3.88 transmission clunk...not driveable!!!

[Volky]

Hi to all,

On Sunday I went to a VW show about 40 miles from home through the highway cruising with 4 other cars. Got there, everything normal. 5 hours later, I decide to leave through the mountains with another friend and 30 minutes later, going up a hill, a clunk sound in second gear. Stopped the car, put it in first gear and the clunk. It would not move without the clunk sound present.

So, had to to the car home. Taking the car off the flatbed with car in neutral, no brake pressed and emergency brake in the down position the car wouldn't rolled down the bed ramp. Gave it a crank and it like released and moved down.

Yesterday, I moved the car back and forth by the door and it would just move a bit then lock both ways.

Haven't done anything else. I believe it has to do something with the spider gears, maybe???

[Bruce2]

It might be a busted CV joint. Remove the CVs from the trans, then start it and see if it the drive flanges will turn when you put it in gear.

If you think it's in the differential, drain the oil to see if any large bits of steel come out.

[Volky]

It might be a busted CV joint. Remove the CVs from the trans, then start it and see if it the drive flanges will turn when you put it in gear.

If you think it's in the differential, drain the oil to see if any large bits of steel come out.

Sorry Bruce,

I wasn't specific on the tranny, it's a swingaxle. I will drain the oil maybe tonight after work and report back.

[Casting Timmy]

I'm more of an IRS guy, swing diffs can do some weird stuff....at least to me they can and I don't have a lot of experience with messing with them.

Besides pulling the drain plug and watching for chunks to come out, sometimes you can see something for 1st or 2nd if you pull the fill plug. The fill plug you might want to cheat and use your cell phone to help get a peak in there.

I'd wonder if you broke some teeth off either the ring gear or one of your forward gears.

Cruising up a hill in 2nd.....I think there's more to the story there. I know if I had that motor in my beetle the story would be more like "I was showing the song of my turbo to a non VW, and the trans made a funny noise". I'm hardest usually on the trans, one guy I rebuilt for a lot blew up his trans the first night.......apparently stuff happens in a V6 sand rail on the street trying to do a wheelie and staying in the wheelie even if a curb gets in the way. hahaha

I know I'm hoping to have similar stories if I get my beetle running, maybe not the wheelie over a curb or train tracks kind of stories.....but probably break something in it here and there. I'm working on a 2109cc for my beetle right now, just dual carb motor though. Going to pair it with a 4.125 and probably hate first gear on it, but kind of a poor man's lower ratios for 2-4 with smaller tires and plan for it just being a cruiser/ auto cross car.

002 and 091 mainshaft bearings I have seen pop the cage out forward on them before, which leads for a forward gear problem. Flipping the 002 bearing so the cage is captured will ensure it stays in place during spirited launches. I bet that thing has to be a blast to drive.

[Volky]

Hi to all,

So Sunday I got to take off the drain plug and it came off with a large piece of ring or pinion. So, for sure it has to come down. I was hoping it was a spline from the brake disc. Thats that...