australian lada niva forum

We had a great day out in the bush yesterday, everything was faultless, weather,tracks,Niva,mates etc until the drive home started.
This was the first bush mission post mixture adjustment and working vacum advance.
Out on the road there was a noise like a stick jammed underneath and rubbing on the road up until 50kph then it was gone and a slight T/C vibe which I guess we copped a knock underneath and put this out of alignment.
About 15 kms later there was a huge bang/clunk type noise and the Niva jolted quite bad,this felt like a driveshaft letting go, I pulled over and had a look underneath and everything looked normal apart from the oil leak on the sump was back!
I did a bit of driveing engageing difflock a few times and see if this problem would return, nothing.
Continuing home I noticed when I buttoned off the power there was a borderline grind/gronching noise from underneath.
I havent started investigating yet, two reasons 1- life constraints 2-it wont go!!!!!!!!!!
I will keep everyone posted
BD

I have had a quick sqiz, The T/C was coverad in oil which looked to have come down from the high/low shaft as the boot had moved forward, I thought this was to keep the shit out not the oil in.
I cant tell if the T/C and gearbox have got out of allignment but when I get it going that will be my first job

Are you sure it was coming from the T/C or gearbox area?

Yeah the oil had dripped down from the H/L lever shaft, no doubt about that. when I moved the boot with a screwdriver oil plus!
The sump oil leak (fixed now) was small so its not that.
I am worried about the horrific bang we had though, I havent been in fifth yet.

Could it have been an engine backfire? Its also like a loud bang.

The bang was a metalic bang and the whole Niva jolted, it was pretty severe

check the nuts that hold the mount to the top of front diff.

people forget to check those now & then,they can vibrate loose,& with the play,snap the stud which comes out of the top of diff.

Those were tight Andy, well I got 1/2 a turn on all of them,
I'll get this start issue sorted then align the T/C and gearbox, go from there I spose

theres an o-ring which sits on the hi/lo-diff lock selector shafts,one of those may be leaking.

you took the steel band off the donut after fitting (just occasionally,peeps forget to remove after fitting)

Yeah the band is off, I will keep an eye on that H/L shaft leak,
The bang/jolt was very severe, the whole niva "bumped" upwards, it slowed drastically, everyones heads shook, and it reminded me of a drive shaft uni letting go and the shaft hitting in to the ground.
I will be paranoid for a while I guess

didn't just run over someone elses muffler

We pulled over right next to where this happened (we were cruising at about 40kph) and nothing on the road.
Time will tell

I got the start problem sorted out and tried to go for a spin.
On backing out the driveway when I put the clutch in the niva would stop like having the hand brake on, going forward along the road it would constantly jolt and there would be a huge increase in friction somewhere then slow down then jolt jolt, the friction would disappear and the speed would pick up again all this below 30/40kph and the engine was running like a dream.
The noises seemed to be coming from the rear, T/C ,rear drive shaft area.
I tried both high and low but not diff lock
Too hot to play cars today but I might have a look later

The rear driveshaft has what seems like excessive up and down play where it attaches to the T/C,(the front has no play)
I pulled the drive shaft off and check tightened the yolk on the T/C which I found to be tight so I took it off and had a peer in the hole.
Bearing failure I'm thinking, the oil had no big knarley bits in

OUCH