BMW 3-Series – How to Replace the Clutch
By Charles on Mar 20, 2011 with Comments 0
The BMW 3-Series is known for its exclusivity. It is the hottest thing out in the markets. It shines and sparkles in your showrooms and in your garages. Like most prized symbols of power, wealth and aristocracy, its glamour needs to be retained and preserved. One of the hassles is the problem of clutch. The sophisticated systems of the car frequently make the clutch replacement an excruciating task. However, if you keep your wits steady and persevere in your efforts, then you can actually make the cut. It may be difficult but not impossible. So, gear up for some technical and practical methods that you can apply in solving the problems of the clutch in the BMW 3-Series sedan. Here are some of them.
Getting Started….
The problems with clutches are that their difficulties occur without warning. Most of the time, you would be confused about the slave cylinders. They will work fine, even as the intrinsic mechanisms of clutches fail to bite the bullet. Which means that, you have to sneak in your way into the innards of the clutch, find the problem and fix it? Firstly, switch off the engines and the battery. Then, begin unscrewing the engines and the wheel transmissions, by removing those obstinate bolts and nuts. Be sure to use the advanced tools and drivers, such as Torx Socket Set or other hardy tools that will help you to decipher the labyrinth of the nuts and screws.
Once you have cleared off the slave cylinders, you can detach the rest of the transmission, though it will cost you some pains and agonies. The next step is to work closely on the clutch systems. The first procedure is to get rid of the pressure plates of the clutches. Use your nifty and smart screwdrivers and extract the plates. Do so slowly and patiently. Once you have done that, you can go forward in the replacement.
The Helpful Kit
The Super Clutch Kit will be of great help in unscrewing the rest of the clutch devices. The Kit contains many smart tools and screwdrivers to belt out the devices. The easiest to remove is the flywheel. Its bolts can be removed by a basic wrench or pliers. You can now fix the pivots of the clutch. Once you have done this, your work is half done. You can remove the throw-out-bearing and replace it with a new one, which can be attached to the transmission.
You will now start restoring your normal engine and transmission settings, back to normal. You can plug in back the headlamp lights and the other parts of the transmission by screwing them tightly. To keep the tricky parts smooth, you can lubricate it with some basic grease.
The Flywheel Job
The final and the most important job are of fixing the new flywheel. Make sure you discard the old, battered nuts and bolts and use new nuts for pinning the flywheel in place. The new flywheel will require a new pilot bearing as well. This has to be inserted, slowly and cautiously by gently hammering the device into the crux of the flywheel. You can now break the old seal of the flywheel and replace it with a new one.
You have to install the new flywheel in the engine of the car by aligning it with the new pressure plates. Once you have done these things, screw them up tightly with the jacked up transmission. Then, connect the entire bulk back into the car, using new bolts and nuts. Your clutch replacement is done!
Admittedly, repairing the clutch of any car is tedious. And if that car is the smart and suave BMW 3-Series sedan, the process can be quite baffling. But, when there is a will, there is a way. Just avoid silly mistakes and errors that can damage the machinery and do everything patiently and relaxingly.
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Filed Under: Car Tuning • Guides/DIY
