USEFUL NOTES
You’ll need to separate each lower balljoint from the lower end of its hub assembly. This is so that the hubs can be eased outwards, thereby enabling the driveshafts to effectively be tapped/withdrawn inwards through the hubs, then outwards and away from the differential. Be aware that the balljoint gaiters may get damaged when separating the joints in conventional fashion using a separator tool, so before starting work it’s worth getting new gaiters or complete joint assemblies, especially if the originals are nearing the end of their life anyway. An alternative approach to dismantling is to unbolt the balljoint from its lower suspension arm, to separate these components without using the separator tool. However, you may encounter balljoints that are riveted, rather than bolted, to the lower suspension arm. On our C2, we temporarily installed a cross-brace above the engine compartment (as shown in Step 28) to take the weight of the motor and to prevent it from falling when the engine/ transmission was detached from its mounting assembly on the left-hand side of the car. Before removing all the bolts holding the gearbox to the engine, a trolley jack with a strong wood block on the saddle was placed beneath the transmission assembly. This helps when removing the gearbox and refitting it, since the jack can be used to take the weight – and control the height – of the unit; it is also an excellent aid when aligning the transmission with the engine on reassembly, so that the bolts linking the two can be inserted correctly. TAKE CARE: Make quite sure that you and any helpers are not directly beneath the heavy gearbox, in case it should fall. For safety and ease of doing the job, if possible have another person (preferably more than one) on hand before carrying out the operations described, particularly when removing and refitting the transmission assembly. When installing the bolts holding the clutch pressure plate assembly to the flywheel, tighten them a little at a time in diagonal sequence to the specified torque settings given in the
Important Data panel. The engine in this C2 has no crankshaft spigot bush or bearing. With all the components refitted to the car, refill the transmission with fresh oil to the correct specification.