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Jeep Wrangler TJ 2003 repair manual download

Straight, detailed, practical clutch-replacement guide for a Jeep Wrangler TJ (beginner-mechanic level). Read everything once before starting. Do not improvise on lifting/supporting. Consult a factory service manual for torque specs and specifications specific to year/engine. Safety first.

Summary of why and theory (short)
- Why: The clutch transfers engine torque to the transmission and lets you disengage the engine from the driveline to shift or stop without stalling. Clutches wear (friction material wears, springs weaken, parts warp/contaminate) and will slip, chatter, drag, or fail to disengage. Replacing the clutch restores reliable power transfer and shiftability.
- Theory: The clutch is a friction coupling between the spinning engine flywheel and the transmission input shaft. When the pressure plate clamps the clutch disc to the flywheel, friction transmits torque to the transmission. Depressing the clutch pedal operates a release mechanism (cable or hydraulic) that moves the release/throwout bearing against the pressure-plate diaphragm spring, releasing clamping force so the disc can stop transmitting torque and you can change gears.

Analogy: Imagine two flat plates with a sticky pad between them (flywheel and clutch disc). The pressure plate squeezes them together to drive the gearbox. The throwout bearing pushes on a spring (like pushing back on a clamp) to release the grip.

List of components (what they are, where they are, and what they do)
- Engine flywheel (bolted to crankshafts back flange)
- Heavy steel plate. Milled smooth or replaced. Contact surface for clutch disc. Also provides inertia.
- Problems: heat warpage, hot spots, cracked, contaminated with oil.
- Clutch disc (friction disc)
- Splined hub that slides on the transmission input shaft. Friction material on both sides absorbs torque when clamped.
- May have a torsional-spring hub to damp driveline shocks.
- Problems: worn friction, broken springs, oil contamination, glaze → slipping or chatter.
- Pressure plate (bolted to flywheel)
- Houses a diaphragm spring (or coil springs) that clamps disc to flywheel. When you release the pedal it clamps; when you depress the pedal, the diaphragm spring is released by the throwout bearing.
- Problems: weak/warped springs, broken fingers, warped cover → poor clamp, chatter, slipping.
- Release (throwout) bearing
- Rotating bearing that pushes on the center of the pressure-plate diaphragm when you depress the pedal. Mounted on the clutch fork/slave mechanism.
- Problems: noisy, seized, worn → rough operation and noise; can prevent full disengagement.
- Clutch fork (or slave actuation arm)
- Levers the throwout bearing against the pressure plate. Pivoted in bellhousing.
- Problems: worn pivot, bent fork → improper bearing travel.
- Pilot bushing or pilot bearing (in crank or input shaft end)
- Centers the transmission input shaft in the crank and supports it during clutch disengagement.
- Problems: worn/seized → noise on disengage/engage, input-shaft wobble, hard shifting.
- Transmission input shaft
- Splined shaft that the clutch disc splines onto.
- Problems: worn splines, damage.
- Clutch hydraulic system (TJ typically hydraulic: master cylinder on firewall, slave cylinder at bellhousing)
- Master cylinder converts pedal motion to fluid pressure; slave moves the fork or throwout bearing.
- Problems: leaks, air in system, stuck slave/master → no or reduced clutch movement.
- Bellhousing and transmission
- Bellhousing attaches to engine, encloses clutch. Transmission separates from engine to access clutch.
- Flywheel bolts, pressure-plate bolts, alignment tool, bolts/threads
- Hardware that must be replaced or torqued properly.

Safety, workspace, and tools
- Safety:
- Use quality jack stands and wheel chocks. Never rely on a hydraulic jack alone.
- Disconnect negative battery terminal.
- Transmission is heavy (150–200+ lb). Use a transmission jack or equivalent. Two people required if no transmission jack.
- Wear eye protection and gloves.
- Workspace: flat, level ground, plenty of light, organized trays for bolts.
- Essential tools:
- Metric sockets and wrenches, breaker bar, ratchets.
- Transmission jack or floor jack + wood cradle.
- Engine support bar or jack under oil pan with block of wood (if you’re removing engine mounts).
- Clutch alignment tool (cheap practice plastic/metal tool), torque wrench, Pry bars, screwdrivers, pliers.
- Long extensions, universal joints.
- Safety stands, wheel chocks.
- Brake cleaner, rags, threadlocker (per manual), anti-seize (where appropriate), grease for splines.
- Parts to buy (replace at minimum):
- Clutch kit: new pressure plate + clutch disc + throwout bearing + alignment tool (often included).
- Pilot bearing/bushing.
- Resurface or replace flywheel (if glazed/warped/cracked). If replacing, buy new flywheel bolts or reuse only if service-manual allows.
- Replace clutch hydraulic components if showing wear/leak (master/slave cylinders).
- New bellhousing bolts if damaged; replace any torque-to-yield bolts.
- Optional: replace rear main seal if leaking (often convenient while trans is out).
- New transmission input-shaft pilot bushing/bearing.

Before starting: symptom checklist that justifies replacement
- Slipping under load (rev up without acceleration).
- Burning smell with power, decreased clutch engagement.
- Chattering/shudder on takeoff.
- Difficulty shifting or clutch not disengaging (grinding).
- Soft or spongy pedal (hydraulic), or pedal has excessive free play.
- Noisy throwout bearing or pilot bearing.

High-level procedure (overview)
1. Prep: disconnect battery, lift vehicle, remove front driveshaft/rear driveshaft depending on removal plan, drain any fluids if needed, support engine.
2. Disconnect linkage/wiring: starter, speedometer cable/plug, transmission ground, shift linkage, transfer case and driveshaft connections.
3. Remove transfer case or drop it (if applicable) or remove transfer case-to-transmission bolts and slide case back depending on model-year setup.
4. Support and remove transmission: remove crossmember, disconnect slave, remove starter, unbolt bellhousing-to-engine bolts, lower transmission (use transmission jack).
5. Remove clutch assembly: unbolt pressure plate, take off clutch disc, inspect flywheel.
6. Inspect & service: check flywheel surface, replace or resurface, replace pilot bearing, replace throwout bearing, inspect clutch fork/slave/bellhousing.
7. Install new parts: align clutch disc with alignment tool, bolt pressure plate evenly in star pattern to correct torque, replace any seals, reinstall transmission.
8. Reconnect everything, bleed clutch hydraulic system if hydraulic, adjust clutch free play if cable.
9. Road test and check for leaks/noises. Re-torque if necessary after a few heat cycles per manual.

Step-by-step detailed procedure (beginner-friendly)
1) Prep and safety
- Park on level ground, block rear wheels, chock, disconnect negative battery.
- Raise vehicle safely on stands, ensure tall enough to comfortably access transmission and driveshafts.
- Remove belly pans, skid plates if present.

2) Remove driveshaft(s) and transfer case prep
- Mark flange positions for reassembly if desired (so driveshaft balance stays same).
- Remove rear driveshaft U-joint bolts and slide driveshaft out.
- On 4WD TJ, you may either disconnect and slide back the transfer case or remove the transfer case and/or transmission depending on year. Usually you unbolt transfer case-to-transmission fasteners and move the case back on the output yoke; secure it so it doesn’t hang by the driveshaft. If you remove the transmission, support transfer case separately.
- Label electrical connectors and linkage.

3) Disconnect necessary components
- Remove starter to get access to bellhousing bolts.
- Disconnect speedometer cable/electrical connectors on transmission.
- Disconnect shift linkage from transmission.
- Remove clutch slave cylinder connection to master (if hydraulic) and unbolt slave from bellhousing. Don’t open system to atmosphere (cap reservoir) — catch small fluid and be prepared to bleed later.
- If slave is internal, remove access and push bearing/rod but be prepared to replace.

4) Support engine and transmission
- Place transmission jack under transmission crossmember, or use floor jack with wood cradle under transmission oil pan (do not pinch or dent).
- Support engine with an engine support bar or jack under oil pan with block of wood. You may need to slightly raise engine to keep alignment when removing engine-to-trans bolts.

5) Unbolt and remove transmission (bellhousing separation)
- Remove all bellhousing-to-engine bolts (pattern around bell). Keep bolts organized by length.
- Lower transmission slowly on jack; rotate slightly to clear input shaft from clutch splines.
- Slide transmission straight back. Note: the input shaft is splined into the clutch disc—pulling back should disengage it. If it binds, rotate input shaft slightly.

6) Remove old clutch pieces
- Unbolt pressure plate in a crisscross/star sequence a few turns at a time—this prevents warping the cover.
- Remove pressure plate and clutch disc. Note orientation of disc (label flywheel side).
- Inspect flywheel for scoring, heat spots, blueing. Replace or resurface if uneven or damaged. If you resurface, ensure it's balanced and cleaned.
- Remove pilot bearing/bushing from crank (press/punch out from back or pilot bore). Clean bore.

7) Inspect transmission input shaft and bellhousing
- Inspect input shaft splines for wear, replace if damaged.
- Inspect throwout bearing surface and fork pivot. Replace worn pivot ball or bushings.
- Inspect clutch fork for cracks or excessive wear.

8) Install pilot bearing and flywheel service
- Lightly lubricate new pilot bearing per parts instructions and tap into place squarely.
- Install flywheel, replace bolts if required. Tighten to factory torque in a star pattern. If reusing bolts only when allowed, apply correct threadlocker if the manual specifies.

9) Install new clutch disc and pressure plate
- Clean flywheel surface with brake cleaner to remove oils. Do not touch surfaces with greasy hands afterward.
- Slide alignment tool through clutch disc onto pilot bearing to center disc.
- Place pressure plate over disc. Start bolts finger tight. Tighten gradually in a star/crisscross pattern to the specified torque (factory spec). Do not under- or over-torque. Even clamping is essential to avoid pressure-plate distortion and chatter.

10) Install new release bearing and reassemble fork/slave hookup
- Fit new throwout bearing onto input shaft sleeve or fork per kit instructions (some bearings slide on splines or mount to fork).
- Reinstall fork and pivot; ensure proper engagement with pressure plate fingers.
- Reattach slave cylinder. If hydraulic, check boot seals.

11) Reinstall transmission
- With transmission jack, bring transmission up aligned with pilot bearing. Use the alignment tool and ensure input shaft splines engage disc splines; slight rotation of shaft/transmission may be necessary.
- Once seated, install bellhousing bolts hand-tight. Torque to spec in sequence.
- Reinstall starter, linkage, speedometer, electrical, and driveshaft mounts.
- Reattach transfer case.
- Reinstall crossmember and any skid plates.

12) Bleeding and adjustments
- If hydraulic, bleed clutch system starting from slave to master or per factory: typically pump pedal, open bleeder, close, repeat until no air. Use fresh DOT fluid specified in manual.
- If cable, adjust free play per service manual.
- Check for leaks at master/slave and lines.

13) Final checks and test drive
- Lower vehicle. Reconnect battery.
- With engine off, press pedal; it should feel consistent and move throwout bearing smoothly. Start engine and test engagement in neutral, then in low gear at low speed in a safe area.
- Break-in: follow clutch manufacturer break-in procedure (gentle engagement for first 200–500 miles).

What can go wrong (common failures and mistakes)
- Flywheel not resurfaced or replaced when needed → new clutch will slip or chatter.
- Oils/seal leaks contaminate new disc → slip immediately. Replace rear main seal if leaking.
- Improper torque/order on pressure-plate bolts → warp pressure plate causing chatter or failure.
- Not using alignment tool or misaligned disc → difficulty reinstalling transmission, transmission/splines damage, clutch drag.
- Throwout bearing installed backwards → noisy, won’t release properly.
- Bent or worn pilot bearing → input-shaft wobble and poor engagement.
- Air in hydraulic system → spongy pedal, incomplete disengagement (grinding on shifts).
- Not supporting engine properly → transmission binding, damage to mounts, dangerous drop.
- Using grease on friction surfaces or touching with oily hands → contamination → slip.
- Not replacing worn slave/master → early failure.
- Ignoring signs of worn transmission input shaft splines or worn fork/pivot → premature new clutch wear.

Inspection criteria after removal (what to look for)
- Flywheel: discoloration/blueing (heat), grooves, flatness. Measure for runout per manual.
- Clutch disc: thickness of friction material, broken springs in hub, oil on friction face.
- Pressure plate: broken/weakened diaphragm fingers, heat cracks.
- Throwout bearing: roughness/noise when spun.
- Pilot bearing: seized/worn.
- Transmission input shaft: bent, worn splines, damaged seal area.

Tips and beginner tricks
- Photograph and label everything as you go (wire connectors, bolt locations).
- Keep bolt trays labeled. Bellhousing bolts are different lengths — keep order.
- Replace all wear pieces in the kit – don’t mix old throwout bearing with new pressure plate.
- Use alignment tool to ensure disc centered — saves hours.
- If replacing flywheel, check whether flywheel bolts are single-use. Use new bolts where specified.
- Grease only the splines of the disc hub lightly with high-temp grease; do not get grease on friction material.
- Mark driveshaft flanges to maintain balance.
- Take your time when lowering/raising transmission; it’s the single trickiest physical operation.

Estimated time and difficulty
- Time: 6–12 hours for a beginner at home (single person), 3–6 hours for a pro/shop. Transmission removal and re-installation is the bulk time.
- Difficulty: Moderate to high for a beginner due to heavy lifting and alignment tasks. Assistance and a transmission jack are strongly recommended.

When to call a shop
- If you lack a transmission jack or safe way to support this weight.
- If you suspect rear main seal replacement and you don’t have the tools or experience for precise sealing.
- If the flywheel needs complex machining or replacement and you don’t have access to a reputable machine shop.
- If there’s significant transmission damage or input-shaft problems.

Closing checklist before first drive
- All bolts torqued per factory spec and correct sequence.
- Hydraulic system bled and reservoir at correct level.
- No oil or grease on clutch friction surfaces.
- Driveshafts and transfer case reinstalled and torqued.
- No loose wires, starter engaged, no leaks visible.
- Pedal feel normal at rest and with engine running.

That’s the full functional overview, component descriptions, step-by-step procedure, common failure modes, and practical tips. Follow a factory manual for exact torques, fluid types, and model-year specifics. Stay safe.
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