Yesterday, I dug into the car a little bit. As I was going through the process for setting the timing, I had the front wheels off the ground, and I noticed that when I revved the engine in neutral the front axles(wheels were off for brake job) spun. I was very confused. They didn't spin when I released the clutch, only with the clutch engaged. Why would the axels spin with the tranny in neutral and the clutch engaged?

I've got a couple of thoughts on the matter, but I'd really like to hear someone else's thoughts on this.

Thanks,
Ben
92 SE-R

Engine turning>>>flywheel turning>>>clutch turning (engaged or not)>>>Hence, tranny and axle turning.

Ben

Ben, thanks for the quick response, and BTW I've found more Bens on this forum than anywhere else in my life. Maybe we're drawn to the SR20. . . :D Bens of the world unite!!

Maybe I need to brush-up on my understanding of the inner workings of a transmission, but I always assumed that if the car was not in gear then there was no link between the engine and drive axles. The only thing that I can imagine throwing that assumption off is the 1st gear synchro. Could the synchro transmit a small amount of energy through the tranny and to the axles?

Thanks again,
Ben
92 SE-R

Not quite, GTi-R, he said it's in neutral, so the engine is not physically connected to the axles. I've noticed mine does this too. The axles don't turn very fast, and if you put a hand on it, it will stop. My theory is that when the clutch is engaged, the gears that are turning move the gear oil around enough that the flowing oil causes the gears on the other shaft to turn, even though they are not physically connected. This is just a monkey theory, of course.

Josh

Good call Josh. . . I wonder if the gear oil could really exert enough force to spin the axles? At least I know it's not just my car. . .

Ben
92 SE-R

Originally posted by MEclassic
Not quite, GTi-R, he said it's in neutral, so the engine is not physically connected to the axles. I've noticed mine does this too. The axles don't turn very fast, and if you put a hand on it, it will stop. My theory is that when the clutch is engaged, the gears that are turning move the gear oil around enough that the flowing oil causes the gears on the other shaft to turn, even though they are not physically connected. This is just a monkey theory, of course.

Josh

I might have not been so detailed... but that was my 'idea' to begin with. The shift fork is in nuetral... but its still close enough to pick up the vibes of the oil being splashed around! and like yours... MONKEY THEORY!!! :D

Ben