Gears & Axles - Tore my carbon fiber driveshaft...maybe tranny damage too?




verbs
10-02-2002, 03:45 PM
I made a downshift, and BAM tore the thing right up.

It was a solid bang, then it sounded like the tranny was making a wierd metallic whining/rubbing sound while cruising at 75mph or so. I could also smell something burning (maybe the epoxy on the shaft?). When I slowed down and pulled over it didn't seem to make the same noises. The car acted fine. I towed it home that nite.

I threw it on jackstands this morning, and ran it through the gears once, and every gear seemed fine until I hit about 70mph, then the noises came back again.

I looked underneath, and sure enough it was torn right where the shaft made contact with the d/s loop. There was even red paint on the shaft from the loop.

I'm hoping the T-56 is OK (not sure). Is there any good way to check?? I was thinking about draining the tranny fluid to see if there are a lot of metal shavings that come out ?? Not sure if that will tell all.

It tore (I think), because a while back my torque arm bracket that attaches the torque arm to the 12 bolt rear end broke, and that caused my drivetrain to move in directions it wasn't supposed to. Therefore, my c/f d/s probably rubbed against the d/s loop, burning away some of the epoxy on the shaft, and weakening it a bit. Well finally, this last down shift I did snapped it right at the weak point.


DaveSchott
10-02-2002, 04:31 PM
The cf shaft is significantly larger in diameter. I was worried about my cf rubbing on the d/s loop, so I put the car on stands under the frame rails and lowered (unloaded) the axle all the way to check clearance. I can understand that if you had things move around it got to the point where it rubbed - probably hit a bump or a dip in the road and it just neeeds to contact the d/s for a split second...

calhoon
10-02-2002, 07:42 PM
Where's Delaware? I'm near Toledo.
I would look closely at the bell housing for cracks. The pass side generally takes the biggest hit in a prop"issue". Also look at the x-member mount for dammage. I don't thimk you ran it long enough to score the rear bushing but check it too,especially since you are replacing the seal - right?


Sears
10-02-2002, 08:03 PM
T56 is most likely OK if it did not lock up. Sucks about the DS loop hitting it. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" /> Drain the fluid and look for metallic shavings like you were planning.

Justin

verbs
10-15-2002, 01:43 PM
Tranny is OK!! <img border="0" alt="[judgement]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_judge.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

As it turns out, the bolt that connects my random tech torque arm to my tranny backed out and fell into the crossmember <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" />

That in turn made my drivetrain move into places it wasn't supposed to, and my driveshaft then hit the loop, and the loop burned right through it. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" />

But I got a new c/f shaft so all is good. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

Sears
10-15-2002, 07:09 PM
That is good to hear! <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

Justin

justin sutton
10-15-2002, 10:22 PM
Damn I bet that shaft was cheap!

verbs
10-16-2002, 12:54 AM
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by justin sutton:
<strong>Damn I bet that shaft was cheap!</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I wish! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" />

First one was $670, second one was $500 <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />