Gear box and drive shaft? Goooone

[onevan]

Hey all,

So I bought a 2001 GTi last year with 78K on the clock and other than the clutch being a bit average was happy with my purchase.

Lately it started to shudder a bit at idle but seeing how it was due for a service didn't really worry as it was very internittant. Last week however I left my house and started driving the car and when it was in gear there would be a shuddering cyclical sound, like something was rotating but at a certain point was scraping against something. When in neutral the sound wasn't there and would only happen when in a gear. I pretty much shat my daks and returned the car to the driveway and left it there.

On Sunday, I decided to go for a drive to see if I could hear the sound and pretty much once on the street it started making the same sound. I then thought I might as well take it around the block! I stopped at some lights and turned left and in first revved it to ~1700 RPM. My heart sank as I heard a large clunk and something falling off the car... I rolled in neutral to the side of the road and went to pick up what fell off and went to the car and started it and went to drive off and the car wouldn't move... I didn't know whether to cry or laugh as it would rev and the speedometer would increase but the car wouldn't move.

So I got a tow and they said they'd tow it to Barloworld as I didn't have a regular mechanic, Barloworld had a look at the piece that fell off and said it was part of the CV joint and that they'd look to see how much damage there was.

The guy gave me a call today and told me that the gear box is rooted and that the drive shaft now has a hole in it and to repair with new parts will be $6000... I shat my daks at this point...

In the last 12 months, I've replaced the clutch (but not the flywheel, my brother in law who's a mechanic said it was fine). T-boned a car that decided to turn right in front of me and expecting me to go from 60 km/h to 0 in under 10 metres, but I wasn't at fault so didn't pay anything and got a new front end. This is after having a falcon for 5 years and having one minor ding and the usual falcon mechanical issues.

So I'm now looking at reconditioned parts to see what I can find. I called around and it look like it'll be $3000 to install a gear box and ~$500 for a drive shaft. Is this reasonable?

I'm also wondering what could have caused the problem. I put in an aftermarket 2 tonne clutch, could that be the problem? Or has the front on accident (at ~30km/h) caused some stress on the metal that Barlow world didn't notice when it went to check the mechanical aspect of the car after the accident?

Oh well I'm now poor and not going out for 6 months...

[DUB 20V]

i hope thats 3k with a box or is that price for just fitting?

[dubbed]

Oh you poor. Surely there is a cheaper alternative i.e. finding a second hand box and having a knowledgeable and helpful member or ten aide in the installation?!

Did you drive it hard? Honestly? If so I think some of us may be encouraged to relax a little on the poor five speed.

I hope you haven't jinxed me because I had a couple of Falcons for about five years and only got the GTI early this year! Not trying to rub salt in the wound, but you can get full manual conversions for 1990-1998 Falcons for less than $700 these days (practically giving them away now considering it was double that only a year or two back!).

Anyway, best of luck mate and keep us in the loop.

[blutopless2]

that sucks big time...
fill in your location so that people may be able to suggest places to try for better quotes etc...
good luck with the repair.

[onevan]

I was quoted $3000 for a second hand gear box including installation.

I didn't drive it hard at all, neither did I always drive carefully all the time either. Overall though I don't think I'd particularly driven it hard. This last year I've driven it maybe 8000 k's all up. Of course I don't know how it was driven beforehand but when I bought it I got a mechanic to look at it and he said except for the clutch it's fine (but he recommended I didn't buy it as it'll be generally expensive to fix... lol).

Yeah falcon's are cheap as chips now, plus all the parts are local and plentiful so cheap to fix. But it was like driving a barge compared to the GTi... No comparison. Except the falcon seemed to be on the road more of the time and in the shop for less!

[onevan]

that sucks big time...
fill in your location so that people may be able to suggest places to try for better quotes etc...

The cars currently at Mascot so I'd need to tow it from there to a shop. I gave Seb a call from Girraween and that price is what he quoted me. He seems recommended by peoiple here.

[blutopless2]

no worries... i take it that's nsw?
confusion is when you mention barloworld.. as we have them here in melbourne also.
cheers

[Golf Loon]

Its probably the box, but it could be just the driveshaft.

I`d be happy to check it out for you and can arrange towing to my shop if you like.

I also have second hand boxes and driveshafts here and can even rebuild your box, unless its truly cactus.

I reckon it`d cost $2500 or so, worst case scenario.

The bit that worrys me is changing just the clutch plate on a dual mass flywheel. If that has given way, the box is probably gone.

[DUB 20V]

dude pm me i can get you a brand new gear box for $2400.00 or a reco one for $1800.00 or call me if you want 0411440111

[onevan]

So I got the inspection results from Barloworld. It seems that the CV joint snapped off and gouged a hole in the gear box casing. Poor GTi...

Golf loon: thank you very much for your offer! I'd have to find out how much towing would be from Mascot to Camden but if I could PM you later I'd be much appreciative.

DUB20V: PM on the way!

Blutopless2: Yeah I am in Sydney, sorry didn't realise I didn't mention where I was from!