Any of you guys ever experience this?

I replaced my axle about a year ago before going on 1k mile round trip. Sometime while on the trip the axle popped out and shortly after getting home, it destroyed the differential. Essentially it popped 1/2 way out and then had enough play to chew the teeth off the differential. So, I source another tranny (not easy for a 96 Accord wagon as only the 96/97 wagons and manual tranny Acura CLs from 97+ with the F motor came with them) and replaced it all. Jump forward 1 year and it's happened again! This time it took longer I believe due to the fact that all the driving was around town. I park on a concrete drive and haven't noticed any leaking fluids so it's not like I had a tell tale sign that this was going to happen.

Here are some pictures:

Transmission side, you can see the splines are full of a mixture of ground metal and tranny fluid.


The differential missing it's teeth right up to the indention where the retaining clip is suppposed to lock in.


The first time this happened we chalked it up to user error (even though I've been replacing axles on Honda's for 10+ years) but, for it to happen again and destroy the differential in the exact same manner is just a little too much of a coincidence if you ask me.

I'm not sure what I'm wanting answered or anything.. Maybe I just need a place to vent.

I'm just happy I kept the old tranny and put a new (to it) differential in it or I'd be up **** creek.

 

when you replaced the transmission the first time, did you reuse the same axle? Is that the same axle that had the problem this time? Maybe it isn't a differential/transmission issue but maybe an axle issue instead?

 

Both times it was a different replacement axle. Both times it was the same brand of axle too. I'm actually now in communication with the parts store corporate hq to see if they can reimburse me for the cost of the transmission(s). I'm not gonna hold my breath but it's better to try than just eat it.

 

That sucks. Why can't you used 96-97 5spd coupe or sedan trannies?

 

hmm...

when you put the other transmission back in this time with the new differential, did you use a different brand axle this time?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by raceACCORDingly &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">That sucks. Why can't you used 96-97 5spd coupe or sedan trannies?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I could but the wagon has a slightly different gearing to help compensate for it's weight..oink oink.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TouringAccord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hmm...

when you put the other transmission back in this time with the new differential, did you use a different brand axle this time?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yessir. And the ONLY reason I did is because I let the parts store manager smooth talk me and convince me it was user error and I hadn't installed the axle correctly (100% seated in the transmission). Of course, the 2nd time, I double/triple checked it to be sure it was seated. After removing the axle yesterday, I put a caliper on it to measure it and it was roughly .25mm smaller than the OEM one, not enough size difference for it to be that sloppy but, I also inspected the retaining clip and it's not only inferior as far as thickness when compared to the original but it also didn't encompass nearly as much of the shaft as the OEM one. I wouldn't say all aftermarket axles suck but these ones - I'll find out the brand and post it here - are definitely inferior.