Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Transaxle Droping out the mtx-75

Alright, my 3rd gear syncro is going, so im dropping the trans myself, with the help of a 4 post lift. So far the intake, battery and battery holder, fuel lines, power steering, coolant lines, throttle cables, trans mounts and clutch slave cylinder have been taken off or drained.

Now the manuel im using sayes to take out the halfshafts. (didnt say anything about taking the wheels off). Iv'e done every step through the book. How would you take off the halfshafts without the wheels and suspension? Could you possibly slide them out the trans? Has anyone done this before?

If i get my camera to work ill get some pics going.

The book assumes you dropped the wheels I guess. you cannot disconnect the brake etc to do anything without taking the wheels off.

Use common sense at this point!

You do need to seperate the spindles from the lower ball joints.

Good timing Stazi.

No reason to undo the fuel lines even though the manual states so. The wheels comment just scared the crap out of me that you are doing this yourself.

Ok the sho-shop y pipe is out, car jacked in front, wheels off. Ok now im going to experiment. First im going to take the bolt off where the control arm meets the ball joint. Then the tie rod. then disconnect the control arm from the ball joint by using a FORD rated tool (aka prybar ) To see if i can slide the halfshafts out without taking the brake, hub off.

Pictures will come soon enough

Sounds like you are on the right track with the axles. You do not have to actually take the axle out of the hub. You can just flop it out of the way.

You did not state if you were planning on going out the bottom or the top with the removal. The two procedures are very different. I have done it twice - out the bottom.

Good luck.

The shafts have little clips on them that hold them into the tranny. You just have to pull on the shaft, or pry on it a little, they should pop out and be a little of a struggle to get all the way out but they will come. The easiest way would be to have someone else pull out on the hub while you pulled the axle out of the tranny.

The passenger side hafl shaft stays with the rest of the axle. There are some bolts that hold the support bearing in place, they are a little hard to get to. Once those are out the shaft will come out.

The subframe kindof aligns itself once you get it up to the right place. There is a lot of stuff that goes on or around it so take your time putting it back up so you do not pinch or smash anything.

i pulled mine out the side this weekend...