Help! Binding Driveline - Any Ideas?

Exaran · #1 01-30-2004, 12:52 PM

My xmod's always been a little unstable, and LOUD, but I figured that was normal. One of my friends finally got a xmod the other day, and his is MUCH quieter, faster, and a lil more stable.

After observing it a little closer, I saw that my drivers side rear wheel was locking up every time my car lost traction (which happens VERY often). When I run it off the floor (no load), sometimes only the passenger side wheel spins. If the driver side starts spinning, it stops as soon as I let off the gas while the passenger side continues to coast for a second or two.

I figured I must have gotten some dirt in there, so I dissasembled the whole rear, even removing the bushings and taking apart the diff, and cleaned and oiled everything...

The problem is still there!!!

When I tested the rear in various states of half-assembly everything works fine. Everything spins freely without noise. When I put it all together, however, the binding returns. If i hold the rear section in my hand, and hold the drivers side wheel, the passenger wheel and diff will spin for a few secs when i give them a whirl. If I do the opposite, I can feel resistance and get no free spinning.

Everything has some slop, and nothing looks like its rubbing on anything. There doesnt appear to be any flash on any plastic parts either.

The thing I wonder about is the inner part of the driveshafts (the parts that go into the diff) the side that works is metal, and the bad side is plastic....

Can anyone help shed some light on my prob?

Exaran · #2 01-30-2004, 05:17 PM

That part isnt breaking or too loose, I have started to think that it may be TOO tight. When I said that the diff spun, the axle from the stuck wheel all the way into the diff would be still (including the gear attached to the axle inside the diff) and the diff was spinning like its supposed to with the good wheel. I had the motor off, so the diff was allowed to spin freely....I'm not sure if thats any more clear

After thinking about it at work all day, I'm gonna take just the diff and the inner axles in my hands and see if there is any binding in the diff. If it's not that, then I will look harder at that joint cup. I may actually need to widen the slots in it. Cause I think the pins on the outer axle may be getting stuck in the slots in the cup...?

I'm VERY certain that nothing is broken or breaking. I had EVERYTHING in the rear apart, and it all looked good. Theres just some tiny thing that sticks when you put the whole thing back together

Just another clarification: It doesnt totally jam, like it would if the cup was like you said. It just gets slight constant resistance as it turns. Which is enough to screw a lot of stuff up when the car is this small

slugbugg · #3 01-31-2004, 07:04 AM

Do you have the AWD kit installed?

I noticed that the dogbone would bind in the cup on the left rear side when I put my first AWD kit in.
It binds because the AWD kits suspension arm is not molded right so I just used the stock yellow arms and it is fine.

aperson · #4 01-31-2004, 09:40 AM

take the wheel off that doesnt spin and see if it works ok. if it does you need to loosten the wheel nut and pull the wheel away from the A arm. if it doesnt you may need to get the ball bearing upgrade

Patriot13 · #5 01-31-2004, 12:11 PM

My friends car has a similar sounding problem. His car is really loud compared to mine and it's constantly loosing traction in the rear (RWD only). I don't know the solution, but let me know if you figure out what's causing it so I can try to fix his. - Thanks

pacificwarriors · #6 01-31-2004, 04:16 PM

if it revs really high in a corner then it is your differential. This happened 2 mine also so i locked it now it is fine

Exaran · #7 01-31-2004, 04:49 PM

Well, after much testing I narrowed it down to two things. The diff gets kinda "gritty" feeling sporatically as I turn it (with just the diff and inner axles in my hands) It looks clean inside, and I even oiled it, but it didnt get any better.

The other thing I noticed is that the outer axel for the wheel has a rough spot in the metal right where it rides in the bushings. Way to do an awesome polishing job, Radioshack.

So, since it's nothing major that I can really fix, I'm just gonna have to hope that the ball diff (from the AWD) and bearing kit will solve this. When I can afford them, that is.

I'll keep thinking though, its good to know that someone else has this prob too. It'll motivate me to find a fix

The only other source of the noise could be the mesh of the pinion and spur gear (the colored one). Mine are kinda far apart so only the tips of the teeth catch. I may sand down my motor mount so they'll mesh better

neurokinetik · #8 01-31-2004, 04:54 PM

I had a warped diff that was causing problems with binding up. It seemed alright, but when you ran the car, it was noticibly slower than it should have been. Swapping the diff fixed it. BTW, I am using gear diffs both front and rear on both cars.

Exaran · #9 01-31-2004, 04:56 PM

Is it a major hassle to order just a diff? I would return the car, but I already painted it

SimonTr · #10 01-31-2004, 06:14 PM

My friend had the same problem with his skyline. the cup rod that connects to the right wheel if your looking at the car from the back does not speen as fast as the left. i tired everything to fix it and still no luck. but one day i had as extra cup rod laying on the table while i was trying to fix his car again and notice that his rod was shorting then the one i order. so then i compare it with the front cup rod and find it was just a little longer but shorter then the one i order. so i pop in the one that i order and the car works find now. if you can asked your friend the take completely take apart his rear end and compare it with your parts.

Exaran · #11 01-31-2004, 07:59 PM

^^Interesting idea, I may try that, if he'll let me...

I may just start ordering a whole new rear end from RS. I'll just keep the extra for spares...

SimonTr · #12 02-01-2004, 12:34 AM

If you know the guy at RS well, asked him if he could give you the rear end from one of the returns. I I get returns for 10$ at my RS

Exaran · #13 02-01-2004, 12:01 PM

I may try doing that at another store. All the people at the one around the corner from me are lame-brain jacklegs.

Hey, Badcompany (if you see this), do you know any well-staffed or otherwise good RS's around our area?

neurokinetik · #14 02-01-2004, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Exaran
Is it a major hassle to order just a diff? I would return the car, but I already painted it

Well, I happend to have a spare from my parts car, and since I have two AWD kits, I could have used a ball diff if I really had to.

Exaran · #15 02-02-2004, 01:43 AM

Well, I finally solved the problem. I went to a different RS and presented my dilemma. They wouldn't sell me a return, but the guy did help me swap my rear end with one from a return for free.

I just got back from racing with my supra buddy, and we're on even ground now

Thanks for all the help!!