Thread: My fairly major driveline failure is a remote area! fun times

boy, did I have a fun weekend away camping!

All started off very normal, touring the VHC on my lonesome taking it easy, enjoying the great out doors. (I do this a lot)
had a few lovely little tracks i was trying to get up, one bit was a very deep rutted hill climb that was a loose rock and mud construction. I think I did well to get as far as I did. but i just couldnt get that little bit further.

So after a few runs i tried to do something silly!
I had seen where people use a snatch strap fixed to a spinning wheel and then anchored to a tree and use the car to winch itself forward.
Turns out this works...just not with an l322 with fantastic traction control systems, 500nm and on such a difficult incline! haha

it pulled me forward a little bit, then suddenly she all went pear shaped! click click bang! absolutely destroyed the front right half shaft (Where i had put the strap onto) I had go out to take a look knowing full well what happened....but i was shocked to see engine oil leaking from the rear of the engine!

after a long effort and chaining the front driveshaft to the subframe, i managed to get it out to a suitableish spot and onto a trailer and home (Big thanks to my mate for doing the 13hour return trip)

I now have it all apart and waiting for parts to arrive.

Damaged Report:
Front half shaft twisted apart! The cv is still in working order! i was impressed with this one


Next, the engine oil leak. tracked it back to the sump being cracked! Not even a little crack!
After a bit of detective work, ive concluded that the bolts that hold the diff in place (4 of them) were loose. I had come across this before and tightened them previously. but it must have come loose again. im sure this extra movement allowed the shock force of the axle snapping to cause the sump to crack also.


And in my attempt to get it out of the bush track and into a recoverable area, I managed to damaged the transfer case to some extent. I will strip this down once the front subframe and engine is back in its mounts.

Just waiting for the sump and half shaft to arrive today or tomorrow. and bobs your uncle.

Good news, if anyone wants me to check or find out more information while i have these parts out, speak up now! ill be opening the diff tonight to take some measurements for the possibility of some locking centers. etc

Also, the diff can be removed (with some decent jiggling) while the engine and subframe are in place. Workshop manuals say to have it dropped for the removal.

Originally Posted by rar110

So it might have worked with a strap on both front wheels?

That's what I was thinking.