Winter/spring work update
[related post Ongoing Gearbox and O/D problems 3rd March]
It’s taken since early December to finally have my car back on the road and I’ve waited a few weeks before posting this update to ensure a decent amount of miles and road testing. Here’s what I have had done:
• New cv driveshafts and hubs from CCD safety first decision
• New stub axles and hubs ditto
• Diff, quill, propshaft checked over (all ok)
• Ditto clutch
• Gearbox rebuilt to cure 3rd gear popping out on over-run
• Overdrive refurbished
After a much longer than planned schedule, mostly due to re-work three times on the gearbox, I can now say that everything works as it should. Whilst gearbox and overdrive units are now back to normal, I’m pleased to say that the drive shafts upgrade and new stub axles makes the car a lot tauter and much nicer to drive. Plus there’s the added peace of mind of new metal in vital places keeping the wheels on! From a safety point of view, short of replacing everything, I think new (not refurbished) quality hubs and axles are well worth getting.
Lessons learned? Expect your initial budget to rise by at least 25% because stuff happens (in my case the overdrive unit). Also, so-called specialists are only as good as the job they do for you. In my case, it was my local mechanic who finally sorted the gearbox and not the specialist who took on the main programme of work. A full refund was willingly agreed to covering the gearbox costs so in the end I was happy with that as a result. Now, roll on summer!
PK
It’s taken since early December to finally have my car back on the road and I’ve waited a few weeks before posting this update to ensure a decent amount of miles and road testing. Here’s what I have had done:
• New cv driveshafts and hubs from CCD safety first decision
• New stub axles and hubs ditto
• Diff, quill, propshaft checked over (all ok)
• Ditto clutch
• Gearbox rebuilt to cure 3rd gear popping out on over-run
• Overdrive refurbished
After a much longer than planned schedule, mostly due to re-work three times on the gearbox, I can now say that everything works as it should. Whilst gearbox and overdrive units are now back to normal, I’m pleased to say that the drive shafts upgrade and new stub axles makes the car a lot tauter and much nicer to drive. Plus there’s the added peace of mind of new metal in vital places keeping the wheels on! From a safety point of view, short of replacing everything, I think new (not refurbished) quality hubs and axles are well worth getting.
Lessons learned? Expect your initial budget to rise by at least 25% because stuff happens (in my case the overdrive unit). Also, so-called specialists are only as good as the job they do for you. In my case, it was my local mechanic who finally sorted the gearbox and not the specialist who took on the main programme of work. A full refund was willingly agreed to covering the gearbox costs so in the end I was happy with that as a result. Now, roll on summer!
PK
