can free off the nut. Don't attempt to do this with the car on axle stands or a jack -- chances are you'll pull it off the stands!

Generally the nut is so fubar afterwards that it can't be re-staked, so use a new one.

 

[s and b]

don't overtighten the clutch diaphragm bolts they are very weak