Clutch - I think I'm being massively stupid

  1. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2009 Morpeth Posts: 2539 BMW 116d Regional Toner Sales Edition
    #1
    Right, this is one of those things that I can't get right in my head.

    I'm fitting new springs to the front of my saxo, and as such, it's jacked up on 2 axle stands, with both front wheels off and the car in the air.

    Riddle me this. In a cunning attempt to get my driveshaft hub nuts loose single handedly before my housemate got home to help, I lashed the car in 1st gear, and proceeded to see if I could get the nut loose. Basically, no, after a bit of pressure the driveshaft just rotated. At this point I thought, ah. Hope I've not jumped the timing belt or anything, as it's a possible risk and I was just trying to press on.

    So now, with the car in gear, I can rotate the discs on the car by hand, perfectly fine. The hub on the other side turns the opposite direction obviously. But surely I shouldn't be able to as 1st gear is engaged and the clutch is fully released, it should be attempting to turn the engine?

    Or am I being a mong?

    The belt looked fine, and the clutch doesn't appear to be fucked, as I lowered it back down onto the wheels last night and had no problem driving it into the garage after I'd turned it round in the street?

    argh.
  2. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182
    #2
    you wont have jumped the timing belt by turning it over. Undo the hub nuts on the ground if your wheels have holes to get a socket in, otherwise you'll have to get someone to stand on the brakes and put it in gear.
  3. Super Moderator Joined: Nov 2009 Cambridge(ish), UK. Posts: 10581 BMW 5x M50d.
    #3
    It's fine. As above, have someone stand on the brakes. Job done.
  4. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2009 Morpeth Posts: 2539 BMW 116d Regional Toner Sales Edition
    #4
    no sorry I think you're missing what I've meant.

    I've had the hub nuts off, that's not the problem, the car starts and runs fine.

    I'm querying what I'm able to do with the wheels.

    Currently, with the front of the car jacked up and in the air, and the car put into 1st gear, and the clutch fully released, I can turn the hubs by hand, I don't need to use a bar or socket, I can literally rotate them by hand. When I do this, I can see the opposite one turning back the other direction, which I understand is because of the diff etc.

    What I don't understand, is why I can do that? Surely if it's in gear, the clutch is released, then the clutch is in contact with the flywheel, the car is in gear, and if I rotate the hub / disc, it should either not turn much, or I'd have to put enough pressure on to rotate the engine as well?

    It's like it's not in contact at all, I can just rotate the hubs freely by hand when it's in gear, now in the past I've left a car in gear on a hill etc if I've had a broken handbrake, so to my mind, what I'm describing doesn't make any sense and shouldn't happen?

    Is something fucked in the gearbox maybe? Am I just being a mong?
  5. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2010 Stourbridge Posts: 7338 Nissan 200sx S14a
    #5
    Jack ONE side of the car up, put it in gear then try to turn the brake disc.


    Your car is fine.
  6. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2009 Morpeth Posts: 2539 BMW 116d Regional Toner Sales Edition
    #6
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by holdawayt View Post
    Jack ONE side of the car up, put it in gear then try to turn the brake disc.


    Your car is fine.
    Aha, so basically I'm just being a colossal mong!

    Cheers lol.
  7. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2010 Stourbridge Posts: 7338 Nissan 200sx S14a
    #7
    Potentially - yes haha
  8. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jul 2011 Newcastle upon Tyne Posts: 7779 Phase 2 VTS , E61 M5
    #8
  9. Super Moderator Joined: Nov 2009 Cambridge(ish), UK. Posts: 10581 BMW 5x M50d.
    #9
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by holdawayt View Post
    Jack ONE side of the car up, put it in gear then try to turn the brake disc.


    Your car is fine.
    This. With both wheels up, the "path of least resistance" is through the diff. The other wheel turns. Get someone to hold the other wheel and both of you try and turn it in the same direction (ie, car driving forwards direction).

    Get a video of that please as will be v funny to watch

    In your example (car on a hill) it works because both wheels are trying to rotate (downhill) in the same direction, and they cant, because the engine wont turn.
  10. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2009 Morpeth Posts: 2539 BMW 116d Regional Toner Sales Edition
    #10
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Ross View Post
    This. With both wheels up, the "path of least resistance" is through the diff. The other wheel turns. Get someone to hold the other wheel and both of you try and turn it in the same direction (ie, car driving forwards direction).

    Get a video of that please as will be v funny to watch
    A video of the wheels turning, or me sitting next to it with despair in my eyes scratching my head with a plumbing wrench that appears to be the best all round tool I possess for working on a saxo?

  11. Super Moderator Joined: Nov 2009 Cambridge(ish), UK. Posts: 10581 BMW 5x M50d.
    #11
    no - you and a mate playing tug of war trying to turn the wheels by hand against each other
  12. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jul 2011 Newcastle upon Tyne Posts: 7779 Phase 2 VTS , E61 M5
    #12
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Ross View Post
    no - you and a mate playing tug of war trying to turn the wheels by hand against each other
    he has no mates
  13. Frequent Poster Joined: Dec 2006 London, England Posts: 734 Saxo VTS, Audi A6 Avant Quattro.
    #13
    Or just get a wheel bolt, fully hand tighten into the hub, through the brake disc, then put a screw driver through one of the disc vent holes, spin the disc till the screwdriver hits the brake, you can then undo or do up the hub nuts.