1.8 Superlight transmission knocking normal ?

[jjonah]

I'm currently looking to buy my first Caterham and after 2 months of searching (with many test drives) have fallen for a 2005 , 1.8K Superlight with about 3K on the clock. The car is fitted with wide track, LSD , dry sump , 6 spd box (I gather most of these are standard )

Having driven it for a second time today, I have notice a slight transmission 'clanking' at lower speeds in lower gears (1-4) which I haven't noticed with the same box in a 1.6 Roadsport. Is this normal ?

Many Thanks
Jon

[Piers917]

My Superlight does the same thing and i've been told it's the LSD and that it's perfectly normal. Does it happen when you re-apply the power after changing gear, and generally at low speed?

[fergus]

it could either be the backlash not set right in the diff, (extremely) worn UJs on the propshaft, or an output shaft bearing collapse on the g/box. get it up on a ramp to get underneath.

There will be someone come along (i.e. Stuart Folds) who can better advise you.

Either way. Problems are (relatively) cheap to fix, so if the rest of the car is right, buy it and get the problem sorted. Or get the problem (if there is one) diagnosed before you buy the car, and use this to negotiate a discount.

PS just because you may end up buying from Caterham, doesn't mean there car will be 100%.... caveat emptor and all that!

[rubystone]

It could even be the clutch release bearing - does it disappear when you put your foot on the cluth?

Note that if the noise does not disappear IMMEDIATELY that you put your foot on the clutch, it could be a bearing in the 6 speed 'box - that's happened to me twice - both times requiring a rebuild.

Finally, the 'diffs can be noisy. Our Superlight has a noisy 'diff, yet my R500 is quiet as a mouse (CRB is noisy though, despite being new last year)

[jjonah]

Thanks so much for your advice really helpful although I've actual ended up with a 5spd Supersport !!

Really looking forward to Caterham ownership (pick up on Saturday) and no doubt will have lots of questions along the way.

Thanks Again

Jon

[rubystone]

jjonah said:

Thanks so much for your advice really helpful although I've actual ended up with a 5spd Supersport !!

Really looking forward to Caterham ownership (pick up on Saturday) and no doubt will have lots of questions along the way.

Thanks Again

Jon

5 speed Supersport - my first car - if it's a 1.6 fine, if a 1.4 you'll get really fed up with it. On track the 5 speed is just not right, but on the road it's fine - a better tourer really. I guess it has 13 inch wheels?

[jjonah]

Hi,
Yes it's a 1.6 with 13" minilites and as I don't have any major desire to track (at the moment) the 5spd box seems to work well.

Thanks again for your advise, really helpful for new boy like me.

Kindest Regards

Jon

[rubystone]

jjonah said:

Hi,
Yes it's a 1.6 with 13" minilites and as I don't have any major desire to track (at the moment) the 5spd box seems to work well.

Thanks again for your advise, really helpful for new boy like me.

Kindest Regards

Jon

You'll enjoy it then. Do try a track day though - start with an airfield day if you need to build up confidence and then graduate to a nice sessioned track day with Bookatrack or Easytrack at a good circuit - I find Brands Indy a good "starter" circuit....