First time it's ever left me stranded.
September 8th, 2012, 04:38 PM
#1
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Great Bend, KS
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First time it's ever left me stranded.
I was heading home from town today and started to feel a vibration. I slowed down, but the vibration got worse and worse until I could only go about 35 without rattling my teeth.
I pulled over and took a look under the car and grease was everywhere on the passenger side front. The passengerside Tri-Pot joint must have busted and blew the boot off.
The car still had some forward motion, so I tried to limp home the next 10 miles doing 25 mph. I made it 7 of those 10 miles then it finally let go completely. Good to live in a place where you know your neighbors. My friend across the street brought his truck out and we towed home the Toronado.
Here's the carnage:
Thing that pisses me off is I just replaced both half-shafts not more than 2 years ago. So... ordered a new halfshaft that should be in Tuesday. Swap it out, de-grease everything and go. Or maybe I should leave the grease and call it "rust protectant" haha.
I pulled over and took a look under the car and grease was everywhere on the passenger side front. The passengerside Tri-Pot joint must have busted and blew the boot off.
The car still had some forward motion, so I tried to limp home the next 10 miles doing 25 mph. I made it 7 of those 10 miles then it finally let go completely. Good to live in a place where you know your neighbors. My friend across the street brought his truck out and we towed home the Toronado.
Here's the carnage:
Thing that pisses me off is I just replaced both half-shafts not more than 2 years ago. So... ordered a new halfshaft that should be in Tuesday. Swap it out, de-grease everything and go. Or maybe I should leave the grease and call it "rust protectant" haha.
September 8th, 2012, 05:43 PM
#2
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Dahlonega, GA
Posts: 492
one of those days. I was heading to the shop this morning and my truck just shut off and would not refire. it has never left me stranded over 275,000 miles. I had better luck than you. for what ever reason the coil wire fell off so at least I made it home. it seems these days that the new parts are worse than some of the old ones we replace. at least it is an easy fix other than the mess.
September 8th, 2012, 05:46 PM
#3
Connoisseur d'Junque
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: The Hudson Valley
Posts: 21,183
Dumb question:
Did you replace the half shafts because they were bad, or just "because"?
I'm one of those who says "They don't make 'em like they used to," and avoids replacing original parts unless they are proven bad, so I'm interested in the "data" about your experience.
Sorry it had to happen, but I guess that's what you get for drivin' those dadburned newfangled overcomplicated front wheel drive jalopies.
- Eric
Did you replace the half shafts because they were bad, or just "because"?
I'm one of those who says "They don't make 'em like they used to," and avoids replacing original parts unless they are proven bad, so I'm interested in the "data" about your experience.
Sorry it had to happen, but I guess that's what you get for drivin' those dadburned newfangled overcomplicated front wheel drive jalopies.
- Eric
September 8th, 2012, 06:22 PM
#4
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Dahlonega, GA
Posts: 492
the sad part is that I have owned my 70 SX conv for 3 years longer than his car has existed and his is 27 years old now. back when I bought mine we would look at the "new" mid eighties cars and think "man those things are bland", now I look at the new cars and think "boy, after the eighties they really quit with the style". cars today are all the same with different emblems but anything from around 1990 or older you can ID from across the parking lot know exactly what it is.
September 8th, 2012, 06:33 PM
#5
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Great Bend, KS
Posts: 174
Dumb question:
Did you replace the half shafts because they were bad, or just "because"?
I'm one of those who says "They don't make 'em like they used to," and avoids replacing original parts unless they are proven bad, so I'm interested in the "data" about your experience.
Sorry it had to happen, but I guess that's what you get for drivin' those dadburned newfangled overcomplicated front wheel drive jalopies.
- Eric
Did you replace the half shafts because they were bad, or just "because"?
I'm one of those who says "They don't make 'em like they used to," and avoids replacing original parts unless they are proven bad, so I'm interested in the "data" about your experience.
Sorry it had to happen, but I guess that's what you get for drivin' those dadburned newfangled overcomplicated front wheel drive jalopies.
- Eric
This is my daily driver and everybody keeps asking me "How long do you think it will last?" (I have 260,000 miles right now).
I tell them, "I don't know. But I haven't known how long it's going to last for 7 years now." Haha.
Say what you will about FWD, but this thing is awesome in the winter snow.
September 8th, 2012, 06:39 PM
#6
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Location: Dahlonega, GA
Posts: 492
yeah they are great in the winter but I hope they dont salt the roads there, hate to see it rot away in a few years. I have seen a few that era that were well cared for with over 350,000 on them so if it is running good and you maintain it you have a ways to go. we all like to bust on the fwd for fun but those are really nice cruising cars and it probably still gets better miliage than some of the new cars.
September 8th, 2012, 06:43 PM
#7
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Location: Great Bend, KS
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Oh there's plenty of salt here. But I do my best to keep it clean.
Let's just say it's in a lot better shape since I've been driving it every day than it was when I bought it 7 years ago. So I don't feel too bad pressing it into service. Next stop probably would have been either the trailer park or the junk yard if I hadn't bought it.
I paid $625 for the car when it had 196,000 miles on it. Pretty cheap transportation... with style.
Let's just say it's in a lot better shape since I've been driving it every day than it was when I bought it 7 years ago. So I don't feel too bad pressing it into service. Next stop probably would have been either the trailer park or the junk yard if I hadn't bought it.
I paid $625 for the car when it had 196,000 miles on it. Pretty cheap transportation... with style.
September 8th, 2012, 07:05 PM
#8
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Location: Dahlonega, GA
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I hate road salt!! I swear it is a conspiracy by the auto makers to destroy cars so we have to keep buying new ones. I never see more that a week or two of snow here during the whole winter so we dont have that problem. if the car runs good then you are in so cheap at that price that you dont have much to lose but too nice a ride to let rot away or get crushed and turned into a new kia.
September 8th, 2012, 07:25 PM
#9
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: The Hudson Valley
Posts: 21,183
Nothing to do with you or your car, but this is a pet peeve I have up here in the Frozen North.
It seems these days that it's common wisdom that you "have" to have a car with four wheel drive or front wheel drive to live through the winter.
People always seem just short of amazed when I point out that I have spent the past five winters commuting 70 miles round trip every day with rear wheel drive vehicles (BMW 318ti or GMC 2500 p/u), without ever getting stuck or having any serious traction problems.
All you need is a decent set of snow tires.
Oh, yeah, and you have to know how to drive.
Everyone seems to need a crutch these days.
Getting off my soapbox now...
[/rant]
September 8th, 2012, 09:14 PM
#11
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Location: Great Bend, KS
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I used the reman A1Cardone shafts from Rock Auto. Going to try something different this time I guess...
The job isn't too bad. Breaking the 36mm spindle nut loose without an impact wrench is the hardest part. =P
The job isn't too bad. Breaking the 36mm spindle nut loose without an impact wrench is the hardest part. =P
September 13th, 2012, 07:51 PM
#12
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Location: Great Bend, KS
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Well, the newly replaced part is off the hook. I was afraid of something like this. The tripot joint failed because the output shaft support failed. (Labeled in the photo below as "Support Bracket and Bearing"
I was underneath putting the new halfshaft in and was checking everything out and noticed there looked like was a LOT more play than there should be on the output shaft coming out of the differential.
Then found that the support was no longer attached!
So I'm posting in the parts wanted thread to see if anyone might have one of these. Ahh the joys of owning a Toronado. =P
I was underneath putting the new halfshaft in and was checking everything out and noticed there looked like was a LOT more play than there should be on the output shaft coming out of the differential.
Then found that the support was no longer attached!
So I'm posting in the parts wanted thread to see if anyone might have one of these. Ahh the joys of owning a Toronado. =P
September 13th, 2012, 08:18 PM
#14
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Location: Great Bend, KS
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The driver's side doesn't have a support. The differential is offset to the driver's side so driver's side halfshaft bolts directly to the differential.
I haven't pulled the output shaft out yet, but I'm anticipating the worst. Seems to be how things are going lately. =P
I haven't pulled the output shaft out yet, but I'm anticipating the worst. Seems to be how things are going lately. =P
September 13th, 2012, 08:59 PM
#15
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Montreal, QC
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She fired up with two pumps of the gas, stuck to the road without any issues.
And, oh yeah. the heater is GREAT.
September 14th, 2012, 03:15 AM
#17
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Location: Too close to Toronto!!
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September 14th, 2012, 03:53 AM
#18
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September 14th, 2012, 04:10 AM
#19
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No way. But my father can weld up anything. He's built a lot of cool stuff over the years.
Now that I'm older and appreciate his skill, I keep bugging him to teach me how to make stuff look as good as he does and he's willing. But the few times a year we get back home, we just never squeeze it into the short time we are there.
Guess now I have a good reason for him to show me.
Now that I'm older and appreciate his skill, I keep bugging him to teach me how to make stuff look as good as he does and he's willing. But the few times a year we get back home, we just never squeeze it into the short time we are there.
Guess now I have a good reason for him to show me.
September 14th, 2012, 06:24 AM
#20
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Location: Montreal, QC
Posts: 2,175
No way. But my father can weld up anything. He's built a lot of cool stuff over the years.
Now that I'm older and appreciate his skill, I keep bugging him to teach me how to make stuff look as good as he does and he's willing. But the few times a year we get back home, we just never squeeze it into the short time we are there.
Guess now I have a good reason for him to show me.
Now that I'm older and appreciate his skill, I keep bugging him to teach me how to make stuff look as good as he does and he's willing. But the few times a year we get back home, we just never squeeze it into the short time we are there.
Guess now I have a good reason for him to show me.
September 14th, 2012, 06:56 AM
#21
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Great Bend, KS
Posts: 174
Thanks, Tony. If only we were closer!
Good news, I think I found a differential unit with the output shafts and support locally in a salvage yard. They want $150 and they'll pull it. Seems fair if it's all there. Should hear back from them today.
Good news, I think I found a differential unit with the output shafts and support locally in a salvage yard. They want $150 and they'll pull it. Seems fair if it's all there. Should hear back from them today.
September 14th, 2012, 08:50 AM
#22
Seasoned beater pilot.
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Chicago
Posts: 5,468
Hit that thing with a power washer while it's apart. I can feel the grime under my fingernails by just looking at your pictures. YUK!
Gotta love those leaky 307's. Half of them looked like that after 50,000 miles because of those 5 bolt valve covers, and complex web of hoses and doodads blocking the cleanup effort.
Gotta love those leaky 307's. Half of them looked like that after 50,000 miles because of those 5 bolt valve covers, and complex web of hoses and doodads blocking the cleanup effort.
September 14th, 2012, 12:15 PM
#23
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Great Bend, KS
Posts: 174
J-, I'll degrease it just for you. While I was under there, I noticed one of the oil pan bolts was completely gone!
Here's the crusty new (old) parts. Can't believe I couldn't get a warantee.
Here's the crusty new (old) parts. Can't believe I couldn't get a warantee.
September 14th, 2012, 12:55 PM
#24
your grease problem
I was heading home from town today and started to feel a vibration. I slowed down, but the vibration got worse and worse until I could only go about 35 without rattling my teeth.
hey did you check the engine mounts i have seen this happen and shift.
I pulled over and took a look under the car and grease was everywhere on the passenger side front. The passengerside Tri-Pot joint must have busted and blew the boot off.
The car still had some forward motion, so I tried to limp home the next 10 miles doing 25 mph. I made it 7 of those 10 miles then it finally let go completely. Good to live in a place where you know your neighbors. My friend across the street brought his truck out and we towed home the Toronado.
Here's the carnage:
Thing that pisses me off is I just replaced both half-shafts not more than 2 years ago. So... ordered a new halfshaft that should be in Tuesday. Swap it out, de-grease everything and go. Or maybe I should leave the grease and call it "rust protectant" haha.
hey did you check the engine mounts i have seen this happen and shift.
I pulled over and took a look under the car and grease was everywhere on the passenger side front. The passengerside Tri-Pot joint must have busted and blew the boot off.
The car still had some forward motion, so I tried to limp home the next 10 miles doing 25 mph. I made it 7 of those 10 miles then it finally let go completely. Good to live in a place where you know your neighbors. My friend across the street brought his truck out and we towed home the Toronado.
Here's the carnage:
Thing that pisses me off is I just replaced both half-shafts not more than 2 years ago. So... ordered a new halfshaft that should be in Tuesday. Swap it out, de-grease everything and go. Or maybe I should leave the grease and call it "rust protectant" haha.
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