Backlash - Fixed & Service Experience

[Cro]

I've always accepted the fact I would have some driveline clunk buying a manual falcon, it was the drivline bounce and the backlash which I didn't expect.

Instead of whinging about it I drove the car like I should be driven, hard, very hard. In 60,000kms I had nothing to whinge about cause driving the car hard always avoided backlash, clunk and bounce. Shortly after 60k I started getting the backlash, bounce higher in the rev range when changing gears both downshifting and upshifting.

It started to sh*t me so I asked Brad Garlick in North Ryde to have a look at it whilst they repaired my coolant leak, did a 75k service, and a couple of other bits and pieces.

They came back with "We change the clutch fluid" let us know how you go. It seemed that the problem was fixed, but I really couldn't test it properly as the car was so down on power it didn't replicate the situation on the top end of the rev range. After a test drive with the service manager and listening to him tell me they all go like this...

In any case a drive to work in such a damn slow car was pissing me off so much I decided to actually look for a problem myself. The cockheads didn't clamp my intercooler hose back to the cross over pipe. After a phone call full of name calling, bla bla bla, I decided I wasn't going to go to them again.

By now I was getting really pissed off with the backlash I had to take it somewhere. I ended up booking it into Peter Warren Smithfield for a brake fluid flush and driveline inspection, nothing but top class service. They checked my lights, indicators, etc.. everything when I showed up.

They had to have 2 go's at my brake fluid flush as I wan't happy with the pedal stiffness, but the miracle was that they found a problem with the backlash.

They ended up replacing the rear bushes, drive shafts, diff oil, axel oil, and a couple of other bits and pieces I can't remember. To top it off they gave me the hirecar for free.

I'm so damn glad I found a decent service dept, cause after being to around 6 different ones in Sydney, I was almost going to drive to Canberra each time I wanted a service...

Anyway, the backlash, on up shifs is gone, the bounce on traffic "idling" speed and downshifts is gone, the clunk still exists but is very subdued and only happens very very low in the rev range.

Full credit to the guys @ Peter Warrent Smithfield

And Brad Garlick

[Adam]

That's good to here!

Did they actually say what the problem was? Were the bushes flogged out or was there to much play in the driveshafts for example.

[Cro]

They did say that the bushes were flogged out, they may have said the same about the drive shafts.

I told em I don't do burnouts, which is true, they said every hwp car they service come up with the same problem, so it is hard driving that causes it.

[GOLDIE]

Great to see some one has finally found a service dept to say nice things about.

Ian

PS I think it is about time you learnt to drive.

[Chooka]

  Cro said:

They did say that the bushes were flogged out, they may have said the same about the drive shafts.

I told em I don't do burnouts, which is true, they said every hwp car they service come up with the same problem, so it is hard driving that causes it.

You must be due for brakes and tyre again too mate

Chooka

[XR64T]

Good to hear Cro!!

I have also found Peter Warren Smithfield the best Ford service in Sydney.

Unfortunately, Peter Warren Warrick Farm don't have the same attitude.