Thread: R380 4th gear whine

it is usally cheaper to get yours rebuilt.

last time i had one done it was a bit over 2k but thats a while ago

am about to get one rebuilt early next month so will know exactly in a few weeks

If you are VERY thorough and careful about import costs and hidden fees, then I would wholeheartedly recommend contacting Ashcrofts, and order from them. Specify a Suffix L box.

As I say, do your homework on the importing ( ask me how I know ), and you will not be disappointed. My box arrived quickly, and is awesome. It has the added advantage of keeping the car on the road until the box arrives and you are ready to do the work.

Here's a little light reading for you: Importing stuff...Grrr...

Ashcroft Transmissions

Good luck.

I should add that, even when you add up all the costs that I paid to the price of the box it is still a reasonable price to have paid for an Ashtrans box, as by all accounts they are the best. After the initial sting, I have no regrets. But, if you read the entire thread you will see that people know how to avoid the traps that I fell into.

I'd have to question the whine as coming from the gearbox. 4th gear drives straight through the box and places less load on the bearings than any other gear. I'd be thinking transfer box myself, it could just be the right throttle and speed settings to make it whine.

Originally Posted by bee utey

I'd have to question the whine as coming from the gearbox. 4th gear drives straight through the box and places less load on the bearings than any other gear. I'd be thinking transfer box myself, it could just be the right throttle and speed settings to make it whine.

Good point. For that reason it is also the quietest gearset in the box, so maybe if the whine is coming from elsewhere, it is just more audible when the car is in fourth.

Originally Posted by johntins

Good point. For that reason it is also the quietest gearset in the box, so maybe if the whine is coming from elsewhere, it is just more audible when the car is in fourth.

Thinking about it, 4th gear would put no radial load on the transfer input gear, allowing it to float a bit on coasting. The LT230Q TC may be the quiet one but not immune to bearing wear.

Originally Posted by bee utey

Thinking about it, 4th gear would put no radial load on the transfer input gear, allowing it to float a bit on coasting. The LT230Q TC may be the quiet one but not immune to bearing wear.

Hmm. Well, it's an easier and cheaper fix than rebuilding a R380. What would be the best way to accurately diagnose? Putting the TC in neutral won't help.

Originally Posted by johntins

Hmm. Well, it's an easier and cheaper fix than rebuilding a R380. What would be the best way to accurately diagnose? Putting the TC in neutral won't help.

Pull the tunnel top off and drive it around, get your passenger to move around and listen. It might be possible to feel for looseness in the input gear with the back cover off the TC, maybe a thinner/no gasket could be fitted. I'm not really a LT230 expert but I've had a few open for minor surgery. I suspect though that once one starts whining you'll never fix it, a second hand low km case would be easier to source.