Anything and everything Vitesse.

Clutch, gearbox, overdrive, propeller shaft.

I was driving along normally at the weekend, when the engine started stuttering badly. I then heard a metallic crunching sound, and had to coast to a stop as there was no power to the wheels. We pushed the car to a side road where for a closer inspection - the engine ticks over fine, but there is no power to the wheels when I raise the clutch. Also, we were trying to push the car backwards, and the wheels locked up after a short distance.

I think it may be a failed universal joint, (which I believe is an easier/cheaper job than if the differential has gone?)

Any thoughts?
Cheers,
Dave

Had a similar problem with my vitesse, except I was in the middle of accelerating pretty hard

and noises etc. Twas the diff, had disintegrated. You will need to jack the back end up and have a look, but unless the prop or driveshaft UJ is so damaged it it causing lockup, it is almost certainly the diff. Unless of course its the gearbox....but that is unlikely.
Transporting the car is tricky too. Luckily the club insurance/recovery bloke was good (unlike a previous breakdown on my herald), he tied the steering wheel and popped the back wheels on a dolly.

Hope it is simple though!

Thanks for the advice.
Did you get your differential reconditioned or did you manage to track down a spare?
Any thoughts on where I can get a re-con would be gratefully received!
And if it is 'just' the UJ - are these readily available?

Cheers,
Dave

uj's are very easy to get hold of, ebay or the normal suppliers, but a little complicated to change there is a good article on the rarebits4classics site plus loads on the other threads about the techniques. sorry don't know about diffs, caneleys and others will offer exchanges and rebuilds though.

Aaron

UJ's easy to buy, trickier to fix. The rarebits article is very good. A recon diff may be more of a problem if it is that damaged, but canleys do good stuff, as do lots of others. Or a good used unit is a viable alternative. Mike papworth does them, but a touch pricey. Try your local area meeting, people often have spares in their shed, reday to exchange for beer tokens!!

U/J's are readily available, though for driveshaft ones on a Vitesse it's worth considering uprated ones from places like Canley Classics. (From the Freelander I think). Not so cheap, but should last MUCH longer.
However, IF the problem is a UJ, it must have been pretty badly mangled and you may well find more damage has been done to the yolks of the u/j. If the flange end, reasonably cheap to replace. If the shaft end (driveshaft or propshaft) then it's a new shaft I'm afraid. (At least be glad you have a Mk1; Mk2 driveshafts are much more difficult to find new!)
Problem is however much more likely to be diff. Again, no vested interest, but Canley are reckoned to be one of the leaders in proper reconditioned diffs, but I'm sure others have recommendations. I'm afraid you get what you pay for, so there is no such thing as a real bargain recon diff. And just to add to your woes, if the failure is catastrophic, and it sounds as if it could be, then you may have to pay a surcharge on the diff as your old one may not be able to be reconditioned. So you may be better looking for a decent 2nd hand diff in the meantime.
Just a couple of questions though? When you were pushing it and the rear wheels locked, was the car still in gear? And did you try engaging 4th gear and raising the clutch to see if there was any drive? It is JUST possible that the problem is in the gearbox (in which case engaging 4th which is direct drive and involves no gearwheels might give some evidence) or even a collapsed clutch plate. I've had a centre ripped out of the driven plate (leaving me with no drive) on a Herald (yes, it WAS a bent backplate) and a friend had a cushioning spring come out of the driven plate and cause intermittent drive as it got stuck in various places, and jammed up the transmission at one point. (Never did work out why that broke up).

Thans for all your comments - the car is now with the garage and it is definately the differential - so a costly rebuild of the rear axle is required! Will just have to grin and bear it as its our wedding car and wedding is next Saturday!

Congratulations for next Saturday. Who is doing the work?

As your in London I would recommend Dave Picton.

Thanks - it's with John at JY classics. I will bear in mind your recomendation for future work though - where is he based?

Dave Picton at Picton Sports cars is in Waltham Cross

But Ive only heard good things about JY Classics as well.

Jon

Section : Gearbox

Universal joint/differential? - nasty noises and no power!

Followups :

Universal joint/differential? - nasty noises and no power!

Universal joint/differential? - nasty noises and no power!

Universal joint/differential? - nasty noises and no power!

Universal joint/differential? - nasty noises and no power!

Universal joint/differential? - nasty noises and no power!

Universal joint/differential? - nasty noises and no power!

Universal joint/differential? - nasty noises and no power!

Universal joint/differential? - nasty noises and no power!

Universal joint/differential? - nasty noises and no power!