The drama: Tuesday morning on the way to work I smell something burning. The cockpit of the car filled with smoke and left a thick cloud of smoke covering the highway. I thought I was going up in flames but what the hell, it was still impressive.

Issue: After inspecting the car, the entire undercarriage was drenched with an oily fluid... all the way back to the gas tank. Source of the fluid is the pass side axle/axle seal. It dumped enough fluid to need about 1 qt. of MTF added. The axle was about 1/4" from being seated. I could not get the axle reseated at that time. I drove it about 2 miles yesterday and upon inspection, the axle had worked itself out to about 2". I was able to reseat the alxe at this time.

Question (s): The only thing I can think of causing this is the spring ring breaking inside the trannie. Should I worry whether or not it has found its way into the internals of the trannie? I doubt the axle seal is bad but since I am changing axles I am replacing them anyway. What are some causes that would allow an axle to compress enough to pull itself 2" out of the trannie?

 

Tech?? WTF?? And no pics? You expect to get help? Yeah, black R spewing black smoke would be an impressive sight on the highway

Sorry, no real tech help but if I were closer I'd bring the GL with it mang.

 

I think you are onto something with he spring clip but then again it could just be simply the seal went bad or ripped. Hopefully no shavings are extra metal/debris of any sorts ended up in the tranny.

 

You want pics?? I'll get you pics. However, it isn't the black aRRR catching fire and smoking up the interstate. So, to make it aRRR related, it is an aRRR powered GSR. I'll have to post pics of both cars to keep it aRRR related.

 

I WANT PICS.

 

LOL
You have a magnetic drain plug on that tranny? Might help with much of the metal crap.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Comp97GSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You want pics?? I'll get you pics. However, it isn't the black aRRR catching fire and smoking up the interstate. So, to make it aRRR related, it is an aRRR powered GSR. I'll have to post pics of both cars to keep it aRRR related.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm laughing at the "You want pics?? I'l get you pics." part. Go ahead and post, it will make me feel better with my black hunk. Weird issue, over my head so the only support I can offer is emotional.

 

John, if the spring clip did fail, I don't believe it can go anywhere inside the tranny, unless it disintegrated into pieces, but I don't see how that could happen, it probably just broke into a few bigger pieces if that's indeed what happened. Did your axle come all the way out of the tranny? If not then it's probably just sitting in there

 

It came out enough to show the splines, but not all the way.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Comp97GSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It came out enough to show the splines, but not all the way.</TD></TR></TABLE>

you didnt help with my tech thread!!

You need to take the axle out and see if the ring is still on the end.....if not, I would hard consider droppin the trans and finding the ring. Thats the last thing you want floating around in your diff/trans....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by walker111 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Thats the last thing you want floating around in your diff/trans....</TD></TR></TABLE>

That or a plate of chicken wings.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Erik95LS &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

That or a plate of chicken wings.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hm, yes. That could be worse. lol.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by get RIGHT &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think you are onto something with he spring clip but then again it could just be simply the seal went bad or ripped. Hopefully no shavings are extra metal/debris of any sorts ended up in the tranny.</TD></TR></TABLE>

had this problem at WE-Todd 2 after i got the new car up and running. Sometimes they don't hold up or can become shaved so it doesn't hold... mine was fine for the street up had problems on track.....same problems with fluids/smoke/etc. Was scary at 100mph on track.. Take the axle out get a new clip and see if that works, i always carry an extra seal too. This should fix your problem

 

I'm having the same problem with mine. I have a hatch with ITR swap and trans. I was driving to work and my axle just popped out, no smoke or anything it just popped out. I bought new axles from the drive shaft shop and installed them. I test drove the car and everything was fine. The next night I drove to the track, an hour and a half away, and as soon as I passed the gate to go in the axle popped out again. I havent had a chance to check it out yet......thanks for the advise Andy.

 

well the obvious answer is pull the axle out and see if the ring is still there. if its not, stick a magnet in the axle opening and see if you can fish out any ring pieces. if not...Im gonna assume any pieces are stuck to the magnet inside the trans and you will be fine

is the car lowered at all?

 

Over the years it had Koni's w/ Comptech springs, Mugen Lowdowns, OE ITR shocks with H&R Race springs and now OE ITR shocks and springs.

In a couple hours I am going to pull it a part so I will take pics for our buddies that : cannot read, like to look at colors, or need visual stimulation.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Comp97GSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">.....for our buddies that : cannot read, like to look at colors, or need visual stimulation. </TD></TR></TABLE>

 

IN for clicky pow.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by get RIGHT &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">IN for clicky pow. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Who said clicky pow?? I am married....... I have no hook ups with clicky pow no mo.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Comp97GSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Who said clicky pow?? I am married....... I have no hook ups with clicky pow no mo. </TD></TR></TABLE>
What? Throw some cocktails down the wifey's throat. We have faith in you!!!!!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Comp97GSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The drama:</TD></TR></TABLE>

Is this an OEM axle?

How much is your car lowered?

 

It is a Raxles axle. They have been on the car since 04 or 05. The car as of last TG is on stock ITR suspension.

As suspected, it was the spring ring. Replaced axle and a new axle seal and all appears good. In the future I will be replacing the spring ring anytime I need to remove axles.

O:snap, no pics.

 

was the ring still attached to the axle or completely separated?

 

Pics or BANsky?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jgirard &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">was the ring still attached to the axle or completely separated?</TD></TR></TABLE>


Spring was still intact, just lost it's tension.


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by get RIGHT &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Pics or BANsky?</TD></TR></TABLE>