Did I just blow up my T-45?

[shoobs99svt]

99 Cobra 88,000 miles.

Lots of bolt ons including 550 miles on new Centerforce DF / Fidanza Fly / TOB / Pilot Bearing / U-joints.
10,000 miles on fluid change with Redline ATF.
OTW immaculate maintenance record throughout.
I've raced it twice, once with DRs, total of no more than 15 passes, over 1 year ago.

Today on freeway I downshifted to 4th to pass a Jeep "infringing" on my space. Settled in 4th for 5 seconds or more, clutch out at no more than 75 mph at 1/2 throttle...

BOOM went the sound (similar to falling out of gear)...
Horrible vibration...
Gear shift lever rocking left to right, so violent I could not hold onto it...
Pissing fluid evident in white smoke out back...

Shut car OFF (instinctive) and coasted to emergency lane. Im lowered a bit, and all I could see underneath was fluid dripping from trans front and back (btw I was parked on slight decline). Clutch pedal goes to floor, no resistance. Evident ATF red fluid and associated smell... this isnt a half shaft or an IRS issue. Towed it to a very reputable mustang shop in Ft Mill SC.

At this point I understand everyone here can only speculate the damage, and I understand that. However, until they get under my car to explore I am doing my research to be ready for what can/does come next.

Does this sound familiar to anyone else? Outcomes? I find it hard to swallow that my 305 hp baby just blew up the trans at 88k miles.

PS If anyone wants to do me a kindness and post on Corral that would help as well, I have an acct there but never able to post and no mods will answer my kind PMs.

 

[trinity_gt]

My guess: A shift fork (or related part broke) and the trans remained in 5th while you proceeded to engage 4th. This would lock the trans and when you let the clutch out something had to give. That would be the case splitting apart.

 

[shoobs99svt]

My guess: A shift fork (or related part broke) and the trans remained in 5th while you proceeded to engage 4th. This would lock the trans and when you let the clutch out something had to give. That would be the case splitting apart.

Trinity-

First off thx for your post.

I had it it in 4th and clutch out for a good 5 seconds and accelerating when the car did what it did (proper English?). It definitely felt like 4th, no question about that.

Do you still think a bad shift fork and a broken case given that info?

I really hate speculating on what the issue is without having the car in front of me to share, but since this is my DD I want to be prepared to address all options when I know what the prob is in the least amount of time. Or to have this thread useful to the next poor victim.

 

[trinity_gt]

Trinity-

First off thx for your post.

I had it it in 4th and clutch out for a good 5 seconds and accelerating when the car did what it did (proper English?). It definitely felt like 4th, no question about that.

Do you still think a bad shift fork and a broken case given that info?

Hmm. Must've missed that in the OP.

Anyway, I think the mechanism of the failure is similar to what I described though the order of events seems unlikely as I had originally written. The "boom", the shifter involvement, the gushing fluid... All sounds like a catastrophic event internal to the T45 one way or the other.

 

[shoobs99svt]

Hmm. Must've missed that in the OP.

Anyway, I think the mechanism of the failure is similar to what I described though the order of events seems unlikely as I had originally written. The "boom", the shifter involvement, the gushing fluid... All sounds like a catastrophic event internal to the T45 one way or the other.

You didn't miss anything! I edited after for a better description given your impression. I'm not looking forward to rebuilding or replacing the trans. I'll do a search on rebuilding it IF thats feasible versus a replacement. Any advice on r&r or better from those who've been there, I'm listening.

If it comes to it, I'm better off, keeping the t-45 than replacing with a 3650/56 for "financial" reasons alone.

 

[AZmustang98]

Perfect time for a 6 speed...

 

[shoobs99svt]

Perfect time for a 6 speed...

AZ... If I could wish upon a lucky star. Economy not so popular with my employer here, cost cutting measures (ie my poor paycheck) are enforced to the extreme.

I couldn't agree more... But here we are with a DD that needs to DD for cheap. Otw I'd have a z06 killer to embarrass my neighbor. 2012 is a year to pay gas alone.

Ps been 140 on your I10 through TUS once before

 

[jmc01gt]

A used T-45 should be fairly cheap as lots of people slap a 3650 in there when they drop the tranny. Also, with the number of upgrades available the T45 is less desirable, hence lower priced.

I'm running a T45, and reading your post has me paranoid about highway downshifting now...oh well, if it does happen it's either T-56 or GT500 time.

 

[shoobs99svt]

Well guys here you go! Stock T-45 cracked the case during a 4th gear pull... not a hard shift, just a pull on a 305 rwhp 88,000 mile 99 cobra. Enjoy

 

[bhuff30]

I am shocked, I have never heard of a T45 cracking the case before. The case should be able to stand up to well over 450rwhp without an issue. I am guessing there was something else going on inside.

I have had my fair share of T45 issues as well. I have broken the 1-2 shift fork, the 2-3 shift fork, the key holding the 1-2 fork. After a full rebuild and 20k miles, it is starting to hang up in R and makes a little noise in 5th. Obviously, it needs to be pulled out and taken apart again.... All this on a 180-230rwhp GT....

 

[98COBRA281]

nice job

 

[AZmustang98]

Wow!