BANG! SNAP! Why me?

[FiatDavidFiat]

WhYyYyYYYY!!!!!!??!?!?
They replaced the driveshaft mount/bearing/etc.. Now they're telling me that it's actually the dif. making the cracking/popping sounds.. They told me that the bearing broke due to the dif. They emptied the oil to find metal chunks; and posited that someone fishtailed the car into a curb, or something, which drove the axel into a gear and broke it.. Sadly.. I bought a rebuilt pumpkin for a sweet $275.. I'm going to be putting this in myself. Now I just have to come up with the $200 to get my car back outta the shop! =( $300 if I want them to put it on for me..

[htchevyii]

Were the parts they replaced even bad? Woulda like a misdiagnosis on their part?

[FiatDavidFiat]

Yeah, they were prettey bad.

[MrWampus]

A failed diff was the demise of my first Spider in 1986. My car was a 79 model. I have heard of several instances of failed diffs. I wouldn't necessarily think it was because someone fishtailed into a curb but I suppose that might do it too. In my case I think it was because the oil was never changed. I was a college kid and didn't know any better. Who knew the manual would have the maintenance schedules for such things?

[FiatDavidFiat]

Update:

I have now replaced the pumpkin and the drive shaft bearing, but my car still isn't running properly... Now it's vibrating and I hear a sound like there's no oil in the dif.. I only put about 2 quarts in, is that not enough? I'm wondering if maybe an axel is bent (didn't look bent) or if a U-joint is out now?

[FiatDavidFiat]

Huh.. good point.. What's the purpose of marking the orientation? I didn't do this when I took it off...

often its a case of you know the shaft was balanced and working in the last state, not putting it back in the original position can make trouble shooting a little harder down the track if there is a vibration issue?? Saying that, you may be just as fine in the new position....

I forgot about this! ^^ I'm not sure what the original orientation was tho.. Is there a way to tell, or do I have to just keep rotating it and testing it? That would seem quite tedious...

[4uall]

Update:

I have now replaced the pumpkin and the drive shaft bearing, but my car still isn't running properly... Now it's vibrating and I hear a sound like there's no oil in the dif.. I only put about 2 quarts in, is that not enough? I'm wondering if maybe an axel is bent (didn't look bent) or if a U-joint is out now?

This may help

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/122042402/F ... rive-Shaft