Remove transfer case first, then transmission for clutch job?

2008 2.7L. Doing a clutch job soon, will be working alone unfortunately. I've heard that the transmission and transfer case must be removed as a unit. What is the reason for this? It seems like it would be so much easier to remove the T case, then transmission, due to the weight and awkward shape of them connected as a unit.

 

I have the 4.0 so it may be completely different but if it is shaped the same as mine than it actually should be easier to remove them both as one unit rather then separating one from the other which would involve more work. (although I'm not really sure what separating them would entail). Space isn't really an issue when R&Ring the trans (the tacoma has a lot of room under there) its just kind of heavy and you really benefit from having a cheap ass transmission jack from harbor freight. My scronny ass did it alone this way.

 

Yea, leave the t-case on and pull the whole thing out as one unit

 

I sent forum member landphil a PM one time inquiring about this because he stated he removed the transfer case first to do the clutch on his 6 speed and then transmission and it made the job easier. IDK on you 5 speed though. I can tell you that the transfer case weighs about 125 pounds and so does the transmission or more. If you remove it as a unit, do yourself a favor and either rent a real transmission jack or buy one as you do not want the unit getting away from you. I would encourage you not to try with floor jacks but I know there are those who have.

 

I just did a flex plate in a suburban 4x4. I split the transfer case from the transmission. Mainly because you can't get the transmission to move backwards away from the motor car enough to get the transmission out of the transfer box is still connected. If your by yourself the big thing to think about is weight. A transmission might not be to heavy but it's awkward to get in and out. It's gotta stab in right which is tricky. It will be lighter if you split the two. It does make a little more work but I think it's worth the time. The half inch to 3/8 transmission extension makes it easy if you have an impact and a wiggle socket.

 

I pulled the T5 out of my Camaro a couple times and it's light as a feather, I just set it on my chest, shimmied under, and benched it up. This I think is going to be a bit tougher.

I'm leaning towards splitting them up. I'm not worried about extra work, I always take my time and go 10x slower than I should because I'm not on the clock and I don't have anybody to impress but myself. I'd rather work deliberately than work hard with frustration.

 

The transfer case is extremely awkward to line up and stab into the trans without catching the input seal. You will likely need a second person to turn the flange to line the tcase input up with the trans output.

Way easier to pull it as a unit. You can buy a cheap tranny jack at harbor freight. I have done them along the trail with just ratchet staps running between the frame rails cradling the trans. If you have a cherry picker you can fully extend it and wrap a strap around the trans and up thru the shifter hole and connect it to the cherry picker arm.

You will need a jack under the motor as well, but you can use a block and the stock bottle jack if you are limited on jacks