I'm in the process of changing the clutch on my 04 MCS and I'm stuck on getting the first transmission bolt out. Its the one that holds the engine harness bracket too.

PICTURE

I've tried a deep socket; it doesn't give me enough room to get the ratchet in.
I've tried a regular socket; it's too shallow and I can't reach it with my ratchet.
Regular 14mm wrench (Pelican says its 16mm, but its not) and there isn't enough room to move it.
Stubby wrench doesn't have enough leverage. I even tried moving it with a pry bar with no luck.

Any suggestions?

 

Have you heard of offset combination wrenches? Most good vendors carry them and I know Craftsmen carries them. A flex drive socket would also be a possibility, but you can't put as much torque on it because of the universal joint between the socket and the ratchet or breaker bar.

HTH

 

I'm not sure there's enough room for an offset wrench.
I did try a U-boat, but it was a 1/2 inch one and it was too big to fit. I did forget about that though, I will pick up a 3/8" one and give that a try tonight.

Thanks for the reminder!

 

try a shallow socket with a universal and an extension. Somedays you have to make a special tool for that one bolt that is impossible. One time i had to cut the boxed end off a wrench and then extend it with another wrench off the nub to get a bolt to crack loose.

 

Done and done.
I can't believe I forgot to get a 3/8" Universal and try that first. It worked like a charm. Now for the rest of them...hopefully all goes well.

 

glad it worked out sometimes another set of eyes gets it done. How did it turn out man?

 

Clutch change is going well. I had a few small hiccups. I had the car too high so using my Jacks to hold the engine and transmission was interesting.

The transmission is on my bench right now with the small parts all replaced. Old clutch and flywheel are off and the rear main seal is done. Now I just need to not be so lazy and get back out there and out in the new flywheel and clutch on.

I don't really want to put the new flywheel in. It's too Damn Sexy. Nice chunk on beautiful cnc machined aluminum.

 

It's good to see another MCS owner doing their own clutch replacement. I'm a couple days behind you. I got my subframe out at the end of today. I managed to get at the bolt you were having problems with by popping the engine harness off of the little metal bracket. That allowed me to move the wires around enough to get my 3/8" socket wrench in there with a "breaker tube".

Did you use a floor jack to lower the engine & tranny or a engine lift?

 

I used one floor jack the hold the engine up and another to lower the transmission.