So i was going along the motorway with a fair amount of weight in the boot, and as i came off the power there was a horrific shuddering noise while coasting in gear, which disappeared when i pressed the accelerator again. The shuddering got worse and worse until i got to the end of the motorway and had to come to a stop. As i was braking, I came out of 6th gear, went to select a lower gear and i couldnt find one as the selector positions seemed to have moved, i eventually found what i thought was 3rd, slid it in and after a big clunk, no power. Pulled over, got the car up on a recovery truck and the rear gearbox mount has failed, leaving the gearbox resting on the support beam, and the passenger side driveshaft tore itself off at the knuckle (the knuckle is still in the gearbox keeping all the oil in, but the rest of the driveshaft is dangling down from the wheel). It's clear i need a new gearbox mount and driveshafts, but is it likely that something within my gearbox is destroyed or should i be okay repairing just those parts?

Any response is greatly recieved, if anyone has experienced anything like this before would love some info before i go to a "gearbox specialist" who try to charge me far too much.

Thanks

Ben

Hi Ben,

I would put things back in place, so the GB would be realigned properly; Temporary rig will be enough (piece of wood, brick, concrete block..) Then check if you can now shift gears again (no need to actually engage clutch) If it's ok then I would proceed with the shaft replacement and of course the new support...
Maybe you'll be lucky (kind of ;-) and nothing more was broken...

BRs, Bernie

Bernievarian said:

Hi Ben,

I would put things back in place, so the GB would be realigned properly; Temporary rig will be enough (piece of wood, brick, concrete block..) Then check if you can now shift gears again (no need to actually engage clutch) If it's ok then I would proceed with the shaft replacement and of course the new support...
Maybe you'll be lucky (kind of ;-) and nothing more was broken...

BRs, Bernie

Click to expand...

Okay so having jacked the gearbox up i can now see at least some of the damage. Not sure what order this has happened, but the rear mount seems to have failed so suspected, but the passenger side mount has completely capitulated and some of the bolts have even sheared straight off. The engine has fallen forwards and is leaning on the front of the engine bay.

Write off?

sirr0m17 said:

Okay so having jacked the gearbox up i can now see at least some of the damage.
Write off?

Click to expand...

Depends whos doing the work..and supplying the parts.

Chances are a mount has failed..took out an overloaded 2nd mount.. then the driveshaft was out of its range of motion..so quit.

TBh..youve not helped by driving it.

Cheap parts bill is 150/200

So : possible if you do it yourself

write off ?

I wouldn't go that fast ! You've probably already seen that not "all is broken/torn/sheared off". One must consider the general state of the rest (remains ? ;-) of the car; if it's actually a pile of garbage full of dents, leaking everywhere etc. I would probably pull it away; but if it's still decent, I believe it's worth to -at least- investigate what's broken/needs replacement; best would be to source the same, but rear-crashed, GP from a scrapyard ...

BRs, Bernie

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