lol - well it took me 6hrs total, and my backs pretty dam sore :huh:
I was going to originally do a "how to" but once i got under the car i realised that with zero knowledge of how a Clio is put together it was a no go
I used the "undo this and see what happens method" - proved interesting :rofl:
The basics were :
1. Unbolt bottom rear engine mount and all subframe rear fixings.
2. Slacken front subframe fixings.
3. Pull subframe down at the back, unbolt steering rack, headlight adjustment switch (xenon model) and anti-roll bar from subframe.
4. Unbolt anti-roll bar from drop links.
5. Support subframe and remove front subframe fixings.
6. This leaves the whole subframe/lower arms/hubs held up by only the top strut mountings (3 off 13mm bolts)
7. Remove the strut top mounting bolts, and lower subframe/arms/hubs. Lower too far and the brake lines will be stretched!
8. Remove insulation from bulkhead.
9. Unbolt manifold at each end.
10. Remove manifold sliding it between the dropped subframe and the car body - not as easy as it sounds!!!
Things i found out :
No need to support the engine, it just hangs there on the east / west engine mounts at each side. The subframe has nothing to do with the mounting of the engine or gearbox.
The steering rack has to be pulled as far down as you can get it without disconnecting it from the steering column.
Using a scissor jack between the lower bulkhead and gearbox bell housing will push the engine forward at the bottom giving you more clearance (alternatively use rope tied somewhere at the front and pull the engine forward).
Reading how to do it on 172/182 forums doesn't help, possibly adds confusion.
If you can afford it, let someone else do it
To be fair the only things now keeping the subframe from coming completely off are the driveshafts and brake lines in answer to your question Si
In hind sight it may have been easier to undo the lower arms from the subframe, and leave the suspension and hubs in situ, i'm not sure, it just went the way it went
