I bought a Legacy wagon with a 5-speed as a donor for my Brat project. The guy owns a decent auto shop in town, and he had some kid tow the car up to my place, which is about 2 miles away. I came outside to look, and the rear tires were on the ground, and the front tires were off the ground. I asked if he towed it all the way like this, and he said that he had.

 

Is the transmission useless now? I'm wondering if I should ask for my $150 back. Is there a way to see for sure if the transmission is done for? Thanks.

 

Jacob

I don't think 2 miles is going to hurt anything. Talk to the guy. See if he'll agree to a refund or replacment if the trans doesn't work.

i wouldn't worry about it too much, but it is a risk for sure. the one i saw towed for 700 miles worked fine for a few years before it failed...but i never did verify why it failed - could have just been the clutch or something. so yeah, 2 miles shouldn't mean too much.

Automatics will survive this much better than the manuals.

 

It was bought for a 5-speed swap.

 

The center differential is a limited slip diff, viscous coupling type. I would bet it was well cooked by the end of 2 miles. Consider the amount of rotations of the rear driveshaft vs. the non-rotating front pinion shaft and think of the heat generated.

 

The tow driver is a ********************* for hauling the car like this. This is assuming the rear driveline is hooked up to the back of the tranny?

 

Not that hard to replace the center differential, but it is $$$ for the differential its self.

Automatics will survive this much better than the manuals.

 

It was bought for a 5-speed swap.

 

The center differential is a limited slip diff, viscous coupling type. I would bet it was well cooked by the end of 2 miles. Consider the amount of rotations of the rear driveshaft vs. the non-rotating front pinion shaft and think of the heat generated.

 

The tow driver is a ********************* for hauling the car like this. This is assuming the rear driveline is hooked up to the back of the tranny?

 

Not that hard to replace the center differential, but it is $$$ for the differential its self.

 

All that being said soobs are tough cars. They are the Timex of cars, they take a lickin and keep on tickin! Get a wiff of the gear oils do they smell burned?

Edited September 27, 200817 yr by screwbaru2

Automatics will survive this much better than the manuals.

 

It was bought for a 5-speed swap.

 

The center differential is a limited slip diff, viscous coupling type. I would bet it was well cooked by the end of 2 miles. Consider the amount of rotations of the rear driveshaft vs. the non-rotating front pinion shaft and think of the heat generated.

 

The tow driver is a ********************* for hauling the car like this. This is assuming the rear driveline is hooked up to the back of the tranny?

 

Not that hard to replace the center differential, but it is $$$ for the differential its self.

 

Yeah, everything was hooked up that I could see.

 

All that being said soobs are tough cars. They are the Timex of cars, they take a lickin and keep on tickin! Get a wiff of the gear oils do they smell burned?

 

Isn't the center diff self-contained? I don't think I would be able to smell the oil from there, would I?

 

Jacbo

What year Legacy is the transmission from? Manuals actually survive this better than automatics (sorry to disagree).

 

Early ones probably did not have the limited slip diff. And for only 2 miles, I doubt there's any damage as long as the thing was in neutral and had fluid in it.

 

Emily

http://www.ccrengines.com

What year Legacy is the transmission from? Manuals actually survive this better than automatics (sorry to disagree).

 

Early ones probably did not have the limited slip diff. And for only 2 miles, I doubt there's any damage as long as the thing was in neutral and had fluid in it.

 

Emily

http://www.ccrengines.com

 

I have no idea what year it is. It's definitely '90-'94 style, though. I guess I'll just put it in and see what happens.

 

Jacob