Diff went BANG !

[Andy S]

Playing around at Brands Hatch yesterday in the arena as you do and all of a sudden....Bang

Loud thump/bang from the back end and car not nice to drive.
Limped back to display stand parked it and had a beer.....
In checking it over then and since I got it home, there is no obvious breakage, however when the rear wheels are jacked up you can turn one and the other doesnt move then it locks up and they both turn the same way.
Its a Jag rear end , 3.54
Just took the wheels off and had another look and same as above , occasionally there is a clunking noise from the diff but you can still turn the wheels.
So, my questions are - not wishing to drop the rear end if I do not have to;
1, are there any other checks I can carry out to ascertain the actual problem ?
2, is it worth draining the diff oil, checking that for bits of metal etc and removing the rear cover, am I likely to be able to tell anything from that, and then fix it from there ?
Or have I got to bite the bullit and drop it out and get it fixed / replaced.?
All help appreciated.

[Grease Monkey]

If its not a power lock, and both wheels turn the same way at the same time, it's severly buggered.

Sounds like you have some loose teeth or such like in the 3 smaller transfer gears, preventing them from turning, effectively locking the rear axle.

[Clarkson]

Andy,The best thing to do is drain the oil out and remove the diff rear cover, and you will soon see wot's broken. But it's a real pig removing that diff! Still looking for a diff, as my unreliable source has blown me out!!

[Grease Monkey]

From the sounds of it you may well just be putting off the enevitable.

If its stuffed you're going to end up having to remove it anyway, might as well bite the bullet and remove it first, rather than struggle to take the cover off in place.

Found a pic of the internals, if the left anf right wheels turn together the 3 smaller gears are probably locked by a lump of chod, which in turn came from somewhere which is itself stuffed.

[wilf]

There is a technical term for your diff which consists of only a very few letters.

Can you guess what it is yet?

My sympathy - changing diffs on these cars is not fun, and I speak from experience. I too wrecked mine on a race track. These days I keep my racing for the public roads (hint - this is a joke).

[osgood]

Originally Posted by Andy S

Playing around at Brands Hatch yesterday in the arena as you do and all of a sudden....Bang

Loud thump/bang from the back end and car not nice to drive.
Limped back to display stand parked it and had a beer.....
In checking it over then and since I got it home, there is no obvious breakage, however when the rear wheels are jacked up you can turn one and the other doesnt move then it locks up and they both turn the same way.
Its a Jag rear end , 3.54
Just took the wheels off and had another look and same as above , occasionally there is a clunking noise from the diff but you can still turn the wheels.
So, my questions are - not wishing to drop the rear end if I do not have to;
1, are there any other checks I can carry out to ascertain the actual problem ?
2, is it worth draining the diff oil, checking that for bits of metal etc and removing the rear cover, am I likely to be able to tell anything from that, and then fix it from there ?
Or have I got to bite the bullit and drop it out and get it fixed / replaced.?
All help appreciated.

Andy rip it out and send it away to Wards for repair Osgood.:angel:

[gareth08]

Andy,
I have a far better idea.
Rip that Jag one out (I thought these were supposed to be bullet proof ) and replace it with a real FORD one that doesn't break.None of the fords broke :finger: :finger: :finger: :finger: :finger:

[Andy S]

Cheers guys appreciate the advice so far. keep it coming.
Gareth as I said at least my CHEVY broke the Jag rear end !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How was the arena today, a little more subdued than yesterday ?????

[dave.n]

Andy

When Mr Palmer arrived in his helecopter this morning he went grazy, because he had only just re-layed the markings on the tarmac three weeks ago and he could see the mess from the air as he came in.

They quickly re-located the arena and business as usual.

Brands officials say now they know what we want it will be catered for next year.

[gareth08]

Originally Posted by Andy S

Cheers guys appreciate the advice so far. keep it coming.
Gareth as I said at least my CHEVY broke the Jag rear end !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How was the arena today, a little more subdued than yesterday ?????

Andy,
you may as well put a proper engine in (dizzy at the right end) as well while you're at it. :finger: :finger:

At least you'll have Ford parts that won't break then :finger:

Normal duties were resuned in the arena In fact Mr Palmer want's us back to resurface his car park