Transmission Replacement - DIY or Shop?

[PorscheFan5]

Team,

I have a 2004 Boxster and am in process of removing the 5spd TX. Have removed everything as per the articles and am using the compressor (120 psi) and airtool but none of the bolts are budging. Is it normal, are they supposed to be that tight? Have applied PB Blaster over the late few days but to no avail. If I can't have B budging, I am wondering how I am going to remove D with the added loss of the socket extension?

Is it always that one has to use a long length ratchet or something and undo the bolts? The torque spec is not that high.

Any suggestion, comments will be helpful and appreciated.

[thstone]

Originally Posted by PorscheFan5

Team,

I have a 2004 Boxster and am in process of removing the 5spd TX. Have removed everything as per the articles and am using the compressor (120 psi) and airtool but none of the bolts are budging. Is it normal, are they supposed to be that tight? Have applied PB Blaster over the late few days but to no avail. If I can't have B budging, I am wondering how I am going to remove D with the added loss of the socket extension?

Is it always that one has to use a long length ratchet or something and undo the bolts? The torque spec is not that high.

Any suggestion, comments will be helpful and appreciated.

I just swapped out my transmission over the holidays and found that the trans bolts were pretty tight. I used a 1/2" socket set and an 18" breaker bar to get them loose. Of course, its hard to say how tight is "tight" and how hard to push is "too hard".

To get to the upper bolts, I used every possible combination of u-joint + short or long socket + extension(s) to find the right setup that made getting each bolt out easier. You'll find that there is room to get to each bolt, you just have to find that good location and then match up the right combination of tools to reach.

[jsceash]

My experience is about the same as "Thstone" My advice is use as few linked socket extensions as possible. Each joint reduces the impact and torque by 10-15%. Use the socket and one extension were possible with your impact tool. Best advice is purchase a IMPACT extension set with at least 4 sizes to fit your most common applications (Money well spent). The shanks are stiffer and flex less and the squares are less likely to deform. Common chrome extensions that come with your standard sockets flex too much for a 1/2" high torque impact.

[Jamesp]

+1 on an 18 inch breaker bar.

[flaps10]

With the snorkel removed you can reach all the top bolts very easily from above.

I found many bolts that my air wrench would not turn until i had at least cracked them with the breaker bar

[PorscheFan5]

Thanks for the suggestions. I do have and use the impact sockets with the impact gun. Agree with using the least possible extensions for the job as possible to keep losses at a minimum. You'll have said what I suspected, need to use breaker bar as the force of the impact gun is not enough. Using the breaker bar on bolt D is going to tough.

Few more question: I have seen posts of people talking about the triple square bolts (star) but I did not see any on the TX... I also found bolt G missing. Is this common? Porsche did not put this bolt in? Should we leave it like that or replace with a M12x1.5x70mm? Also, what is the snorkel?

Thanks.

[thstone]

Originally Posted by PorscheFan5

Using the breaker bar on bolt D is going to tough.

I used a u-joint and two (or more) long extensions and approached it from left side, way back behind the transmission. It was actually pretty easy once I got the socket onto the bolt.

Originally Posted by PorscheFan5

I also found bolt G missing. Is this common? Porsche did not put this bolt in?

I do not know how they come from the factory but its common for race shops to only use 5 bolts and leave off the rest so missing one bolt would not particularly worry me if it was my car. Feel free to replace the missing bolt as you see fit.