Transmission Problems

[mark.rowe]

Hello All,

Just returned from 4 months working at sea the other day so with the nice sunshine on Saturday I thought i'd take the cerb for a good run over to the Lake District.

Seamed to be running fine all of the way there, then when pulling onto a roundabout there was a large klunk noise and I had lost all drive. Had to be sent home on a lowloader

The engine still runs, I can engage all gears but upon releasing the clutch nothing happens!
I was thinking maybe prop shaft bolts had sheared, or output shaft on gearbox?

Anyone any ideas?

If it is the gearbox output shaft, how much does a recon gearbox normally cost, and how difficult a job is it to change a gearbox on these cars?

Cheers
Mark.

[njw 77]

Sounds very similar to my car at Santa Pod last month. Snapped a drive shaft at a guess. Part is about £250 plus fitting (unless you are going to do it yourself?)

[mark.rowe]

Both drive shafts to the rear wheels looked ok.

Maybe the prop shaft though?

[njw 77]

Sorry Mark, Im now at the limitations of my technical knowledge. Ive had 2 drive shafts go so thought that was a good guess. Maybe its just a bolt or 3 come loose? (In the words of Brian and his mates, always look on the bright side of life )

[mark.rowe]

Cheers!

I'm off to jack it up now and see if I can get a better look at what could be wrong!

Fingers crossed it'll be some broken bolts or shaft, but i've got a bad feeling it could be the gearbox

[mark.rowe]

I've just been and had a look and the prop shaft turns when the car is in gear.
If I increase the engine revs the prop shaft rotates faster also.

One drive shaft was rotating but the wheel was not.
The other drive shaft was not turning at all.

Anyone have any ideas of what could cause this.

Maybe the diff? or problem with the limited slip??
My knowledge is very basic when it comes to gearboxes/diffs/clutches etc.

[crazycats]

mark.rowe said:

I've just been and had a look and the prop shaft turns when the car is in gear. If I increase the engine revs the prop shaft rotates faster also. One drive shaft was rotating but the wheel was not. The other drive shaft was not turning at all. Anyone have any ideas of what could cause this. Maybe the diff? or problem with the limited slip?? My knowledge is very basic when it comes to gearboxes/diffs/clutches etc.

Sounds like your gearbox and propshaft are OK.

Is there any noise from the diff? If not, then it's probably OK.

Any play in the CV joints or shafts?

I would guess at a naffed joint, or snapped shaft.

Edited to add, just re-read your post..if the shaft is turning, but the wheel isn't, there's your problem !!!! Outer CV Joint, or stripped shaft splines.

>> Edited by crazycats on Sunday 7th May 16:44

[mark.rowe]

I tried all gears and 5th gear produced a whining noise which sounded to be coming from the rear end.
Although it was hard to pinpoint with the noise of the exhausts ha ha!

When trying to pull away in 5th the car also moved about half an inch!

I haven't checked the CV joints yet, but will have a good look tomorrow.




>> Edited by mark.rowe on Sunday 7th May 16:49

[mark.rowe]

crazycats said:

mark.rowe said: I've just been and had a look and the prop shaft turns when the car is in gear. If I increase the engine revs the prop shaft rotates faster also. One drive shaft was rotating but the wheel was not. The other drive shaft was not turning at all. Anyone have any ideas of what could cause this. Maybe the diff? or problem with the limited slip?? My knowledge is very basic when it comes to gearboxes/diffs/clutches etc. Sounds like your gearbox and propshaft are OK. Is there any noise from the diff? If not, then it's probably OK. Any play in the CV joints or shafts? I would guess at a naffed joint, or snapped shaft. Edited to add, just re-read your post..if the shaft is turning, but the wheel isn't, there's your problem !!!! Outer CV Joint, or stripped shaft splines. >> Edited by crazycats on Sunday 7th May 16:44

Ah thanks alot!
What about the other shaft? it was not turning at all? thats the bit that was confusing me the most.

[crazycats]

mark.rowe said:

What about the other shaft? it was not turning at all? thats the bit that was confusing me the most.

Pretty normal, a diff will take the path of least resistance,

If you hold the turning shaft, the other side should turn, just mind your fingers

>> Edited by crazycats on Sunday 7th May 17:04

[mark.rowe]

Ah!

That explains things!
Thanks a lot for your help

I'll get the wheel off tomorrow and try and get it sorted.
It definately sounds like what you say.

[morebeanz]

Mark

I had a similar problem, which turned out to be a "popped" differential. Where the driveshafts meet the diff, they are held in by some kind of circlip. If worn, these can pop out.

End result for me was the need for a recon diff as both circlip and diff housing were worn.

[mark.rowe]

Just took the outer CV boot off this morning and found that the driveshaft had sheared at the circlip groove before the splines.

Been searching some previous threads and see this seams to be a common problem.

Am I right in thinking that it is best to replace both the shaft and CV joints, or is it ok to replace just the shaft?
I have just phoned TVR Parts for a price and they are getting back to me on it.

I am going to replace the drive shaft myself and have a couple of questions:-

1. Does the drive shaft come straight out by just removing the CV joints allen key bolts on both ends, then removing the circlips once the whole assembly is removed from the car? Or do I need to loosen the bottom wishbone or any other suspension parts to allow for removal?

2. When I remove the CV joint from the Differential end will the oil leak out of the diff? It looks as though it is the same sort of attachment as the outer end so should be ok.

Thanks for Everyones help. It has made my day to find it was only this and not a screwed gearbox as the AA man said!

[crazycats]

mark.rowe said:

Am I right in thinking that it is best to replace both the shaft and CV joints, or is it ok to replace just the shaft?

If the joints are OK, then there's no point replacing them.

mark.rowe said:

1. Does the drive shaft come straight out by just removing the CV joints allen key bolts on both ends, then removing the circlips once the whole assembly is removed from the car? Or do I need to loosen the bottom wishbone or any other suspension parts to allow for removal?

Yep, removal is as you described, shouldn't need to dismantle anything else.

mark.rowe said:

2. When I remove the CV joint from the Differential end will the oil leak out of the diff?

Nope

[NJW 77]

Mark, have a look at both shafts. I say this as I snapped one on Austec's rollers and only got that side replaced, for the other side to go 2 months later on my first run at Santa Pod on the Austec Day...doh!

[350matt]

Are the driveshafts Sierra cosworth? Or TVR specials?
I know the CV joints are Ford Granada

Matt

[mark.rowe]

350matt said:

Are the driveshafts Sierra cosworth? Or TVR specials? I know the CV joints are Ford Granada Matt

I was wondering about this too, been trying to search over previous threads and it seams as though they are TVR specials.

If the CV jonts are Ford Granada it would probably be cheaper to buy the drive shaft seperate then buy the CV joints from Ford righ?

[350matt]

Might be worth contacting Dave Mac in Coventry the will make up custom driveshafts / propshafts to any spec

Matt

[itsallyellow]

They are special units. The cv's are off a sierra cossie. from tvr they are £250. However if you go through track car soloutiouns he can do uprated ones for around £190.

mike

[mark.rowe]

Took the driveshaft / CV assembley off this afternoon.
The diff end CV joint doesn't seam to move so smooth either, so I ended up ordering a complete shaft and Cv joint assembly from TVR Parts.
Cost £306 inc VAT and P&P which I thought was a bit steep, but I want the car back on the road ASAP!! I've only got 3 weeks left in the UK before I go back to work for 2 months

Anyway still a lot cheaper than a recon gearbox as I originally thought, so for once I feel quite happy about shelling out the cash!