Trans/transaxle removal questions

[Devin]

I have my trans/transaxle ready for removal save for the lower mounting bolts and the cross member. My questions is, should I take out the imput shaft before removing the trans? Also, are there any gaskets that need replacing when reinstalling the imput shaft?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks

[Petros]

I have removed, or helped remove, the trans from under a Tercel4wd six or seven times, and I have never found it necessary to remove the input shaft. Except once the trans bell housing appeared to get hung-up on the tunnel, and no matter what we did we could not get it fall out, it was like the tunnel was several inches smaller than the others. It might have been useful than, but it looked too difficult to reach the input shaft cover.

I know of some people that remove the input shaft and claim it saves time and makes the removal faster, but i have not found that to be true. Mostly people reuse the same gasket by putting sealant on it if it does not get torn on removal.

Remember to unplug the electrical connectors for the 4wd and back-up light. Also there is a very annoying 10mm bolt on the right side of the engine that is just there to hold the end of the heater tube, it is bolted through the backing plate and into the trans housing, it is easy to overlook. But you will not be able to pull the trans from the engine if you do not remove it.

Good luck.