Morning all
Sadly my recently-bought 2005 Panda 4x4 suddenly needs a new gearbox. Happens, I suppose.
Where is the best place for me to find a reconditioned one? Does the 4x4 use the same gearbox as a 2WD? What do I need to watch out for?
Any advice appreciated
Roger

What symptoms?

Grinding sounds when moving. Garage checked it out and says gearbox rather than anything else...

Just checking... heard a long sad story about 4x4 owner who changed out the gearbox. No change. Turned out to be propshaft, even though it looked OK when off.
Not sure what the symptoms were in that case though.

Get a second opinion..

Is it the same grinding sound in all gears? (you should be able to start it easily in second, and without too much trouble in third on a flat road).. take it to someone who does refurbishments of gearboxes, and have them check it out. if its the propshaft, and not the gearbox, then its super simple to swap out yourself..

Hi Tobias
Yes I get the same sound in all gears except first, there doesn't see to be a problem in first... indicates propshaft instead?
Best
Roger

rogerdean said:

Hi Tobias
Yes I get the same sound in all gears except first, there doesn't see to be a problem in first... indicates propshaft instead?
Best
Roger

Click to expand...

I dont know, but afaik a gearbox would go one gear at a time? Unless its something aligning everything... if it was mine I would take it to a dedicated gearbox place or try to figure out what else is wrong first yo assess if it is at all worth the cost of reburbishing the gearbox..

Thanks Tobias. I've been quoted more than the value of the car to reburb the gearbox (not to mention getting the car from Inverness to Sunderland), so if that really is the problem then I'll be getting one from a breaker instead I guess. I've told the garage about the messages here and he'll have the propshaft off next week to make absolutely sure...

rogerdean said:

Hi Tobias
Yes I get the same sound in all gears except first, there doesn't see to be a problem in first... indicates propshaft instead?
Best
Roger

Click to expand...

Including reverse?

Good question - don't know. It's at the garage now so I'll ask them to check. What would a yes/no indicate?

You people are awesome. Garage just rang (I told them about this conversation last night) and told me it is indeed just a propshaft bearing. Donating to this site now. Thank you!

First and reverse share some components inside the gearbox (I think... It's been a while). If neither are noisy it could point to a stuffed gearbox bearing affecting all the other gears.
Impossible to know without hearing or seeing it.
Have they drained the gearbox oil and inspected it? If it has metal shavings or other shrapnel in the oil then it is conclusively gearbox.
The lack of noise in first suggests gearbox rather than propshaft, but not conclusively.

rogerdean said:

You people are awesome. Garage just rang (I told them about this conversation last night) and told me it is indeed just a propshaft bearing. Donating to this site now. Thank you!

Click to expand...

That'll probably be a new prop as the centre bearing no-one seems to have been able to change to date. About £500ish for the part.

I'd have them remove the prop first and see if the noise disappears - if so then you've found your problem

They seem to sell the centre bearing separately... or am I off-track?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/231605103174?lpid=122&chn=ps&adgroupid=39613511478&rlsatarget=pla-279121862121&adtype=pla&poi=&googleloc=9047017&device=c&campaignid=737386489&crdt=0

rogerdean said:

They seem to sell the centre bearing separately... or am I off-track?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/231605103174?lpid=122&chn=ps&adgroupid=39613511478&rlsatarget=pla-279121862121&adtype=pla&poi=&googleloc=9047017&device=c&campaignid=737386489&crdt=0

Click to expand...

Only in as far as the prop can't be seperated in order to replace it. It's a generic part for a number of props.

Not sure about the Panda propshaft but there are specialists who can strip & refurb a propshaft back to good-as-new.
Don't know if it would be cost-effective for a Panda one, and it's been years since I got one done (for a custom car), but certainly worth checking out, I would have thought.

irc said:

Not sure about the Panda propshaft but there are specialists who can strip & refurb a propshaft back to good-as-new.
Don't know if it would be cost-effective for a Panda one, and it's been years since I got one done (for a custom car), but certainly worth checking out, I would have thought.

Click to expand...

Plenty one here have tried and are yet to find a specialist capable / willing to do it. Plenty of info about

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Plenty one here have tried and are yet to find a specialist capable / willing to do it. Plenty of info about

Click to expand...

Do you know if they tried the types of places that do custom props?
Used to be a place called something like ReconProps or RecoProps who used to make custom propshafts. 2-part prop cost a couple of hundred quid from scratch a few years ago, so I guess it would be more now, but could still be cheaper/easier than finding a new one.
Just an idea... no idea if it will work out or not. Or if they are still going.

I found a complete shaft for circa 350£ including shipping, and its the easiest thing ive changed on the panda yet... prop up the car, take off the protective shield under the propshaft, unbolt the two bolts for thee centre bearing and then undo the six allenkey screws in each end..replacing is literallyreversal of removal...

That doesn't sound so good pricewise... thanks for the warning