Transaxle trouble Options

[Hank914]

I earlier added to the "what you did today thread" but I thought I would start a new thread with some more details on my transaxle troubles.

So I recently installed by rebuilt tranny after the PNW tranny clinic. I also converted from tail to side shift, and all the bushings. The previous owner (40 yrs) rebuilt the engine after 97k miles in 2007, but afaik did nothing on the tranny. The bushings were shot. Last weekend, after logging 120 test miles around Central Oregon, I thought I'd take her down to the Bay Area. About 130 miles into the trip, I hear a loud bang and spin a 360 into the ditch. During the fun, I figured I had a blowout. But not tire problems just a locked up rear differential.

I pulled the tranny and this is what I saw. (Please excuse the large photos, but it adds detail)




So I opened up the tranny case and found some interesting stuff.

Pictures to follow...

[Tbrown4x4]

Well, I'll be following this with great interest.

I assume you were towed home. You never mentioned if the tires were still locked up when it was put on the flatbed.

What seems really strange to me is the torque applied to the ring and pinion should be at its lowest in 5th gear. Just the opposite of a hard launch in 1st.

(Like when my kid brother was popping wheelies in my Corvair powered sand rail. Lots of little pieces came out of the drain plug that day!)

[Hank914]

Well, I'll be following this with great interest.

I assume you were towed home. You never mentioned if the tires were still locked up when it was put on the flatbed.

What seems really strange to me is the torque applied to the ring and pinion should be at its lowest in 5th gear. Just the opposite of a hard launch in 1st.

(Like when my kid brother was popping wheelies in my Corvair powered sand rail. Lots of little pieces came out of the drain plug that day!)

Tires were locked solid on the road. In the gravel ditch. And on the flatbed tow truck. Tow driver was very careful during the load as he is a porsche oldie fan and did not want to damage the diff/transmission. (Lol). He loaded it rear first by putting the bed about 6 inches from the tires, then dragging the car and tires (still locked) onto the start of the flatbed and then added plastic shims under the tires to allow them to slide on the bed as it was pulled to the middle of the flatbed deck. Same during the unload. I then jacked the rear end up and slipped wheel dollies under the rear wheels to move it into the garage to remove the tranny. The tires were locked until I pulled the tranny out.

And I agree about the torque in 5th being lowest. And little pieces were left in the case. I just did not see any big foreign objects to be named the offender. I might have missed it.. Or it might have disintegrated. Interesting that the "tooth" came off so clean and so large. Almost like I used a chisel. And it fits back on clean ad well. Maybe super glue it back? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)