Clutch change

The clutch has gone on my 2008 Vauxhall Astra 1.9 CDTI van. Is it much hassle to change the clutch? Does the engine have to come out or can you get clearance by taking out the gearbox? Stuart Anderson The good news is that the engine doesn’t have to come out; the bad news is that the Vauxhall manual states that the gearbox needs to be dropped out and that the book time for the job is 6.4 hours. The engine will require supporting during the process and the tool required for this is part number KM 6001 B. It should also be noted that the correct replacement unit is an SAC (self adjusting clutch) and this should be fitted using a special tool.

The job can be done without totally removing the gearbox, but the subframe needs to be dropped to gain sufficient access. If care is taken to tighten up the clutch cover evenly, it can be fitted without the special tool with no problems. The concentric slave cylinder will also need to be replaced at the same time.

As mentioned earlier, the engine needs to be supported during the process, as does the lowered subframe. This can be done using jacks, but care should be taken with respect to safety. It would also be advisable to have assistance when removing and refitting the gearbox.