Hi there, before I start I have read the site rules and it says dont post a question if it has already been posted. But I am new and cant seem to find what im looking for. so sorry if im an annoyance.

Right I have a 2001 (Y) Skoda fabia 1.4 elegance and the gearbox is gone (3rd gear no longer exists) I have the new gearbox and need to change it over and my clutch is biting late so I may as well put a new one in at the same time. Can anyone guide me on how I would carry out this work? Could I drop the gearbox using a set of axel stands or would I need ramps. any help would be great.

Thanks.

I would prefer to drop a gearbox with the car at head height on a two post lift, and use a gearbox lift to drop it down, and vice versa to mount it up. I should imagine removing it involves undoing a lot of bolts, and refitting it involves doing them all up again, probably renewing several along the way. (Can you tell I'm not a techie? )

This is the kind of gearbox lift I mean, with my new 6 speed on it. Got a foot pump on the bottom to raise it up, and a lever to lower it, like a trolley jack in a way.

Caveat: Never done this on a fabia, and the gearbox there looks a bit bigger/heavier than in the smaller car I've done it on.

Reckon with a mate you might be able to do this with axle stands and a trolley jack and lots of perseverance. Reason I say axle stands is that you may (don't know how driveshafts disconnect from fabia gearbox) have to disconnect the hub from the lower arm and the suspension strut from the steering arm to remove driveshafts from gearbox.

I'm sure that this will be massively frowned upon here but I also found a pile of thick textbooks - maybe 70cm's worth (bigger than A4 - not going to fall over) useful to prop up the engine! (ducks incoming abuse) - I don't know how strong the sump is and whether taking the weight of the engine on the sump is advisable, but I had no other option.

As I say, not done it yet on the fabia, will soon though as my 3rd gear is well on the way, seems a standard problem. Definitely do the clutch at the same time.

Warning: there is potential here to injure yourself if you are cavalier, the bits are pretty heavy and you will be dropping them/raising them with the help of only a trolley jack - single point lift, be careful!

Hope that helps

Rob

Take it to a decent garage & pay for it to be changed only a couple of hours labour as opposed to best part of a day loads of hassle & skin mising off knuckles!!!!!

have you ever taken a gearbox out of a car before? if not you should really get somebody else to do it that knows what their doing,i have taken many gearboxes out over the years(been a mechanic for last 18 years) some on the floor with axle stands & some using vehicle lifts,each car is different,i have done a octy & felica but not a fabia,i will always use a vehicle lift & the correct engine hoist & gearbox stand if they are available,it makes the job sooo much easier! however i will do them on the floor if there is no other choice,you will need a extra pair of hands to lift the gearbox out & back in if your doing it on the floor(im a big strong lad & even i struggle sometimes lifting a box back in by myself!!) there is more to removing a gearbox & replacing a clutch than people think,there is lots of health risks too,if it falls on you it can break your ribs etc!,you have to dismantle part of the suspension etc,if your not confident in doing it you should bite the bullet & pay somebody to do it for you! hope this is of use to you.