Technical Panda 4x4 viscous coupling

[portland_bill]

Shop4Parts can get one for me - £881 + VAT.....

Shop 4 Parts can be great and I like the guys, but sometimes I don't know what they are thinking.

I guess that's the best price they can make it. Sources might be scarce, limited to the OE manufacturer, even if supplied as an aftermarket part.
With all the vehicles that still exist, across Europe, the demand would still be small, and it seems there are not plentiful specialists advertising refurbished ones.

There was a previous post, where someone found a specialist who rebuilt his, but apparently does not want to do another. There are other viscous coupling specialists, it might be a long haul, talking to them all until one is willing to have a look. As far as I understand it, it is a GKN part, so whilst a specific size for Panda, will otherwise be 'standard' GKN.

 

[koalar]

Are we sure its faulty

I have no idea how much force that's required to turn a panda one, looks similar to some others which normally are around 20-40 nm

 

[NigelO]

Are we sure its faulty

I have no idea how much force that's required to turn a panda one, looks similar to some others which normally are around 20-40 nm

I inserted a long bolt through the centre of the coupling, then locked it solid with a tapered washer and nut. I then put the coupling in a bench vice and attacked the through bolt with a 30” breaker bar. It didn’t move at all - I suspect I put 200+nm into it.

I’d say it was faulty….

 

[koalar]

I inserted a long bolt through the centre of the coupling, then locked it solid with a tapered washer and nut. I then put the coupling in a bench vice and attacked the through bolt with a 30” breaker bar. It didn’t move at all - I suspect I put 200+nm into it.

I’d say it was faulty….

I haven't touched a Panda viscous coupling

I am guessing it similar to the GKN used in the freelander where half the plates inside connect to one side and the others to the other

It's easy to test on the bench as there are shafts coming out both side

Your method of testing does not sound right to me, it sound like the two side are being locked together

Maybe something got lost in the discription

Maybe I an totally wrong

But my head some very large axle loads have been applied to the bearings that weren't designed for it.

 

[porta]

I haven't touched a Panda viscous coupling

I am guessing it similar to the GKN used in the freelander where half the plates inside connect to one side and the others to the other

It's easy to test on the bench as there are shafts coming out both side

Your method of testing does not sound right to me, it sound like the two side are being locked together

Maybe something got lost in the discription

Maybe I an totally wrong

But my head some very large axle loads have been applied to the bearings that weren't designed for it.

In theory it is similar, but with a lot less fail rate than the freelander…I mean, how many issues with it have been reported on here! All those plate/viscous couplings work on the same principle, it’s just in build, complexity and application that they differ
You would think GKN would be able to advise, even if it’s been passed on to a third party, but I’ve not been able to find much information via the net. I remember Car magazine doing an article on the 169 detailing the full 4x4 system, with drawings, but it’s not on the net… Someone must have access to the e-manual

 

[NigelO]

Your method of testing does not sound right to me, it sound like the two side are being locked together

Maybe something got lost in the discription

Maybe I an totally wrong

The Panda unit is quite different to the Freelander coupling. The Panda coupling has a centre splined tube that locates onto the input shaft of the rear diff. The coupling casing bolts to the propshaft flange. Therefore, the method of testing is to see whether the inner splined tabe/shaft moves independently of the casing.

 

[koalar]

The Panda unit is quite different to the Freelander coupling. The Panda coupling has a centre splined tube that locates onto the input shaft of the rear diff. The coupling casing bolts to the propshaft flange. Therefore, the method of testing is to see whether the inner splined tabe/shaft moves independently of the casing.

Ahh now I see

 

[chris3234]

They are clearly NOT worth dealing with ignorant ******** Not heard of a Panda 4x4 wnhat on earth do they work on? Meccano!!!

I imagine a lot of people have never heard of a 4x4 panda if it wasn't for this forum I certainly wouldn't have

 

[The Panda Nut]

I imagine a lot of people have never heard of a 4x4 panda if it wasn't for this forum I certainly wouldn't have

Great shame on them all. We will forgive you as you know now and are enlightened.

 

[DaveMcT]

4 x 4 Panda has been discussed in the Car press ever since it came on the market.

 

[chris3234]

4 x 4 Panda has been discussed in the Car press ever since it came on the market.

And the ammout of people reading car press mags and article is probably sub 10% of the population


I would put £20 on the fact that I ky a small amount of the UK population knows there's a 4x4 panda


Italy where the car is much more common is quite different

 

[DaveMcT]

And the ammout of people reading car press mags and article is probably sub 10% of the population.

But 4x4 "experts" fall into that 10%.

 

[porta]

But 4x4 "experts" fall into that 10%.

And there are 30% more that read newspapers and, even recently, the 4x4 panda featured in them…they all have motoring sections…

 

[NigelO]

Is anyone here any good with Eper? I really struggle with it. I'm trying to find out if the viscous coupling for the 1.3 diesel is the same as for the 1.2 petrol.

Can anyone help?

 

[koalar]

Is anyone here any good with Eper? I really struggle with it. I'm trying to find out if the viscous coupling for the 1.3 diesel is the same as for the 1.2 petrol.

Can anyone help?

Looks the same to me,

Here the part listed under 1.2 and the diesel

I take it you didn't buy the brand new one at £200 I posted earlier, would they not post to the UK

 

[Johnspanda]

I suspect I know the answer to this…..

my viscous coupling has seized solid on my newly-acquired 2007 4x4. Apparently, I have three options:

1. Pay Fiat about 90% of what I paid for the car for a new one
2. Find a decent secondhand unit
3. Find somewhere that repairs them

I think #2 is probably my best bet - anyone know where I might find one?

if not, #3 is an option. I found a thread on this forum suggesting that NCA motors could help, but they don’t do it now.

thanks in anticipation

Hi I have not long bought a 2006 1.2 4x4 169. Have had to do a few job's on it including a propshaft centre bearing. Can I ask what was the symptoms on yours rhat made you think something was wrong.

 

[NigelO]

Looks the same to me,

Here the part listed under 1.2 and the diesel

I take it you didn't buy the brand new one at £200 I posted earlier, would they not post to the UK

Thanks for the Eper info (I assume those are very old prices....)

I contacted two Italian companies - both are selling refurb units (which I'm not averse to) but they both want me to post my current unit to them first - postage costs are going to be prohibitive....

 

[NigelO]

Hi I have not long bought a 2006 1.2 4x4 169. Have had to do a few job's on it including a propshaft centre bearing. Can I ask what was the symptoms on yours rhat made you think something was wrong.

When turning, it felt like the brakes were dragging really badly. The tighter the turn, the more the braking effect. It's the equivalent of a welded differential on a drift car, except that it's a front/rear lock-up, rather than side to side.

 

[koalar]

Thanks for the Eper info (I assume those are very old prices....)

I contacted two Italian companies - both are selling refurb units (which I'm not averse to) but they both want me to post my current unit to them first - postage costs are going to be prohibitive....

This one

PROMETEO MECCANICA - Albero di trasmissione per Panda 4x4 -

Strada degli Schiocchi 42, 41124 Modena - Tel:059/351797 - Prometeo Meccanica progetta e costruisce accessori speciali per autoveicoli. Vedi Telai automobilistici, Differenziali autobloccanti, Coppa Olio Maggiorata, Giunto Panda, ...

www.prometeomeccanica.it

Brand new

 

[NigelO]

That's the company that markets the manual replacement for the viscous coupling (with the lever in the cabin) - they bought the new coupling to help them design the replacement. They sold it ages ago, but never bothered to take it off their website (I suspect they've left it there as a potential source of leads for their products)