Mazda Space Saver killed front Differential?

[yoyomiyagi]

I was up very early on Sunday to go kitesurfing in near Bournemouth and found my front driver tyre flat. So I proceeded to change the tyre (in my wetsuit) to the supplied spacesaver. Now because of my general ignorance with 4WD I genuinely thought that the squeal I was hearing was coming from the spare tyre rubber (and not a diff windup). Finally the noise got so bad that I attempted to pull off the dual carriage way, and even had to force a little against the diff to clear the road (the noise still gives me nightmares!). In order to get going again, I asked the AA guy to try and pump up my flat tyre and get rid of the space saver and was able to get the van moving again fine. There was diff oil on the tarmac and now the front diff makes a metallic rubbing sound at each shaft revolution. I managed to drive all the way back up to London with that racket. Have I totally knackered the front diff?

Previously I had used the space saver on the front near side without any problems. I also did often find that I would get juddering when accelerating from rest when turning on near full wheel lock (but gathered that had something to do with tyre pressure and perhaps not having limited slip). Not sure where the front diff oil dipstick is located - I assumed it was the left dipstick under the driver side with the redish oil (and it was higher that the full mark).

Have just changed all the belts and will probably have to wait for any more repairs. Does anyone have any experience with this problem?

[missfixit70]

There is no dipstick for the diffs, you have to get underneath & check the level by removing the plug on the side (at least you do for the rear one, I only have 2wd). It does sound like the space saver may have been the last straw, as a short term measure (or possibly long term?) it is possible to dsiconnect the front diff & turn it into a 2wd, factsheet here - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/member ... ersion.pdf . This factsheet may also be some help - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/member ... ential.pdf
The dipstick on the drivers side is for the autobox & should be checked after driving for at least 10 minutes & then put foot & handbrake on, chock it, range slowly through all the gears & then check the level in D.

The space saver is an abomination, get it replaced with a full size spare asap, it's way beyond it's use by date apart from anything else.

[bigdaddycain]

Hi Yoyo, i gotta agree with kirsty... It sounds like your front diff was on it's last legs anyway, the spacesaver just managed to kill it off completely, it's beyond repair i fear...i suppose you could fill it up with fresh diff oil and see what happens, but it's be a waste of diff oil i reckon.

I'd keep my eye out for a complete front 4wd axle if i were you yoyo, swap the lot over. (but check the fluid level in the diff!)

I recently had mine checked out at wheelquick, luckily (after neglecting to check the levels for 5 years) both diffs were full, and fluid clear.



P.S.... What size wheels are you running? And tyre sizes?

[crazy uncle gray g]

I don't doubt the spacesaver did some damage if you drove from your location
"Edinburgh" to Bournemouth, google show that as 455 miles and an 8hr drive
Crikey, what time do you mean by "getting up early" to go kite surfing

[yoyomiyagi]

Many thanks for the replies. Will check the diff oil and at least top it up. It's quite possible the pressure has sqeezed out a lot of diff oil and hence the sword sharpening noise . Whish I had done this before driving back up to London..
After that I guess it's second hand Axle shopping (sounds almost as complicated as the 2WD conversion). Does anyone know where I can get SAE 90 (GL–5) oil?

BigDaddy - I'm using all recommended tyres (recently changed) - I can't believe I never noticed that a full size tyre fits in the spare tyre bay!

[David Edwards]

My space saver is sitting on the drive waiting for me to take it up the tip, I picked up a full size spare on evil bay for around a tenner, looking at the space saver I think I would never have used it anyway it looks far too flimsy and..basically..crap.

[bigdaddycain]

BigDaddy - I'm using all recommended tyres (recently changed) - I can't believe I never noticed that a full size tyre fits in the spare tyre bay!

Tis easy mistake to make yoyo... I was alerted to the spacesaver situation a few years back when an MOT tester said he wouldn't pass my vehicle with "That f*****g thing as a spare" Daveblueozzie sorted me with my full size spare...and even threw in a wheeltrim to make it look pretty!

[dandywarhol]

MOT tester was wrong B Daddy - spare's nothing to do with the MOT

[bigdaddycain]

MOT tester was wrong B Daddy - spare's nothing to do with the MOT

His actual words were, i wouldn't be happy to pass a vehicle of this size with that skinny wheel as a spare. The spare is included in the mot if on the vehicle? But it can't fail with NO spare wheel...i think.

http://www.ukmot.com/next.asp?ID=51

[dandywarhol]

The horse's mouth might be a better place to avoid the bulls**t
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Ow ... G_10016070

[Doone]

I managed to drive all the way back up to London with that racket.

Isn't the space saver designed for 50 miles at 50mph when it's correctly inflated? We had to use ours once on a 4wd bongo, fitted to the drivers side rear. We only went a few miles and the diff did make a noise and the tyre itself got very hot. So we now always have a full sized spare.

[cheffy34]

Am i wrong in believing it used to be part of the test years ago I know it isn't now but i'm sure i had a car fail years back on bad spare i prob am wrong tho

[Bob]

This is off the top of my head, but I think you don't need a spare for MOT, but if it's there it has to be legal.

[dandywarhol]

From the DVLA Website................................

Wheels and tyres - condition, security, tyre size and type, and tread depth. Spare tyres are not tested

How much more convincing do we need?? I used to carry out MOT tests - it's not part of the test.

[missfixit70]

I managed to drive all the way back up to London with that racket.

Isn't the space saver designed for 50 miles at 50mph when it's correctly inflated? We had to use ours once on a 4wd bongo, fitted to the drivers side rear. We only went a few miles and the diff did make a noise and the tyre itself got very hot. So we now always have a full sized spare.

My friend got from Dover down to Southern Spain fully loaded on one(on the advice of an AA guy - not Nevets I'm sure ) before the handling "got a bit wierd", needless to say there was not much rubber on it at that point .
as you say Doone, maximum of 50 miles at maximum of 50mph.