Need possible diagnosis regarding tranny/axle
 

OK. I had my passenger side axle replaced two days ago: bought it used of off a guy from m3f and said it was working fine..... on the way home from work tonight, going about 60, one of two things happened: a) axle snapped or b) the lsd or syncros took a shit dive

I'll be tearing it up again tomorrow to see but here's the time line and let's take educated guesses as to what it could be. Please note that engines idle, a/f ratio, etc..... are all normal.

As I'm driving I hear a big loud snap sound (come from the front) came lose and hit the bottom of the car as I felt it-- never got to see what it was. I pulled over and inspected everything from the outside: wheel bolts in tack; looked under the car and everything was normal.... no engine oil, no tranny oil... etc....

I get back into the car, throw it in 1st, and slowly start to drive off and suddenly it's like it hits a fucking wall- the car comes to a full stop. I tried to take off in 1st, 2nd and 3rd..... nothing. After I got towed of off the highway I let the car sit there for a while and attempted to get it moving again which the car then would take off in 1st gear (whether it was because I started the car in N or 1st- it didn't matter) it would roll but never attempted to shift to 2nd.

When I got the car moving I would slowly come to a stop apply the break and simultaneously it's like it had hit that wall again along with the brake pedal going to the floor.. however, the break pedal would come back pressurized.

The big thing is that I was able to move the car in Reverse- I had it towed home (paid 165) and Reversed back into my garage...made few small attempts to put in first and and slowly creep forward- which I did with success.....

I should also pin point that if the car is turned off with the key in the 'on' position- the steering wheel will not turn in either direction.

My assumption at this point is I was sold a faulty axle and it snapped on me- giving the symptoms described above. I won't know for sure WTF has happened especially what snapped off and came off the car going 60 on the highway......

till then- what's your take?

PS: just passed 2am.... should have been home 3 hours ago....

that kinda sounds when i snapped the pinion and ring gear off my differential in my vega.


but i dount u busted your diff.... the brake pedal going all the way down u have to assume that is related to the clutch since they share fluid..... u prolly have a shit ton of broken shit inside the tranny......

good luck ese

Good luck man...

But in case you need tranny, I haz one...

I'm trying to be as optimistic as I possibly can. Even though I'm not ruling out the the tranny- but I'm trying to figure out how it happened if that's the case. I mean the car has been sitting in the garage for over a month because I was looking for a replacement axle then additional 3 weeks to get it..... regardless, everything was fine up to last night. No grinding of the gears, no rattling/grinding- even after I heard something snap and hit the bottom of the car then go under and out the back..... sigh.

Even prior to this... the car has hardly been driven aggressively and/or at all. Shit, this thing only has 18k miles on it. Regardless I won't know until I tear into this again either today or sometime this week.

Let's say it is the tranny- is it possible that a faulty axle- the one I bought- caused this?

I doubt the axle could damage the tranny... Even if the axle locked up solid at the wheel, I would think the CV joints would shear before damaging the transmission...

Cool thanks man. I'll be email you about it if anything- or if worse comes to worse. If it turns out to be the tranny after all I'll take it to the dealer to have them do it under warranty.

Went under tonight to take a look. It checks out. Tranny is OK.

It was the inner caliper bracket that is mounted on top of the rotor held in with two 14mm bolts....somehow the top bolt snapped off, came lose or whatever it did which caused the caliper to dangle on one bolt.

Easy fix.

Wow! That's a first, don't think I've heard if that happening before...

Well... Congrats!!!