| Author | Message | ||
     James (Jim) Lee New User Username: graycar Post Number: 5 Registered: 8-2005 |
My S3 is in need of a transmission overhaul. Can anyone recommend a suitable repairer who is experienced with these autos and will use the correct parts? I am located in the centre of the Sydney metrop area but would be prepared to take the car a considerable distance to get the job done well. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Regards Jim. | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 745 Registered: 4-2003 |
Hi Jim, I suggest you take you car to RROC[Aust] club member Neville Vassallo at Neville's Automatic Transmissions, 143 Canterbury Road [cnr Clements Avenue], Bankstown NSW 2200 phone 9790 4108. Neville and his son are very experienced with the Cloud transmission and did a very informative technical presentation for us in October 2002. I should warn you that the overhaul kit for the Hydramatic gearbox fitted to the Clouds is very expensive when compared to the later transmissions. The adjustment of the transmission is very important to their performance and longevity and many current automatic transmission specialists do not appreciate this importance let alone have the experience and tools to make these adjustments properly. | ||
| James (Jim) Lee New User Username: graycar Post Number: 6 Registered: 8-2005 |
Hi David, Many thanks,I will contact them and advise the result in due course. | ||
| Bill Coburn Moderator Username: bill_coburn Post Number: 918 Registered: 4-2003 |
An alternative you might like to consider is TK Motors whose owner Garrath Will is not only highly experienced in these boxes and as of last week had a number in for repair, he also carries a fair range of parts. A certain Phantom VI now enjoys nice changes thanks to this man. He is located at Moss Vale phone 0248695009. You can leave the car and have a gentle train ride right back to the CBD! | ||
| James (Jim) Lee New User Username: graycar Post Number: 7 Registered: 8-2005 |
Thanks Bill, I'm sure with your recommendation that Tk Motors are very good. I'm now not sure however that this box would last the distance, more than about a thousand rpm and it loses drive in the lower ratios. I have only just acquired this vehicle, knowing that this work was necessary and following Davids recommendation I contacted Neville Vassallo. Having discussed the situation with Neville,I have booked the car in with every confidence that it will return performing as it should. | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 746 Registered: 4-2003 |
Hi Jim, Thank you for your vote of confidence in Neville - I am certain you will be very happy with his service. I acknowledge Bill's referral to Gareth [also RROC(A) club member] and his expertise - the only reason I did not mention TK Motors was the travelling involved to Moss Vale and Neville Vassallo was the closest specialist to Jim's residence. | ||
| James (Jim) Lee New User Username: graycar Post Number: 8 Registered: 8-2005 |
I left the S3 with Nevilles auto transmissions for 41/2 weeks and they carried out a full overhaul of the auto. When I picked up the car, they advised that the engine mountings were broken and they had not been able to find any replacements. I ordered 3 new mountings and while waiting on them,I turned my attention to the leaking pinion seal. I had only owned the car for a week when it was sent to the auto trans shop and therefore I am only in the early stages of a check and rectify prcess. I would like to fit a modern oil seal and I am wondering if anyone who has had this done can advise me the size of the seal used and machining diameters. I have read the article on the KDA132 website Rear Axles What fails and why but cannot reconcile my parts to the sizes given. In part one of the article under sub-heading Pinion oil seals it states that a seal of 55mm x 60mm will do this job. The drive flange rubbing area on my vehicle is 54mm so clearly 55mm is too big and maching out the inside face of the seal carrier to 60mm would not fully remove the felt seal groove (by about 2mm).According to ABC bearings, the difference of 10mm between the two measurements given is insufficient anyway.Given the expertise of the articles author, I am sure you can understand my confusion. As always, any help will be most gratefully received. I will report on the autos performance after the fitting of the new engine mountings. . | ||
| James (Jim) Lee New User Username: graycar Post Number: 9 Registered: 8-2005 |
I meant to say-the difference of 5mm between the two measurements. | ||
| Norman Geeson Unregistered guest Posted From: client-82-27-10-230.pete.adsl.virgin.net |
James You are quite correct, the modern axle pinion seal measurement on the Silver Cloud / S series cars is 50mm x 60 mm and not as stated. The 60 mm outer diameter does not quite take out all the old seal groove, but this is no problem providing sealer is applied to the outer diameter. Note also that axle oil will ALWAYS leak down the key ways if they are not sealed as there is a gap between the tops of the actual keys and their respective grooves in the flange. Sealer needs applying carefully just to the bottom of each keyway groove, for half their length, starting from the axle end of the groove. Ensure when tightening the flange nut that you hold back against the flange by fitting two bolts and nuts to the flange and holding across them with a bar. It is not sufficient to tighten the flange nut against the car hand brake or by blocking the wheels. I could show you quite a few S3 pinions that have been scrapped because the keys have moved or even sheared, all of which have had flanges refitted by tightening against the brakes. (Message approved by david_gore) | ||
| James (Jim) Lee New User Username: graycar Post Number: 10 Registered: 8-2005 |
Norman Many thanks for your reply, I will seal the keyways and tighten the flange nut as you describe. The supplier of the seal says that the rubbing area should be machined exactly to the dimension i.e 50mm. Do you agree with this or would you recommend slightly over i.e. 50.25? It will be a double lip seal. Regards and thanks again Jim. | ||
| Norman Geeson Unregistered guest Posted From: client-82-27-12-138.pete.adsl.virgin.net |
James I find that most of the oil seals I buy appear to be rather 'Slack' and I machine slightly oversize as you have suggested. Be extra careful on the S3 that the woodruff keys are in good condition, R-R fitted the keys by size selection and most are oversize. The oversize keys are hard, if not impossible to come by. However if you need some contact me I have a stack for axle building. No charge, so nobody will think I am selling them commercially! It is important to ensure a good flange / key fit because they are on the limit in this application. Note on Phantom V & VI axle pinions they used multiply splines and no keys to overcome the trouble, and in fact on S3 used a different drive flange to the S2 cars. (Message approved by david_gore) | ||
| James (Jim) Lee Experienced User Username: graycar Post Number: 11 Registered: 8-2005 |
Norman Many thanks for your kind offer of replacement woodruff keys. As it happens mine appear to be in very good condition. I have had the machining done for the oil seal ,the one I was able to purchase is 60mmx48mmx8mm. Having read the articles by yourself and Bill Coburn, I have now decided to dismantle the rearend. Knowing of the potential problems and having seen the sludge blocking the pinion bearing oilways, it would be ridiculous not to open it up. As this has nothing to do with the auto, I will start a new thread when I have something to report. Regards Jim. |
