[Jam5k1]

Evening folks,
I'm after some friendly advice regarding a suspected diff failure….
I pulled out onto a dual carriageway this afternoon, in first gear, put my foot down and BANG! I lose all drive and the car jolts a couple of times quite violently as I come to a stop. I turn the engine off and call the recovery guys. My car is a 156 GTA, Would you agree it sounds like my diff has just exploded??
I have read that this is not exactly rare on the 156 GTA's with the standard diff being sub standard.
What damage am I looking at? Both to the car and to my wallet!!? I'm devastated :depressed: The car has been dropped off at my local specialist so hoping they can look at it at this week. I know they are always busy though.
Just looking for any advice from you like minded Alfa maniacs please??

 

[scottyf]

Sounds exactly like the diff.

Did the engine still fire up but no drive?
when mine went it fired the diff through the casing.

Box out job. Maybe weld up the hole and a replacement diff. Lsd to stop it and clear out the box.

Else replace the gearbox.

Either way if it is that its going to hurt the wallet even if you did it yourself.

Really sorry to hear. The diffs are made from cheese. More like when they go rather than if.

 

[Chris155]

Yup, as you suspect, sounds like the diff has gone. Who've you got fixing it?

 

[scottyf]

I didn't. I never paid much for it in the first place. So it got sold for spares as I needed the cash to do up the house. I regret selling it.But someone else ffitted a new box and thus its still on the road. Infact It was on ebay not long ago.

Really wish id just fixed it myself and kept it.

Yours us a gta though so worth more. Find a new box.
get a quote for a bew clutch and have rhem out in the replacement box.

If you can afford it have the q2 or equivalent fitted.

It'll cost alot. But will be worth it.

 

[mirlock]

If it is the diff and its knackered the gearbox with a big whole , i have a 6 speed 2.5 gearbox which other gta owner's use for £100 + postage . could get it delivered straight to your garage.

See how it goes fingers crossed things won't be too bad , but just shout me if in need

good luck

 

[SLM3CFC]

Sorry to hear, If you need a spare gearbox casing. I have one hiding around somewhere.

 

[Jam5k1]

Thanks for the reply's :thumbup: the car is at Heath Road Garage, Sandbach. I'll keep you posted on the damage as soon as they get chance to look. Bloody Alfa Romeo, why didn't they fit the the Q2 as standard??

 

[ransoman]

Jam5k1, If your budget can't stretch to an uprated diff then I have a used stock diff for sale. See my thread in the GTA lounge. It is in good condition in so far as it hasn't failed and there appears to be no signs of internal fatigue. I can send pics if needed. £110 and that includes delivery.

Thanks for the reply's :thumbup: the car is at Heath Road Garage, Sandbach. I'll keep you posted on the damage as soon as they get chance to look. Bloody Alfa Romeo, why didn't they fit the the Q2 as standard??

Because the Q2 didn't exist when the GTA came out!

 

[scottyf]

LSD existed though or even viscous drives in the range in the fiat coupe they could have fitted...

 

[joeymannero]

Visco drive is a brilliant system and even coupes tuned to nearly 400bhp dont eat them..

Is a coupe turbo box an option..?

 

[Jam5k1]

Jam5k1, If your budget can't stretch to an uprated diff then I have a used stock diff for sale. See my thread in the GTA lounge. It is in good condition in so far as it hasn't failed and there appears to be no signs of internal fatigue. I can send pics if needed. £110 and that includes delivery.



Because the Q2 didn't exist when the GTA came out!

Appreciate that ransoman but the last thing I'm doing is putting a standard diff back in, I agree with scottyf, it's just a matter of time before they go.

 

[Jam5k1]

Visco drive is a brilliant system and even coupes tuned to nearly 400bhp dont eat them..

Is a coupe turbo box an option..?

Not sure about that Joey, I'll look into it, cheers mate :thumbup:

 

[Jam5k1]

Sorry to hear, If you need a spare gearbox casing. I have one hiding around somewhere.

I might hold you to that mate, not sure if the casing is danaged or not yet…..fingers crossed it's just smashed up inside.

 

[scottyf]

They usually get fired through the casing.
If its inside it'll have chewed up the gears in the box...

Least in some ways when it does go it flys through the metal box. Taking the oil and swarf with it.

 

[Jam5k1]

Sorry to hear, If you need a spare gearbox casing. I have one hiding around somewhere.

what would you want for it? Is it out of a GTA?

 

[mirlock]

what would you want for it? Is it out of a GTA?

all the gearbox cases for the v6's are the same . even the gears are the same besides the final drive which is so small you wouldnt notice any change

 

[John Sahl]

My 3-liter 166 did this last year, and you can be fairly sure there is a hole in the gearbox casing as well. I put in a Q2 diff in the replacement gearbox..

Had starter and alternator replaced as well, now they had things apart anyhow..

Alternator just died, but supplier is paying for initial install, replacement alternator and install, and return shipment!

 

[ArieB]

For GTA specific questions and advise, suggest to use the GTA section of this forum.
Good luck with your gearbox and diff problem!

 

[Chris155]

For GTA specific questions and advise, suggest to use the GTA section of this forum.

Are you sure you ain't german?

 

[davebem]

All might not be lost, mine went last year, although the inside diff casing was scored there was no holes and damage to gearbox, the bigger bits of broken bevel gear were at the bottom of the casing and smaller bits of metal were stuck to the diff casing magnet. I replaced it with a Quaife diff (similar to Q2) and never looked back.