Are Saxo Gearboxes made out of Cheese or Jelly? Mines gone bang...Crown Wheel Advice?

1. _Rob Infrequent Poster Joined: May 2010 Posts: 170 Ep3 Civic Type R

   #1 6th November 2010, 19:12

   After a lot of investigation i've figured out that my crown wheel must be slipping as when I was accelerating in 1st, there was an awful banging/grinding noise and no power when car approached peak torque under medium acceleration.
   This then started in 2nd gear, and then 3rd, 4th etc, until just as I was at the end off my 100 mile drive back from newcastle, any acceleration in any gear was causing this noise, and the car was undrivable.
   The car is running 150+ bhp on catcam 708's so I expected I would have issues somewhere down the line...Its just a shame its so soon!
   
   First of all, can anyone second my opinion on this problem being the crown wheel?
   
   Secondly, after reading Simo's thread on this, there was a few people suggest he get a Quaife Diff, as the problem would keep occuring if I just replaced the box. Would this be a worthwhile investment? I know there bloody expensive but dont want it to happen again...
   
   Bloody french cars eh?...
2. user_36198 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172

   #2 6th November 2010, 19:18

   its not unknown by any means for the crown wheel to slip (not just on pug/citroenboxes) but any car without fixing between the crown wheel and diff centre. nothing else in the box is going to cause the slipping effect you describe,only other thing could be the clutch but if its accompanied by major mechanical noises it sounds more like the diff
3. _Rob Infrequent Poster Joined: May 2010 Posts: 170 Ep3 Civic Type R

   #3 6th November 2010, 19:33

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by mandyslover70 its not unknown by any means for the crown wheel to slip (not just on pug/citroenboxes) but any car without fixing between the crown wheel and diff centre. nothing else in the box is going to cause the slipping effect you describe,only other thing could be the clutch but if its accompanied by major mechanical noises it sounds more like the diff

   Thanks buddy, will tell the mechanic that this will be the best place to start then.
   
   Cheers
   
   Rob
4. ryanmt Established Member Joined: Oct 2004 Warrington Posts: 1987 AX VTS 57 3.0 TDI A5

   #4 6th November 2010, 20:15

   BE box is becoming more common now. I saw a well done conversion at on martins vtr turbo at the weekend and its tempted me to do the same thing too
5. _Rob Infrequent Poster Joined: May 2010 Posts: 170 Ep3 Civic Type R

   #5 6th November 2010, 21:30

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by ryanmt BE box is becoming more common now. I saw a well done conversion at on martins vtr turbo at the weekend and its tempted me to do the same thing too

   What is the BE box Ryan? never heard of that before pal
6. ryanmt Established Member Joined: Oct 2004 Warrington Posts: 1987 AX VTS 57 3.0 TDI A5

   #6 6th November 2010, 23:07

   tis the gearbox code off boxes used generally on the XU engines, much better box.
   
   Some cars had a BE box that bolt onto the TU, still a fairly involved job though with custom shafts, hubs, mounting
7. blackie_2k5 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Oct 2008 Birtley Posts: 22253 VTR Turbo, 106 xsi track slag, Transit recovery, B

   #7 6th November 2010, 23:16

   ryan do you have a progress thread, i dont recall ever seeingone tbh? would like to see your car
8. _Rob Infrequent Poster Joined: May 2010 Posts: 170 Ep3 Civic Type R

   #8 7th November 2010, 14:38

   Would it be better to fit a BE box, or fit a decent decond hand vts box with a quaife diff? What about the costs involved for each of these options?
9. chinkostu Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2008 The wrong carpark Posts: 5152 Xantia 1.9TD

   #9 7th November 2010, 15:05

   I killed a diff in a vtr box wih normal driving! Best bet is the BE conversion if you can afford it, otherwise try and get hold of a decent box with a quaife. The MA boxes are like chocolate though