How to Remove a Car's Transmission

Mechanics charge hundreds of dollars to do transmission work. Removing the transmission, repairing the problem and then installing the transmission again can add up to a huge bill. Save money by performing some of the labor on a big repair job yourself and remove your own car's transmission.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Jack stands
• Wrench or socket set
• Floor jack
• Transmission jack

1. Lift the front and rear of your car by placing it on jack stands. Make sure the stands are firmly standing on a hard, flat surface.

2. Remove the shift linkage and throttle kick down from the transmission. If your car is equipped with vacuum hoses on the transmission, remove those also. Remove the speedometer cable as well.

3. Slide the rear U-joint from the rear end of the car, sliding it out of the transmission as you remove it.

4. Place the transmission jack under the transmission, and lift up on the transmission slightly. Let the pressure off of the transmission, and it should rise a few inches.

5. Detach the lower bell housing, torque converter bolts and bell housing bolts.

6. Take out the rear tranmission mount and cross member bolts. Raise the transmission and jack to remove the cross member.

7. Lower the transmission slowly while rolling it toward the back of the car. Make sure nothing is in the way of the transmission as you slide out from under the car.

Tips & Warnings

• When removing the driveshaft from the transmission, stuff a rag into the end of the transmission to stop the fluid from leaking out.