gear box/driveshaft noise?

[matt_elan]

Hi all! in Nov I was forced 2 fit a nem gearbox in my 91 elan as an engine mount went and snapped the guides off the box. I also fitted a new nearside Driveshaft as was long over due. Since then I have had a rumbling may be slightly grinding noise as soon as i start 2 coast. as soon as u touck the throotle even a little then it goes? also im losing gear oil outof the driveshaft seal. near side. so I jacked her up yesterday 2 have look and noticed play in the shaft, the cv part where it enters box? in and out movement but more strangely up and down? the box i fitted had 36k on it. any ideas??

[matt_elan]

no clues then anyone??;(

[Doug]

. . . waiting for Candles . . . ? ? ?

[Monty]

I`m no expert, but i`ve got a whining gear box which i think is the Diff bearings but i get the noise all the time ie in neutral, high/low speed.

1st thing can u not go back to the garage who did the work?
do u still get the noise when u dip the clutch?
was there new driveshaft seals fitted?

i wonder if the snap ring on the end of the drive shaft which goes in to the gearbox is missing, but not sure if this is just on the nearside drive shaft:?
Make sure the centre shaft bracket bolts are tight.

[Candles]

Monty has some good points here, check those first. His point about the centre bearing is valid, i.e are you sure it is coming from the nearside?

The driveshafts will move a little bit on the output splines of the gearbox, but obviously not enough to cause an oil leak, so that suggestion of the circlip might be a good one. Unfortunately to me, with the symptoms changing with the power on/off make it sound like an internal fault i.e. the bearings either side of the diff (or final drive to use another name) or somewhere else in the gearbox.

Now obviously this is expensive and a pain in the arse so you need to eliminate other, cheaper fixes first. My plan of attack would be:

1) Fix driveshaft oil leak by refitting driveshaft with new circlip and oil seal (as this has to be done anyway). On removing the seal you will be able to prod your (clean) fingers into the diff bearings and check to see if there is a huge amount of play. I hope there isn't!

2) Whilst car is up on jacks, check right hand jack-to-driveshaft centre bearing for play and free running. In my experience they have a little bit of play but leave the LH driveshaft disconnected and you should be able to turn it easily by hand and feel the bearing (assuming you have not got a Quaife).

3) Check both wheel bearings very carefully. These are relatively cheap to fix and in my experience can sound like all sorts of other things. Mine produced a rumble that I thought was a warped disc. How many miles has the car got? Mine went at ~110k.

4) Drive car in car park at full lock slowly in a circle and listen for any CV joint noise.

I'll try and think of some more things to check before having to get another gearbox! Did your replacement come with any warranty?

Candles.

[brett]

Iam the bloke that fited the gearbox ,movement of theshort shaft pas side is fairly large as said i would expect some in out movement but not up/down complete new shaft with inner and out joints was fitted at same time,alone with 2 new oil seals and shaft curclip.I am guessing the up/down movement is stretching the oil seal allowing oil to capiller out on shaft really was just asking any of you guys/girls if u could grab hold of this shalf and give it a wobble for me. As i only drive an espirit i have no other car to check this on.Many thanks Brett

[Candles]

Hi there Brett and Matt,

If it moves a lot and oil is coming out, then it is moving too much. That combined with the rumbling would make me suspect the bearing on the passenger's side of the diff is shot.

If I grab the inner tulip-joint on the nearside driveshaft I can only just move it a few mm in any direction.

Is there a warranty on the gearbox?

Candles.

[Guest]

hey candles.
no warranty ;( is there an option of getting the bearing replaced? is a a job we could take on or will it need 2 be done by a reconditioning place?