Is a differential meant to do this?

[Adam230K]

Ok i have a very important question here and this could lead to me going back to the indy's that i thought i trusted and really having a go at them.

We removed the exhaust fully and we had the propshaft infront of us, now i must explain that the car is on a ramp with all four wheels unable to move in any shape or form, and the handbrake is up and the gearbox is in neutral. We can spin the propshaft for more than a quarter of a revolution.

is this at all normal? I really dont know what else to think on this. It has enough play to allow for a "bang" sound when in gear transition, because when we put it into first gear, the propshaft is completely solid.

Any help would be appreciated...

 

[Number_Cruncher]

No, it's not at all normal.

Some, small play, the backlash between the teeth on the pinion and the crownwheel is normal, but, that's nowehere near being a quarter of a turn.

Has the car ever had a new pinion oil seal fitted?

Is the prop shaft rear joint in good condition?

I would be very surprised if a replacement diff were not required. Sorry.

 

[Adam230K]

Looking at the diff now actually its leaking oil, and there's oil spalttered all over what seems to be the fuel tank. There's something definately not right about that diff.

The joint is fine... can u explain more about the oil seal thing?

 

[spock500]

Is there a noise when driving it ?

When I had a diff go a a Jag it took ages to get to that stage and long before made a whining noise a anything above 50mph -

Is it a standard diff or from a sports model with LSD or anti spin?

 

[Dieselman]

That propshaft movement definitely isn't normal, it sounds like either the differential bearings have gone or the input shaft nut is loose allowing the spider to float about and leak.
Can you lift the drive shafts up and down at all?

This would account for the banging of gears. A simple test would have been to accelerate then decelerate whilst in one gear.

 

[Number_Cruncher]

>>can u explain more about the oil seal thing?

As per Dieselman's post, I was thinking about the possibility of someone having replaced the pinion oil seal, and having not secured the drive flange properly, thus allowing it to wear relative to the pinion shaft itself, and also to allow oil past.

It's sounding more and more like you need a replacement diff. Once the drive flange has been rattling around on the pinion shaft, the two will never go back together properly again.

 

[Adam230K]

That propshaft movement definitely isn't normal, it sounds like either the differential bearings have gone or the input shaft nut is loose allowing the spider to float about and leak.
Can you lift the drive shafts up and down at all?

This would account for the banging of gears. A simple test would have been to accelerate then decelerate whilst in one gear.

Yes test was done, and it used to bang on acceleration and decceleration. And Yes, i do get a really horrible noise to indicate that the differential has been drained of oil.

Also i think i'm gonna go back to "M-Only" or "Mercs Only" whatever they're called and ask for my money back. They had a diagnosis sheet saying on it "DIFFERENTIAL OK" and "PROPSHAFT OK", they clearly didnt check them properly, especially not for 90 quid.

One other thing that i need to show you guys that we spotted just before i left the garage today... (its at the bottom of the text)

Now how stupid does a mechanic need to be NOT to spot this?!?! I mean it was so obvious, my fuel tank was SOAKED in oil, also the place around where the diff is sitting is SOAKED in oil.

I'm so angry at my specialist for making me buy the god damn gearbox when he could've spotted this (like he should have) and told me it had a damn hole in it.

The differential definately needs to get replaced but i'm really worried now. I hope dronsfield either refund/exchange their gearbox (which remains untouched).

What do you guys think? should i pay a visit to these indy's and see if i can get a refund on a job they "claimed" to have done?

 

[Dieselman]

What do you guys think? should i pay a visit to these indy's and see if i can get a refund on a job they "claimed" to have done?

What job is the Indie supposed to have done.? I thought they just inspected the car.

As far as Dronsfields goes, maybe they will refund but talk to them about a diff first, as they might be more interested then.

That diff backplate is definately showing signs of something having escaped suddenly..

 

[Adam230K]

I specifically asked the indie to check the diff, and the propshaft. and it says this on the diagnosis sheet "checked diff/propshaft under customer instruction".

 

[Dieselman]

Is this the Indie with a Technician called Stevie Wonder, by any chance.?

 

[Adam230K]

I'm not familiar with any names of the technicians as i dont talk to them much, but there's an indian guy who sits at a desk, in the reception area. I do know one of them is called "marawan" and he's an arab, mercedes mechanic, but thats as much as i know.

Definately paying them a visit... i thought i could trust them... i also service my car there regularly, so if i dont get a satisfying response to this query i'll go elsewhere.

 

[wobbly]

How could any mechanic miss a hole in a diff that size.

 

[Smiley]

Only if it was indeed stevie wonder.

 

[wobbly]

Only if it was indeed stevie wonder.

Think that went over Rage's head.

 

[Will]

Yes test was done, and it used to bang on acceleration and decceleration. And Yes, i do get a really horrible noise to indicate that the differential has been drained of oil.

Also i think i'm gonna go back to "M-Only" or "Mercs Only" whatever they're called and ask for my money back. They had a diagnosis sheet saying on it "DIFFERENTIAL OK" and "PROPSHAFT OK", they clearly didnt check them properly, especially not for 90 quid.

One other thing that i need to show you guys that we spotted just before i left the garage today... (its at the bottom of the text)

Now how stupid does a mechanic need to be NOT to spot this?!?! I mean it was so obvious, my fuel tank was SOAKED in oil, also the place around where the diff is sitting is SOAKED in oil.

I'm so angry at my specialist for making me buy the god damn gearbox when he could've spotted this (like he should have) and told me it had a damn hole in it.

The differential definately needs to get replaced but i'm really worried now. I hope dronsfield either refund/exchange their gearbox (which remains untouched).

What do you guys think? should i pay a visit to these indy's and see if i can get a refund on a job they "claimed" to have done?

And they've been servicing this car...

I think on the MB service schedule, one of the items to check is for 'leaks from major components' (ie diff, gearbox, engine)
That looks like a reasonable leak to me!

Hope you get it sorted. Remember, don't get angry with Dronsfields over the gearbox if you call them - it's not any of their fault after all. Maybe as Dieselman has mentioned, ask nicely if they'd do you a deal on swapping for a replacement diff?

Will

 

[Dieselman]

My guess says Stevie and his mates knew this was the diff but though they could stripe more out of a gearbox job so went with that.

That leak doesn't look at all new to me. How did you miss it when first working under the car.?

 

[Adam230K]

Yeah i didnt catch the stevie wonder joke ... sorry too stressed out to pick up anything like that at the moment.

We spotted it leaking... but didnt realise we had a hole in it. Once we saw the propshaft was acting the way it did, this prompted us to look at the diff, and my friends dad (who is the mechanic) was telling me and his son "ARE YOU MORONS BLIND OR WHAT? CANT YOU SEE THIS HOLE?", he's calling us morons and we're 22 yr old non-mech's... imagine what my specialists must be...

I contacted Dronsfield and they are prepared to take the gearbox back, but i have to send it to them. They will also minus the surcharge (25%) and minus the delivery charge out of what i paid them... so i lost £100 just by buying the wrong part .

They quoted me on a diff for £170 all in with delivery garauntee bla bla etc etc. but isn't that too much?

I'm really stuck as to whether i should return the gearbox and get a refund or just exchange it for the diff and get the difference refunded (which by the end of all their deductions it will be non-existant).

 

[Adam230K]

Also one other thing, does anyone know where i can buy the right size key to fit into the driveshafts? we tried halfords today but with no avail.

 

[Dieselman]

That does surprise me, it's a standard torx socket.

Any motorist shop or somewhere like GSF or tool shop.

 

[davidjpowell]

Rage

Have you looked at their Terms and conditions - it looks to me like if you have bought the part in the last 7 days they should not charge a restocking fee. This is off their website.

9.Cancellation9.1

In the event the Customer is acting as a consumer in a distance contract as defined by the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling Regulations) 2000 - the Customer may cancel the Contract within seven days of the Contract and receive a refund of the Price.​

9.2

In the event the Contract is cancelled in accordance with Condition 9.2 the Customer is under a duty to retain possession of, take good care of and following cancellation return the Goods to the Company: -​

9.2.1in a reasonable condition within 21 days of the cancellation of the Contract 9.2.2pay to the Company any reasonable costs incurred by the Company in recovering the Goods 9.2.3the cost of any damage to the Goods damaged in transport; and 9.2.4

the difference, if any, between the value of the Goods when so returned and the Price:​

9.3The Company will issue the Customer with a credit note for any order of Goods cancelled within the permitted cancellation period permitted under this contract.

Don't know if that helps you or not.

David