# How do you replace a front wheel drive transmission? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** wheels\ **Created:** [September 3, 2007, 2:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-do-you-replace-a-front-wheel-drive-transmission/4079 "2007-09-03T14:41:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jonjon1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2acd7d/32.png) [@jonjon1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jonjon1)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2007, 2:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-do-you-replace-a-front-wheel-drive-transmission/4079/1 "2007-09-03T14:41:37Z")
I have a 99 Pontiac Grand Am GT w/ Ram Air. I bought the car for really cheap but the transmission was dead. I am trying to replace it with my dad, but it is front wheel drive and nobody knows how. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2007, 3:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-do-you-replace-a-front-wheel-drive-transmission/4079/2 "2007-09-03T15:04:33Z")
Your best bet is to spend 20 bucks on a Haynes manual (not Chiltons). It should lay out all of the steps in there as it’s a fairly complicated process. You will also need a jack to support the engine along with one to lower the transmission on. If you do not have 2 jacks then you will need to make an engine bay support and use a chain to support the engine weight when the transmission, and it’s mount, are removed. ---
**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2007, 3:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-do-you-replace-a-front-wheel-drive-transmission/4079/3 "2007-09-03T15:55:31Z")
A word of extreme caution. You may need an engine hoist to support the engine. A lot of FWD GMs use 4 motor mounts, and three are attached to the transmission. ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2007, 4:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-do-you-replace-a-front-wheel-drive-transmission/4079/4 "2007-09-03T16:50:40Z")
I agree 100%. I wouldn’t even attempt this without a Haynes manual, or a factory manual for your car. Get a manual and read through the procedure before you decide whether or not to do this at home.