Driveshaft issues, or worse!

[clivvy]

HI Chaps!

firstly, I apologise for dropping in unannounced, Marco from MX3uk pointed me to this forum, hopefully for some advice!

I have some, what feels like, major issues with my MX3, V6.

ok, from the beginning!

Bought my MX3 December last year, after having to let go of my MX6. Bought it with poor brakes and a light clunk, other than that, felt mint. Bought new discs and pads, as the ones on were seriously screwed. Ended up havign to buy new sliders for one caliper, and a new caliper for the other side, brakes superb now. The clunk became a bit more obvious. Occured upon acceleration from stop, and braking to stop. Got worse over time, eventually tested in a car park and seemed to be CV, minus the clicking, and driveshaft seemed slack. I was able to move the passenger drive shaft back and forth easily, CV boots in tact.

I set about swapping the CV and upon doing so, the driveshaft didnt have any movement. I had a hell of a time putting it all back together, and it turned out the lower BJ wasnt the correct one, and it was missing a bolt. I replaced that and the track rod end and removed the drive shaft (from the cup-cup still in gearbox) and added some nice fresh grease, and put it all back together.

No drive. Only a whirring.

took it all apart, scratched my head, and put back together. Put both sides on jack stands, both wheels turn. Took some video. put back together, got drive. Took car to top of driveway, reveresed back, all ok. Torqued up the bolts, tried again, bottom of driveway pop and whirrrrr. No drive, car sounds liek the tyres are skidding on ice.

got car back into driveway, jacked up, started car, both wheels turning, but now a horrendous rumble, please see videos in this album.

what do you think????

http://s176.photobucket.com/albums/w163 ... riveshaft/

hope you can help, and apologies again for this impromptu plea for help!

[Ryan]

You used the wrong axle. Since we have an open diff, if one axle falls out, you won't go anywhere.

The clunk was your ball joint, your old axle was probably fine.

[clivvy]

Thanks Ryan,

I apologise, I am still learning a bit here. You say I used the worng axel, can you explain, as I only changed the CV joint and boot (outer CV), I havent changed anything else on the driveshaft......

[clivvy]

oh I'm sorry, do you mean I have fitted the wrong CV? I am not so sure, I bought this one

http://www.jandrcvjoints.co.uk/mazda-mx ... 11279.html

pretty sure its correct?!

[mikeinaus]

did you install the snap ring with the new cv? the ring should click into the transmission and hold the cv in place. it should take quite a bit of force to pop the cv in and out. i assume yours is moving freely? its possible you were shipped the wrong cv but id try and figure out why its falling out before returning it.

[clivvy]

I did get the snap ring, and it is installed on the end of the driveshaft. The CV slotted into place nicely, and nothing is falling out, quite the opposite!

the problem is that now everything is put back together, when idling, or in gear and accelerating (car is on jack stands) there is a horrendous knocking and the whole car shakes. As can be seen from the video, it looks like the gear box...but it was fine before changing CV, and in fact, has been ok during the repairs when I have tested the wheels.

[Ryan]

Well something is wrong.

The ATX and MTX used different CV joints, you can't mix them up.

the ATX and MTX driveshafts are different lengths too.

You remembered the axle nut?

[clivvy]

I remembered the axel nut, as for differences between atx and mtx, im not sure. Before I started this work, the driveshaft in question had movement back and forth, which is what was causing the knocking noise. Now, after fitting the new CV and lower BJ, its tight. I will check the differences between the atx CV's and shafts,because it seems ot me that whoever had this car before me, has done a very slack job.

it is interesting about the different driveshaft lengths, because if I am honest, when putting everythign back together thats how it felt. something was putting the hub out of square, but I never figured it could be the shaft! I will check this at the weekend and report back, wish me luck!

[marcdh]

Not what you told me

length of shaft - yes, im pretty sure its the correct length/side...

Sounds as if putting on the old CV for testing purposes would be a good idea. Or at least a comparison of old and new dimensions.

[clivvy]

HI chaps,

so I quickly did some checking this morning. I detached the hub from the shaft, ran the engine, no knocking. What I did notice though, that even though the passenger side was spinning, the drivers wasnt, and when I put into gear the drivers side still didnt move, no knocking, but no moving, but is that because I have detached the passenger drive shaft (cup still in the gearbox)?

is any of the above conclusive? I added these pics

http://s176.photobucket.com/albums/w163 ... riveshaft/

shows the old and new cv, the end of the drive shaft which I am not sure is worn or not!

**one other point, when removing the CV, it easily popped out of the hub, despite the circlip being in place...

***oh and also, when I compared the new and old cv, I can hardly move the bearings in the new joint, but can easily move them in the old one....

[Ryan]

we have an open differential, so when the tires (or even one) is off the ground, one can freewheel, and one can be stationary. Perfectly normal.

If you try to stop the spinning tire (be careful, don't get wrapped up like grass in a weed whacker) the other one will start to spin.


Whats with that second picture?


http://www.mx-3.com/manuals/showimg.php ... _M-028.gif

Read that section, and the next pages.

[clivvy]

thankyou Ryan,

I have made some positive progress, but I am unable to drive the car as yet as it needs to be taxed. I put the old CV back on, I noted when removing the new one form the shaft, it just slid off with no effort. Anyway, with old cv on, everything works as it did before. I hav ebeen able to drive up and down the driveway, and use full lock back and forth without issue.

I will be able to do a proper test drive later this week when I have my tax, so fingers crossed I am on the right path. I am just relieved that the gearbox is ok!!