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Clutch Replacement.

Clutch Replacement.
J

jafo

Old Time Jeeper
Posts
1,305
Thanks
5
Location
Blue Springs, Missouri
Vehicle(s)
1979 CJ7. 304 V8 3 speed.
Jeep needs a clutch. I priced it out at several places and they all came in about the same price. Too high for me. So I'm considering tackling this myself. I've done heavy line work before but never mest with clutches. Watched a few videos and it seems straight forward.

Is there in particular aspect when it comes to Jeeps I should pay attention to?
 
Oh and I guess I should describe whats going on. I notice when taking off from a stop the engine doesn't really engage like it should. Engine will rev but the jeep slowly increases speed. It just doesn't take off like it should. It feels like it slips. So figured it was needing a clutch. Is there any adjustment to these clutches? 1979 CJ7 with a AMC 304 cid.
 
Yes there is, 1" to 1 1/4" freeplay is what you want. There is an adjustment location on the clutch linkage near the bell housing underneath.
 
Torxhead said:
Yes there is, 1" to 1 1/4" freeplay is what you want. There is an adjustment location on the clutch linkage near the bell housing underneath.
Click to expand...

OK. tell me if this sounds right to you. I think what I'm looking for is more pressure between the flywheel and clutch disk right? Or taking pressure off the clutch fork to gain the pressure between the flywheel and clutch plate. So in order to gain more pressure, you would back off the barrel nut on the linkage a few turns right? If you adjust the barrel nut in, it would engage the fork more correct?

Where do you measure the free play? At the pedal or at a point on the linkage?
 
At the pedal. This goes again some others, but this is the way my local CJ parts dealer does it. While under the CJ, with the wheels blocked and the thing out of gear, back off the adjustment until you can't feel the fork vibrating with the clutch finger contact. This ensures clutch linkage wear isn't getting in the way of a proper adjustment. You don't want your throw out bearing in contact with the pressure plate fingers.

Running with the clutch slipping will destroy your clutch in a hurry. ... along with the throw out bearing.

Clutches will vary widely in price.
 
jafo said:
Is there in particular aspect when it comes to Jeeps I should pay attention to?
Click to expand...
I've got a personal philosophy when it comes to fixing stuff. Especially when the fix involves removing a lot of parts to get to the bad stuff. Do it all, do it right, because it's a royal PITA to have to re-do it.

Get the flywheel resurfaced. Inspect the ring gear for wear/tear. Replace the pilot bearing. Get a LuK clutch. Replace the throw out bearing. Good time to inspect the drive shaft u-joints and slip joints.

Although it's a job that can be done solo, I'd try and get someone to help out. You are removing a few heavy weight items: Transmission /Tcase. You don't want that dropping on you. A good jack is a must if you're doing this on your back.
 
Jafo. if you have noticeable slippage at the clutch, with the correct adjustment, then you might want to plan for a replacement. There are a few tricky items to look out for like the Transmission spline must be aligned with the clutch itself to fit in correctly. Those Transmission mounting holes in the bell housing are only cast aluminum, so be careful there, and the pivot ball inside the bell housing.
 
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Make sure you put a block under the back of the engine to keep it from rocking back and the fan hitting the radiator.
LG
 
Well. Rolling around under the jeep looking at the clutch adjustment and figuring out whats what, guess what I came across. I noticed the shadow of one of the bolts that attach the Transmission body to the bell housing and seen a gap between the bolt head and the mounting ear of the Transmission . Makes me wonder, so I look at the upper bolt on that side and it's even more loose. I took the lower bolt had and I could take it out with my fingers. That loose. I'm thinking before I do anything else, I'm going to go over every bolt on the bell housing and Transmission mounting ears. I'm also wondering when whoever done the engine, if they used locktite on the pressure plate. I wonder if thats also loose. I got some issues to look into before any adjustments or clutch install. May not be anything wrong with the clutch if it's loose. Doesn't make any noise though.
 
I hope to be wrong for your sake, but think about this a minute. There could be a LOT of damage caused by a lose Transmission /bell housing. A lot of pressure on the pilot bearing. Damage to the clutch disk spline, damage to the input shaft, bearing retainer and main Transmission bearing.

You might get lucky, then again .......
 
Put a wrench on every bolt/nut you see from one end of the Jeep to the other!
LG
 
Hedgehog said:
I hope to be wrong for your sake, but think about this a minute. There could be a LOT of damage caused by a lose Transmission /bell housing. A lot of pressure on the pilot bearing. Damage to the clutch disk spline, damage to the input shaft, bearing retainer and main Transmission bearing.

You might get lucky, then again .......
Click to expand...

I'll go with getring lucky. I really think personally the clutch still needs replacing. But damn, it looks.like they have been this way for some time. What you say could still be true. We'll find out when the new clutch goes in. I'm leaving the adjustment alone and going to spend my time checking bolts.
 
I had the exact same thing on a '85 I had awhile back. Hopefully you caught it quick. Mine was driven around like that awhile and wheeled pretty hard. The movement of the Transmission destroyed the pilot bushing along with the main shaft bearings. The clutch was shot and the throw out bearing beat. Mine made all sorts of noise . I'd drop the Transmission and check everything if I were you. I doubt tightening the Transmission is going to fix your problem.
 
Petescj said:
I had the exact same thing on a '85 I had awhile back. Hopefully you caught it quick. Mine was driven around like that awhile and wheeled pretty hard. The movement of the Transmission destroyed the pilot bushing along with the main shaft bearings. The clutch was shot and the throw out bearing beat. Mine made all sorts of noise . I'd drop the Transmission and check everything if I were you. I doubt tightening the Transmission is going to fix your problem.
Click to expand...


Luckily, no noise. It really hadn't been driven hard I don't think.

I did find out one thing. The on the top bolt, the threads in the bell housing are stripped out. No tightening that down. So I'm at the point now I have talked myself into doing the clutch myself. I have watched a few videos and it looks pretty straight forward. I think I have support from you guys and a coworker who pretty much lives in his early model Jeep. So the Transmission and transfer will come out as a unit. I'll get me a clutch kit tomorrow and start pulling things apart. I'll fix the stripped housing with a helicoil. I don't use this for a daily driver so there's no rush.
 
Good luck and keep us posted.
 
I do have one major question on the shifter. What is the.proper way to take the shift off? It looks like it has a small metal cover around the top of the ball. Or do you unhook the wires and unbolt the top?
 
Make sure you get a pilot shaft to line everything up.
 
When mine stripped out. I went to 1/2"x13thd for all four tranny mounting bolts.
You'll need to find some 1/2" AN washers, and open up the holes on the tranny some. The OEM bolts are 7/16"dia.
LG
 
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