6 SPD

Hoping someone can offer some insight into what is going on with my Acura... 2006 TL w/ MT, 150K miles, original clutch.

Last week, I was leaving work and pulling into traffic and had to accelerate fairly hard. I heard a loud break, and heard the engine rev pretty high. Turns out the driver side axle shaft broke. It broke at the damper ring, with lots of corrosion... similar to other posts I've seen. I had the car towed home, and ordered left and right aftermarket GSP axles. I got the replacements installed yesterday, and took the car out for a test. After a driving about 300 yds, I heard something break again (not loud), and lost torque to the wheels again. I looked under the car... drive shafts look fine, but are not turning when the car is in gear. I was hearing a slight rattle with the car in gear and clutch released. With the motor running, I can shift through the gears without pressing the clutch (nothing grinding). I was driving low rpm and didn't get past 2nd gear when it happened. Nothing seemed unusual with the clutch or the car in general compared to before the axle broke. The clutch has been fine up to now. I haven't noticed any slipping.

The car is on the side of the road now. I'm assuming this is some sort of clutch failure that is collateral damage from the axle breaking. Clutch is probably bigger than what I want to take on, so I'm considering having it towed to the dealer. I'm just concerned this may be a more serious problem than just a clutch replacement.

Any ideas? Thanks!

BROlando

Your axle likely just popped out of the trans

Did you make sure the new ones were meant for a manual trans and were the correct lengths? And did they seat into the trans properly?

6 SPD

Thanks Brolando. It doesn't look like it popped out. I ordered the correct shafts (NCV36127 and NCV36136). The lengths matched up with the old ones. The shafts seemed to fully seat, and I was able to get the spindle nuts installed and torqued properly. Also, it doesn't explain how I can shift through the gears without the clutch depressed.

BROlando

An axle falling out of the diff/trans will make it possible for you to shift gears without the clutch pressed.

The synchros can stop or speed up the unloaded output shaft to match the input shaft.

I'm confident its an axle issue. Check.

Is your speedometer moving as you try to move?

6 SPD

Yes! I get about 15mph at 3,000 rpm. I get the same in every gear and in neutral. When I engage the clutch, speed goes to zero. I guess that is good news for the clutch?

Still confused on how the shaft could come out of the transmission unless it was too short. The car is still on the side of the road, so it's hard to see what is going on. I hope to have it back in my garage tomorrow.

BROlando

The speedometer moving means the diff is spinning but the axles aren't

Dead give away that its an axle issue.

New axles can be very difficult to actually seat. You may think you've seated them, but they may not be. Its common.

jeffstlnote

BROlando is that guy you wish lived 2 doors down from you in your cul-de-sac. Smart muthafu....he knows things I mean.

6 SPD

Brolando- yeah, that was exactly it. I was able to get under the car today. The axle about an inch short of fully seated on the driver side. I also saw transmission fluid dripping from that spot. I was able to loosen the spindle nut and use a mallet to get the shaft seated. It took a while... the split ring must have been getting hung up, but eventually it went. Took it for a drive, and everything seems good now.

Thanks again for the insight! I was seriously close to having the car towed to the dealership. That would have sucked.

BROlando

Right on. Glad it was simple and thanks for posting back to confirm the issue. I'm sure it'll help others in the future.

Make sure you refill the fluid you lost!