Greeting all,

I could not find an answer on this one. I was at the track and had a slight vibration during the first session. Came in checked wheel weights and gave the rear end a once over. Second session 2nd lap I had a spin at relative low speed. Pulled back onto track and made my way back to the pits when I lost all drive and coasted to a stop.

Looked under the car and the drivers side output shaft from the diff is pulled out while still being attached to the Axle. Obviously some fluid came out but not a ton. No noticeable noise at the time of loss of power other than the axle slapping the bottom of the car as it came to a stop.

I will get under it this week and add pics but I've never seen or heard of this before. I looked on the diagrams for our diffs and I can't tell how this shaft is held in place inside the diff.

So the questions are: Diff blown? Easy to reinstall the output shaft? Any idea how this could have happened?

Back story, February I did break the Drivers rear Knuckle just outside of the lower ball joint which attaches to the Knuckle. I am positive this was damaged then and just now showed up. But still what broke?

Thanks!

 

Wouldn't necessarily be a blown diff, check the flange bolts, are they there? Are they broken? Is there any damage to the spider, or axle buckets? You probably broke the knuckle or a ball joint and that allowed enough play in the rear spindle to pull the axle shaft from the diff.

 

All the nuts are still attached and the buckets are intact. In the picture i had removed the 6 bolts.

The axle shaft isn't all the way out of the diff. I'll check it's spline or see if it's torn up. How does that part attach into the diff?

 

It's splined to the carrier in the differential(the thing that bolts to the ring gear), it doesn't look horrible, you might have to take the diff apart to get everything back together(replace your bearings while you're at it if you go this route), but with luck you can just slip in the axle. Looks like you pulled the side flange out of the diff.

 

Thanks. It was really strange that it happened at all. I'll get the diff out and see where I'm at from there.

Hopefull nothing is chewed up in the diff.

 

Just a thought but when you spin did you drop a tire? If you did it might have pulled on the wheel going outward. I would check your all your suspension on that side. The only thing i can think of is where the control arms attach to the frame. They might have been pulled out that way. Ive seen it happen in the past from tracked s2000's. Some people weld them in for safety. Ive seen it in the front but not the rear.

http://robrobinette.com/S2000TrackEvolv.htm

scroll down you will see the pic of what im talking about.

either way i hope you figure this out. good luck

 

Update.

Pulled the axle and it was actually broken. The cup was seized and not able to be removed. Put in a new axle and pushed back in output shaft. Drained the fluid and no sign on any wear.

Car runs like a champ and survived a full day at the track.

Thanks!