86 Camry clutch replacement questions

[John Turuk]

Hi all

Car has 2SE engine, S51 5 speed manual transaxle.

I'm trying to size this job up to see if I'm up for this repair. I've been using a Chiltons repair manual for repairs that I've made in the past. Looking the car over and the manual procedure there are some items that are vague or don't make any sense whatever. I was wondering if some of you have a minute or two to answer a few questions would be much appreciated.

1. Steps #2 #3 #4 state to remove the front and rear mounting, then remove left hand mounting bracket. Then remove the side gear shaft and front drive center shaft. If I'm seeing this right if all these mounts and drive shafts are removed the only thing keeping the engine/transaxle assembly off of the garage floor would be the engine mount in front of the timing cover!!!!! They do get around to mentioning to support the engine underneath but that isn't until after step #5. Weird.

2. Their procedure for removal of the halfshafts are as follows "Remove the side gear shaft and front drive center shaft. On SV series vehicles (which mine is I think). Use SST Nos. 09520-32010 and 09520-32030 to drive out universal joint." This makes no sense as 86 SV's have no universal joints 83's and 84's do but not 86's. By the look of the manual the side gear shaft has a snap ring located inside the transaxle case so it doesn't look like it can be removed from the transaxle. How are the halfshafts removed or disconnected and if they can be disconnected can they be just pushed aside?

3. The underside of the transaxle looks quite irregular in shape. Looks like it would be difficult to support it with a floor jack. How is this best accomplished and any idea what the transaxle assembly weighs?

4. The repair manual mentions a locking plate. Is this the tin plate that covers the engine side of the flywheel?

5. The manual makes no mention of disconnecting shift linkage, hydrualic clutch components speedometer cable etc. It looks like there might be enough give in these items that you might be able to lower the transaxle to the floor with the car up on jackstands to make disconnecting these items un-necessary. Your thoughts?

6. the manual makes absolutely no mention of a pilot bushing/bearing. (I think that is what it is called. The one that is generally pressed into the center of the flywheel). Would it not be a good idea to change this out if replacing the clutch?

7. They recommend that many of the clutch parts be coated with molybdenum disulphode litium base grease? Can this stuff be readily be found?

Thanks in advance for any help

John