Would like to borrow 1.8l driveshaft

RMS · Post by **RMS** » Tue Aug 16, 2011 5:08 pm

I installed a Torsen diff last weekend and on a test drive I was getting a clanking sound under acceleration.

I haven't had time to check this out fully yet but I'm suspecting the drive shaft as I've been assured that the diff/half shafts are fine and I think the driveshaft was from a different car than the diff/half shafts.

Would anyone have a spare 1.8l driveshaft that they would be willing to loan me this Saturday (20th) so I can rule out the drive shaft? would be interested in purchasing said drive shaft too if mine proves to be the culprit.

WideOpenThrottle · Post by **WideOpenThrottle** » Tue Aug 16, 2011 8:24 pm

If it wasn't clanking before then i can't see it being the cause now-unless there is some re-installation issues!
I assume you have the obvious like LSD oil,etc!

RMS · Post by **RMS** » Tue Aug 16, 2011 8:46 pm

I have a 1.6 so I swapped the diff, driveshaft, halfshafts and rear hub carriers.

The half shafts/hub carriers and diff came off the same car and I'm told these were taken from a perfectly running car. I have no reason to doubt this.

The drive shaft I'm not so sure about which is why I suspect it.

RMS · Post by **RMS** » Tue Aug 16, 2011 8:49 pm

Also, Diff is full of SAE 90 gear oil.

I can't rule out that it isn't the diff/half shafts/wheel bearing and I could quite possibly have mis assembled something but there really isn't that much that can be mis assembled...

Not sure how to test the diff and driveshaft independantly hence why I would like to test the diff with a known good driveshaft

WideOpenThrottle · Post by **WideOpenThrottle** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 9:56 am

If you wiggle & turn the universal joints while it is out of the car you should feel binding/grinding/sideways movement this will indicate failure other wise your driveshaft [may?] be out of balance or bent?

Failing that put it up on a hoist & run it in gear.

RMS · Post by **RMS** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 5:53 pm

The car is on axle stands and it makes the noise idling in 6th gear.

Someone has kindly offered me the use of their driveshaft for the weekend and hopefully this proves to be the solution.

I haven't had time to spend diagnosing it yet because it's parked in a shed 80k's north of where I live, so I really want to be as prepared as possible on Saturday or it's another two weeks before I get another crack at it

WideOpenThrottle · Post by **WideOpenThrottle** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 7:44 pm

Have a look at this site Mazda_MX5_[Miata]_1999_Workshop_Manual[1] I think you may have to google it first

It may help

RMS · Post by **RMS** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 8:09 pm

hey, did you just change that post? I could swear it was about the '90 manual before...

I have quite a few manuals including the '99 one I think but the earliest is '92 so that '90 manual is nice to have... It has the correct torque value for my short nose crank bolt too which is promising because none of the others do.

The diff is from a '95 NA.

I'm really hoping it's just the drive shaft because the car was fine before, I was assured that the diff is fine, and there's really not much I could have done to assemble it incorrectly.

WideOpenThrottle · Post by **WideOpenThrottle** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 9:04 pm

yeah! i did put the other one on & then remembered about you having a six speed so thought the NB manual would be better.

Here is the other one again

'MX5_Service_1990.pdf' & the password is loftladderman.

RMS · Post by **RMS** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 8:00 pm

I figured it out. On further inspection it seems that the flange on the left hand half shaft had been hitting the exhaust.

When stationary it looked as though there was plenty of clearance but it was pretty obvious where the exhaust had been hit.

I think when it was on the axle stands in 6th gear it must have been slack in the drive train combined with the low rpm that was causing a knocking sound which I mistook for being the same problem that I was seeing on the road under acceleration.

With the exhaust hanging slightly lower it's fine and I love the Torsen.

Angreal · Post by **Angreal** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 8:49 pm

So the torsen is definitely worth it? I just hope my 1.8 came with a torsen dif... On a completely unrelated note, I took my strut brace off to spray it a different colour and I definitely noticed the difference. Hopefully I'll have my car back together completely next weekend so I can take her for a drive after so long

RMS · Post by **RMS** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:27 am

Well I haven't had much time to drive it yet but it definitely feels like I have much more grip accelerating out of corners.

Not sure how noticeable it would be without the turbo though.

I can't wait to get it back to Pukekohe and see the difference it makes through castrol.

Next problem... on my test drive I noticed the clutch was slipping, sigh

Brainflex · Post by **Brainflex** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 5:02 pm

Having test driven with and without a torsen diff, it does make quite a difference having the diff. Just pushes harder out of corners in my opinion.

Would like to borrow 1.8l driveshaft

Would like to borrow 1.8l driveshaft

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