Massive bang, now no drive...

V

V8P6B

Member
Hi All, I was reversing my car out of the garage this morning to do some work on the front end, and just afterI started moving, there was an almighty bang from under the car, and a horrible grinding noise which changed with engine rpm. Turned everything off & looked under the car, all the driveshafts seem ok, so at first I thought the gearbox had failed in some way. I set my mobile phone on camcorder mode and left it recording under the car while I started up and selected a gear, and what I saw when I watched it back was the propshaft rotating, so I assume the diff has given up, or at least the shaft in the extension housing. Its a pity, cos I'd just about got it ready for summer driving, just needed to bolt the front wing back on, after a small bit of welding, and now its a much bigger job... bummer.... :-( Still, at least it gave up while I was at home, and not screaming down the motorway...
 
If the diff halfshafts have broken ( sounds like it ) that's how they seem to fail, did break a few on my p6 but I was lucky like you as mine broke when moving slowly at home.
Clive.
 
Diff halfshafts seem fine, and the handbrake's holding the car. Prop shaft spins but there's nothing coming out of the diff... I won't know fully til I get into it. Just hope I can fix it before Silverstone Classic...
 
Sorry Clive, when you say diff halfshafts, do you mean internally in the diff housing, e.g. the bit the brake discs and rear drive shafts bolt onto? Can these be changed without dropping the diff?
 
They can
be a bit tricky to identify which one is broken as you can't see them until rear discs removed / unbolt caliper pivots, tie up calipers and remove small halfshafts from diff assembly.
Very rare that the long main shaft in the aluminium front part of diff break.
Ive only replaced one of these.
Clive.
 
Thanks Clive. Sounds like I'm gonna be busy! Will the disc come out if I remove the outer brake pad? Save me mucking about with the calipers too much?
 
Hi, You can remove the discs without disturbing the pads but the outer pads may fall out afterwards. It's as well to take the diff out to separate the casings because any splinters from the broken shaft could do further damage making their way to the bottom.

Colin
 
I would only replace the halfshafts depending on which one is broken, but check both as one may not be broken I have seen halfshafts with a twisted spline which will fail soon.
New shafts can be found but not cheap.
Fitting a second hand diff doesn't guarantee that they won't break again!
Changed quite a few shafts during my p6 ownership.
Second hand shafts are pretty plentiful
I have a couple here if you can't find some.
Clive.
 
Cheers Clive,
I'll let you know how I get on.. I may take you up on it. At least I know what I'm going to be doing on my next set of rest days...
Tony
 
Hi, Back in the day, I always had a couple of pairs of shafts in stock. I used to get them from the breakers yards, when you could, out of P6s especially SC cars because they would likely have had a gentler life. Something to bear in mind if you go that route.

Colin
 
Colin, when you repaired yours, how did you get the broken end out of the diff? I'm struggling with mine. The splined end of the broken shaft is still in place.
 
V8P6B said:
how did you get the broken end out of the diff? I'm struggling with mine. The splined end of the broken shaft is still in place.
Click to expand...

I nearly always managed to get them to pull out with a powerful magnet. Sometimes they needed tapping inwards a bit just to shock things, and often they'd start coming out on the magnet but not quite get there, but eventually they came out. I think it was only once I had to take the crownwheel and diff cage out and attack it that way.
 
Thanks. I'll find a stronger magnet tomorrow & give it a go. I've already tried with a magnetic pickup tool. Not strong enough...
 
Hi, Yes, Pretty much the same as Harvey. You can get a slim electrical screwdriver through past the pin to push it out from the other side. Just a thought, have you got the crownwheel and diff cage out of the diff casing? I always did to make sure I could wash any 'shrapnel' out.

Colin

Edit: Forget that about the screwdriver going past the pin I've just realised it a 4 pin diff, I was thinking about Land Rover 2 pin's.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top