Well my manual tranny swap came to a stop when i decided to change my guide rod which was bent. I spent about 5 hours trying to take a good rod out of a donor car and I totally ruined it since I stripped the threads inside. I looked through this forum but there is no actual explanation except... "unbolt the three bolts from the guide mount and just pull everything forward"

I'm on the passanger side of the donor trying to take the other guide rod off since I just fell a sleep under the car for about an hour and now it's dark. I was so tired from prying that it is very difficult to type right now.

Anyway, I took off the three bolts on the rod mount right now and I'm contemplating as to what to do.... I don't mind compressing the spring since you basically have to in order to take the bolt that holds the rod in place in the lower control arm. Let me know what to do so maybe I can get this done today. I started to work on my car at 9am when I was taking the fly wheel off and the clutch/brake pedal for my conversion. I have everybody in my house hold telling me to just take it to the dealer but I've spent too much time into trying to get that God Damn Guide Rod Out.

What the heck am I doing wrong ?

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Audi TT

I have a used guide rod if you are interested.

well I only ruined the driver one and now I moved on to the passanger. If I break that one I'll definitely be interested.

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Audi TT

In your initial thread regarding the bent guide rod, I believe that Engatwork recommended using a comealong to pull the lower control arm forward. Would that help solve your problem?

stupid question...

what is a comealong ?

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Audi TT

It is a ratcheting winch device. Uses cables to pull things. You would need to attach one end of the cable to a fixed object, other end to the lower control arm. (I have not personally done this, but I believe that I understand the concept.) Apparently you are flexing the LCA bushings when the LCA is moved forward to allow enough clearance to get the guide rod off the mount and out of the LCA.

what if you don't have one of those ?

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Audi TT

You could possibly use another vehicle and a tow strap. Exercise extreme caution!!! Or you could compress the spring and disconnect the LCA from the chassis.