ARRRR not my Diff

[Brother_J]

Ok I?m looking for help and advice! MK2 Golf GTI  8 valve 1990 1.8 I have been reliably informed that my diff is on the way out and has free play in it.

The Story! Yesterday I had a job interview in Horsham so I drove there, no biggy quite a nice drive from Portsmouth. I get to Horsham and my steering starts to play up, feels like I?ve got a flat, stop the car get out and have a look, no flat, AR I think this is not good. Get to a car park and go do the interview, I think it went well enough. Get back to the car luckily there is a National tyres garage across the road from where I have park, tell them my story and say I think that there my be a problem with the front left brake! Wishful thinking! ?Sorry mate can?t help, fully booked!? Thanks for nothing. ?There?s a Quick Fit round the corner?, got to quick fit who point me in the direction of this back street garage. I have images of money going down the drain flash true my head.  Any way they put the car up on a ramp and show me the problem and advice me to get a hole new gearbox and diff! They charged me nothing and have restored my faith in human nature. Telling me ?that I think you have enough problems? I manage to get her home some how, very slowly and with a lot of luck  

So what should I do.

A)   get a recondition gearbox and dif
B)   get the old one reconditioned
C)   scrap the car and be come emotionally scared for life.
D)   Other.

All help and advice welcome.

 

[silksnsc]

Ouch, sorry to hear that.....
Personally I would get a second trusted opinion, sounds unusual that you had no hint of this happening, noises..etc, it may be case of something coming adrift as opposed to breaking. If you do need a new box then provided you can stand being without the car for a week or two, I'd suggest buying a secondhand box and get somebody you trust to fit it. Try the freeads, Ebay ..etc and you should pick one up for a snip( The 88 8V GTi I'm currently driving cost me ?37 off ebay and that was for a complete drivable car!, alhough I admit it isn't a concours winner). Good Luck !

[richandhazel]

I'd get a second opinion on that before you rush out and buy another gearbox. Also, have a look, if you can, at another car and see what that's like in comparison.
If the worst is confirmed, you can pick them up from ?30 upwards. Have a look on ebay, classifieds on this site and ClubGTI to name but a few sources.
I'd be happy to have a look for you if you can get it to me, I'm in Yateley near Farnborough, so not too far from you.

[Brother_J]

The patient has been booked into see the doctor at wagon wheels, but unfortunately, as with the NHS there is a waiting time before you can be seen by the consultant, not until September 10th. I will wait impatiently. At least I know I wont get any BS and that the doctor knows what he is talking about. I just have to work out how I?m going to get her there!!  Any way thanks for the input and the offers of help it is greatly appreciated. I will keep you posted on developments.  

[richandhazel]

Wagon Wheels...........I've heard some really good reports from them, sounds like a good plan, at least you will be reassured by talking to people who know their stuff.
Good luck.

[Brother_J]

Well the patient has been under the knife!And a new (well I say new, actually second-hand) dif / gearbox has been fitted along with a new clutch. The old one is scrap as I apparently blew two rivets off the dif. One into the gearbox and the other into the clutch. This had the effect of emptying the gearbox of oil. Oops! This happen on the way over to wagon wheels with a loud bad and then a rattle. The hole was about the size of my little finger. Not good. Any way I managed to get her there, just! The Car had been sitting sadly in my drive for about 3 weeks and had gather 3 weeks worth of dust and stuff and looked very sad. Well when I arrived to pick her up after the op Ian had had her wash and she was looking lovely again. He put synthetic oil in the gearbox, checked and changed the clutch and the CV joints on top of changing the gearbox. All for under 3 hundred notes. Which I think is a very fair price. Any way I?m happy and on the road again, which is what counts.  

[richandhazel]

Sounds very reasonable.

[golfvr6]

Diff rivets breaking is a common fault on those old gearboxs. Done modulator's last year, it had a hole in the casing bigger than a fist!