How do gearboxes break

If the shaft seals are broken, water and other contaminants can get inside the gearbox. Both vibration and improper mounting can cause components to become misaligned as can wear, over time.

Mounting may invite problems because if the gearbox is not properly oriented, the possibility of contamination increases. Even tiny particulates can damage bearings. If gears are out of alignment, the teeth will show signs of pitting at one end.

Repeated transient thermal expansion that occurs at start-up can also cause misalignment, as can external heat expansion due to the gearbox being located too close to a high heat source.

Do you hear squeaking or rattling sounds? Replace malfunctioning parts right away to avoid more extensive gearbox repair. Right angle gearboxes are designed to meet certain specs under certain loads. Any unexpected force or torque can damage the gears or cause bearings to fail.

Installation note about Shaft Support: Shafting should be supported on all sides of gearbox with external bearing blocks. The internal gearbox bearings are designed to handle the internal loads and are not suitable to support additional, external radial or thrust loads. Failure to support external loads will reduce the gearbox efficiency and service life. The kinder you are to your hard-working gearboxes, the longer they will last and perform their best work.

According to What Car? While driving habits do have a big part to play in this, manufacturing can have an effect on how long your gearbox lasts and how often you should really have it serviced and checked. As mentioned earlier, poor quality engine oil can cause problems with your gearbox but more prominently, the wrong type of oil can have the same detrimental effect.

Each vehicle will state a particular oil type for different reasons — high-performance cars, for example, will need a high-performance oil, while synthetic oils are only appropriate for certain models. For more information about gearbox issues or to book your vehicle in for a gearbox repair or engine repair , get in touch with a member of our team, today.

Choosing the correct gear also makes it far easier to react to any issues on the road as they occur and also ensures corners are taken in the correct gear. In a car with manual transmission, the main aim of the clutch is enable the driver to engage and disengage the gears.

Some drivers, however, regularly keep the clutch partially depressed, driving on the clutch as a means of controlling speed and decelerating. While this can give a feeling of control, it is damaging the clutch, causing it to burn. In the long run, driving in this manner will affect the performance of the gearbox as asbestos material peels off the clutch.

The owner manuals of some cars specifically advise against resting your hand on the gearstick and avoiding doing so is probably good practice for any car. The reason to place your hand elsewhere is that the gearstick is connected to a selector fork and applying permanent pressure, even if only light weight through resting your hand, can cause permanent wear.

Admittedly this is sometimes easier said than done, but, when possible, try to avoid potholes and speedbumps, or at least take the latter at low speeds.

The damage both do is huge, it is thought that up to a third of all vehicle repairs are because a pothole or similar was hit, the gearbox is as susceptible to damage as any other key part of the car. The problem of potholes only gets worse as we close in on winter, not only do more appear, but they are also harder to see as it is often dark and they might also fill with water and so a relatively deep pothole can look like a mundane puddle.

Driving with due care and attention and, when possible avoiding the edge of the road where potholes can be more frequent can at least make it more likely you will avoid the worst of the craters. Rather than using the handbrake to hold the car, many drivers rest on the clutch when they come to a stop, potentially having to then quickly switch feet as they move away to avoid the car rolling back.

Not only can this damage your transmission but it can also damage your suspension and driveshaft as well. If your car has some hauling capability then be sure to not exceed the suggested weight limits.

Towing puts a huge strain on your transmission, which can cause it to overheat. If you are low on transmission fluid the gears in your transmission will not be lubricated, causing them to grind together, overheat and eventually fail. You need to keep your transmission fluid at the optimal levels in order to keep your transmission working smoothly. If your fluid levels are low, chances are you have a leak.

Your transmission requires a certain type of transmission fluid to run. Using the wrong fluid for your transmission can result in your transmission not getting the right lubrication or cooling properties that it requires. Your owners manual or the transmissions experts at AAMCO Utah can help you determine which transmission fluid is right for your car. Your transmissions performance will decrease and the parts inside will wear out.