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Removal (Automatic Transmission)

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette and 2002 Chevrolet Corvette. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
  1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
  2. Raise and support vehicle.
  3. Remove the rear tire and wheel assemblies.
  4. Remove the catalytic converter assembly. See CATALYTIC CONVERTERS .
  5. Tie off the left muffler assembly to the underbody to support the muffler out of the way. See Fig 1.
    Fig 1: Securing Left Muffler Aside
    G00249982Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  6. Remove the rear stabilizer shaft bracket bolts and nuts. See Fig 2. Remove the rear stabilizer shaft brackets and insulators. Position the stabilizer shaft downwards. Remove the exhaust muffler bolts. Remove the exhaust muffler gasket. Slide the muffler blade out from the hanger. Remove the right muffler.
    Fig 2: Identifying Rear Stabilizer Shaft & Mounting Brackets
    G00249983Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  7. Remove the driveline tunnel closeout panel bolts. See Fig 3. Remove the driveline tunnel closeout panel.
    Fig 3: Identifying Driveline Tunnel Closeout Panel
    G00249984Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
    8. NOTE: The propeller input shaft front bearing positioning bolts are intended to remain torqued to specification and in place until instructed in the installation procedure. The bolts are to be removed, and the plastic plugs reinstalled after the installation is complete. Failure to use the minimum length fastener specified will prevent proper retention of the propeller input shaft front bearing during disassembly or installation.
    Fig 4: Identifying Driveline Support Assembly Plastic Plugs (A/T)
    G00249985Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  8. Remove the 2 plastic plugs from the front of driveline support assembly. See Fig 4. Install 2 bolts, M10 - 1.5 X 55 mm, or longer, in place of the plastic plugs (The long bolts are used to maintain the propeller shaft front bearing in original position during removal and installation). Tighten the propeller shaft front bearing positioning bolts to 26 ft. lbs. (35 N.m).
  9. Using a flat bladed screwdriver, remove the engine flywheel housing access plug.
  10. Loosen the propeller shaft hub clamp bolt. See Fig 5. Rotate the engine at the flexplate, if necessary for alignment.
    Fig 5: Identifying Propeller Shaft Hub Clamp Bolt (A/T)
    G00249986Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  11. Remove the nuts retaining the transmission shift cable bracket to the transmission.
  12. Disconnect the transmission shift control cable from the transmission shift lever. Unsnap to release the cable.
  13. Reposition the transmission shift cable and bracket.
  14. Measure the transverse spring stud height. See Fig 6. This measurement will be used in the installation to set-up the vehicle trim height.
    Fig 6: Measuring Rear Transverse Spring Stud Height
    G00072411Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
    15. NOTE: Use care not to scratch the rear transverse spring.
    Fig 7: Installing Rear Transverse Spring Compressor
    G00072412Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  15. Using the Transverse Spring Compressor (J-33432-A), compress the rear transverse spring. See Fig 7.
  16. Remove the retainers, nuts, bolts and insulators retaining the transverse spring to the lower control arms. See Fig 8. Remove the rear transverse spring mounting bolts, spring spacers and insulators from the crossmember. Remove the rear transverse spring.
    Fig 8: Removing/Installing Rear Transverse Spring
    G00249987Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  17. Support the lower control arms.
  18. Disconnect the outer tie rod ends from the suspension knuckles.
  19. Remove the shock absorber lower mounting bolts.
  20. Disconnect the lower ball joints from the suspension knuckles.
  21. Assemble the Drivetrain Support Fixture (J-42055).
  22. Install the Drivetrain Support Fixture to a transmission jack.
  23. Position and firmly secure the Drivetrain Support Fixture with the transmission jack to the transmission.
  24. Disconnect the wiring harness and brake pipe clip retainers from the rear suspension crossmember.
  25. Remove the transaxle mount-to-rear crossmember nuts.
  26. Position a transmission jack under the rear suspension crossmember and firmly secure the crossmember to the jack.
  27. Using only hand tools, remove the rear suspension crossmember retaining nuts.
  28. With the aid of an assistant, slowly lower the rear suspension crossmember away from the vehicle frame rails and remove the crossmember.
  29. Remove the transaxle mount bracket-to-differential bolts.
  30. Remove the transaxle mount with bracket. See Fig 9. Removing the transaxle mount will allow for greater stability on a workbench after the driveline is removed.
    Fig 9: Identifying Transaxle Mount & Bracket
    G00249994Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  31. Using a pry bar, carefully release the axle shafts from the differential.
  32. Tie off the axle shafts to the underbody to support the shafts out of the way. The left muffler assembly pipe toward the rear offers a good location to help support the left axle shaft.
  33. Release the retainer securing the wiring harness to the L-shaped brackets along the driveline support assembly. See Fig 10. Slide the harness up out of the brackets and position aside.
    Fig 10: Removing/Installing Wiring Harness From Driveline Support Assembly
    G00249988Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  34. Slowly lower the driveline approximately 2.0" (51 mm), while simultaneously adjusting the angle of tilt, in order to access the electrical connectors. See Figure.
  35. Disconnect the Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) electrical connector. See Fig 11.
    Fig 11: Locating Vehicle Speed Sensor Connector
    G00249990Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  36. Disconnect the wiring harness retainer from the stud at the differential rear cover.
  37. Disconnect the wiring harness retainer clip from the top of the differential. See Fig 12.
    Fig 12: Locating Wiring Harness Retainer At Top Of Differential
    G00249991Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  38. Depress both tabs on the transmission harness 20-pin connector and pull straight up to disconnect. See Fig 13. DO NOT pry the connector.
    Fig 13: Identifying 20-Pin Transmission Harness Connector (A/T)
    G00249992Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  39. Disconnect the Park/Neutral Position (PNP) switch electrical connectors. See Fig 14.
    Fig 14: Identifying Park/Neutral Position Sensor Connectors (A/T)
    G00249993Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  40. Remove the transmission wiring harness-to-left side transmission case retaining bolt. See Fig 14.
  41. Slowly lower the driveline, while simultaneously adjusting the angle of tilt, and observe the relationship between the top rear of the differential and the lowest part of the rear compartment panel floor (the center storage compartment between the frame rails). The differential should not be lowered more than approximately even with the specified body point of reference. (The PCV pipes which route along the rear of the engine intake manifold will likely contact the dash panel). See Figure.
  42. Release the wiring harness from the harness retainer along the top of the transmission.
  43. Check to ensure that the wiring harness is free from the driveline being removed.
  44. Disconnect the transmission oil cooler rear pipes from the junction fittings at the engine flywheel housing, then cap the pipes and plug the junction fittings to prevent contamination.
  45. Using a block of wood to protect the engine oil pan, place a jack under the rear of the engine oil pan to support the engine and prevent contact with the composite dash panel. Remove the driveline support assembly-to-engine flywheel housing bolts.
  46. Carefully bend the wiring harness bracket away from the driveline, toward the driveline tunnel wall in order to make a clear removal path for the driveline. Have an assistant insert a flat bladed screwdriver, or similar tool, between the edge of the driveline support assembly and the engine flywheel housing, then begin to pry the driveline loose from the engine.
  47. Have an assistant guide the front of the driveline during the removal of the driveline from the vehicle. Slowly lower the driveline, while simultaneously adjusting the angle of tilt and pulling the driveline away from the engine until the propeller input shaft at the front of the driveline support assembly just clears the engine flywheel housing. Slowly lower the driveline completely out of the vehicle.
  48. Position a chainfall, or equivalent lift device, in a way which will protect the transmission oil cooler rear pipes and the rear exhaust hangers located on the driveline support assembly.
  49. Using the lift device, raise the driveline to relieve the weight from the transmission jack.
  50. Disconnect the Drivetrain Support Fixture from the transmission jack ONLY, the Drivetrain Support Fixture will provide stability to the driveline components while working on a bench.
  51. Position the driveline on a work bench with the lift device still attached.
  52. Support the driveline support assembly and the differential for additional balance.
  53. Remove the lift device from the driveline.
    54. NOTE: Use care when separating the differential from the transmission so as not to damage the transmission output shaft seal in the differential plate.
  54. Remove the differential-to-transmission bolts and nuts. See Fig 15. SLOWLY slide the differential from the transmission. Remove the differential plate from the differential. See Fig 16.
Fig 15: Removing/Installing Differential From Transmission (A/T)
G00249995Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Fig 16: Identifying Differential Plate (A/T)
G00249996Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
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