MilkStout

iTrader: (1)

was driving to a show this morning around 6am and there was a loud band inthe rear and then HORRIBLE loud grinding sounds. didnt see any smoke or anything and nothing on the road so i pushed her over and called AAA. now its in my driveway and ill be inspecting it further tomorrow. but if its just my diff i can either full swap from rear from a gsl se or get a miata diff. i do know one of the owners previous replaced the rear with a base model (drum brakes) and spooled the diff so it would be locked like my model (gsl). but i guess now i just have to upgrade. if it was just the diff...

only had the car for 2 weeks now and this happens. i guess thats the joys or restoring old cars =] making them better.

epic

iTrader: (3)

Yikes. Sorry to hear that man. Best of luck to you.

MilkStout

iTrader: (1)

if it was the diff ill replace it with a miata diff. i believe it may have been the tranny instead. since it was a grinding noise as well and the car did roll when out of gear. going to have a friend come look this week.

MilkStout

iTrader: (1)

it could be my transmission in which case i can get another one (or 3) for about 200 bux each.

helmetface

Eek

MilkStout

iTrader: (1)

yeah it sucks...every morning i can hear her...in the driveway...wanting to go somewhere... and im like....just a few more days...

bbreidhaupt

if you are suspecting the diff my recommendation would be to pull the fill plug off and check out the inside of the diff with a bore scope. it saves you a lot of time versus taking the diff out of the axle housing to inspect it. just jack up the rear end, pull the plug, insert bore scope, rotate the axle slowly, and check the gears for broken teeth. also draining the fluid and checking for bits of metal cant hurt. you can do the same on the trans aswell. hope this helps ya.

RotaryEvolution

iTrader: (30)

a spool? i don't know of any spools for these diffs. probably welded the diff and it failed... drain the oil and check for metal chunks.

MilkStout

iTrader: (1)

i was just told that one of the previous owners said that he had to replace the rear with a base model and spooled the diff so it would be locked like the gsl rear...

ill have time tomorrow to check it out. also my friend will help hes been doing this stuff his whole life. got some good ideas on here =] 31 year old car who knows who did what.

bbreidhaupt

no car ever came factory with a spooled diff to my knowledge. it's truthfully unsafe and hard on parts. spooling the rear end doesn't allow the axles to free wheel when turning. i.e. when you make a left turn the right wheels have more distance to cover so the right axle is free wheeling while the left has power so you have a proper turning radius. when you make a turn with a spooled rear end the locked axles will cause understeer and is potentially dangerous under hard cornering. it also shock loading the drivetrain. think of it like doing a burnout down a washboard. nothing is happy at all. spools are only needed if the car is dedicated for straight lines. the whole point is to get traction by using both tires for maximum acceleration.

MilkStout

iTrader: (1)

one of them wanted to make it a drag car....but like i said wont know if its the diff or tranny till tomorrow. eveyrthing else on the car runs fine lol i only assume he put on a base model as it has drums on it and he said it was replaced and the rear spooled. i really want to either get a new diff anyway or replace the rear with a gsl rear. so not spooled from the factory but done by whoever before him replaced the rear. im kinda worried now you said its not good on turns as i took some harsh turns going pretty fast and the car handled fantastic. only time it oversteered was in the rain though that may also be the worn tires... i feel like there is some mystery to this car now. =[ hopefully i can fix it all and get back to restoring this thing. its my dream car so im not gonna let this stop me.

bbreidhaupt

yeah i hear you. people said i was nuts for buying mine. but rx7's have something about them that makes you love 'em. from what i gather rx7's are tail happy from factory. good luck with your car. i'm gonna be changing my rear end out aswell once i buy a parts car i got my eye on. i hate drums so i'm going to a disc brake rear from a 84 gsl-se.

MilkStout

iTrader: (1)

well my buddy is one his way so were gonna check her out. like i said he works on muscle cars mainly so all im going to hear is how nice a 5.3L and a t56 would fit in there.... haha. but im a purist i guess id rather keep a wankel.

Mr rx-7 tt

iTrader: (5)

I had a ported 13b with a blower and nitrous (125-150 shot) I remember hearing a loud bang and the car had to be towed, I just replaced the rear axle with a GSL rear end out of an 84. If memory serves me I had to use the 84 drive shaft with the axle.

MilkStout

iTrader: (1)

after looking today it is the diff. the wheels lock in gear after about a foot. and the grinding sound is coming from the driver rear. im going to take off the crappy rear the owner put on and either find a real gsl rear or find an 88 foxbody rear and swap that on.