Engine, Drivetrain & Forced-Induction
Have Technical Questions or Done Modifications to the G37? Find out the answer in here!

Transfer case snapped where driveshaft meets. Need advice please

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-10-2019, 11:38 PM
  #1  
Dan G37
Registered Member
Thread Starter
 
Dan G37's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 207
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Front differential snapped. Need advice please

So I was driving my car like normal and hit a bump. I've hit bumps bigger than this one before and not as fast. After I hit the bump I noticed a weird whining noise when accelerating. Luckily I live pretty close to home where it happened.

I made it home and decided to lift the car up and not drive it or anything. I noticed fluid leaking from near the driveshaft. When I looked, the transfer case that connects to the drive shaft snapped. I have no idea what to do anymore and was wondering if anyone could offer me some advice. Does the transmission have to be dropped in order to take off the transfer case? I have a 2010 g37x coupe.

Pictures below.


Last edited by Dan G37; 03-23-2019 at 01:06 PM.
Old 02-10-2019, 11:59 PM
  #2  
JSolo
Just say no!!!!!
iTrader: (14)
 
JSolo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: People's Republic of IL
Posts: 6,105
Received 589 Likes on 492 Posts
That's not something you see every day. I'd say if you have a warranty of any kind, make a claim. If not, depending on cost of repairs, it might be worthwhile to make a claim through the insurance company. Would probably fall under your collision coverage. Another thought might be to make a claim through the city where you hit the bump/pothole.

Go back there in the day time and take pics before they fill it up (the pothole that is).
The following users liked this post:
Dan G37 (02-11-2019)
Old 02-11-2019, 12:37 AM
  #3  
Dan G37
Registered Member
Thread Starter
 
Dan G37's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 207
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Originally Posted by Jsolo
That's not something you see every day. I'd say if you have a warranty of any kind, make a claim. If not, depending on cost of repairs, it might be worthwhile to make a claim through the insurance company. Would probably fall under your collision coverage. Another thought might be to make a claim through the city where you hit the bump/pothole.

Go back there in the day time and take pics before they fill it up (the pothole that is).
​​​​​​thanks for the advice, that should never snap like that! Would my car become salvage after I make that claim?
​​​​​​
Old 02-11-2019, 12:45 AM
  #4  
JSolo
Just say no!!!!!
iTrader: (14)
 
JSolo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: People's Republic of IL
Posts: 6,105
Received 589 Likes on 492 Posts
I wouldn't think so. A mechanical part broke, not the unibody chassis frame. I'm not familiar with awd (mine is rwd). Not sure if the car is driveable at this point (or if it should be driven). The recommendation might be to forward these pics to some local body shops to get their take on it. Mention this happened after hitting a bump.

Was this bump a pothole or something else?

I don't know what your insurance status/driving record is. This may count against you. That's why I say go back tomorrow and take pics. You may have a claim against the city.
The following users liked this post:
Dan G37 (02-11-2019)
Old 02-11-2019, 12:56 AM
  #5  
Dan G37
Registered Member
Thread Starter
 
Dan G37's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 207
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Originally Posted by Jsolo
I wouldn't think so. A mechanical part broke, not the unibody chassis frame. I'm not familiar with awd (mine is rwd). Not sure if the car is driveable at this point (or if it should be driven). The recommendation might be to forward these pics to some local body shops to get their take on it. Mention this happened after hitting a bump.

Was this bump a pothole or something else?

I don't know what your insurance status/driving record is. This may count against you. That's why I say go back tomorrow and take pics. You may have a claim against the city.
Ive got a clean record and it was more of a big dip, gets steep and high really quick so like a deep pothole. I've hit bumps before and they never snapped my transfer case like this. It must have weakened over time or something. I'm all out of warranty on my car, should I still give Infiniti a call?

My car is AWD, I have it at home on Jack's and do not plan on driving it anywhere until it's fixed. I might even try to change the transfer case myself but I'm unsure if I need to remove the whole transmission or not. Thanks again for the advice.

Last edited by Dan G37; 02-11-2019 at 01:23 AM.
Old 02-11-2019, 10:14 AM
  #6  
GdaddyNY
Registered Member
 
GdaddyNY's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: NY, New York
Posts: 239
Received 30 Likes on 29 Posts
Is that the transfer case at the tail of the transmission or the front differential/front driveshaft?I’m kind of lost in the photos.
The following users liked this post:
Dan G37 (02-11-2019)
Old 02-11-2019, 12:47 PM
  #7  
Dan G37
Registered Member
Thread Starter
 
Dan G37's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 207
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Originally Posted by GdaddyNY
Is that the transfer case at the tail of the transmission or the front differential/front driveshaft?I’m kind of lost in the photos.
I believe it's the tail of the transmission. But it is the front drive shaft. Is that the front differential then? From the photos I looked online, it seems to be the transfer case.

You may be right about it being the front differential. The oil that came out seemed very close to gear oil used in the differential.

Last edited by Dan G37; 02-11-2019 at 12:55 PM.
Old 02-11-2019, 12:55 PM
  #8  
Selym
Registered Member
 
Selym's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Posts: 648
Received 96 Likes on 80 Posts
Originally Posted by Dan G37
I believe it's the tail of the transmission. But it is the front drive shaft. Is that the front differential then? From the photos I looked online, it seems to be the transfer case.

You may be right about it being the front differential. The oil that came out seemed very close to hear oil used in the differential.
Looks like the transfer case. The front differential is next to the engine oil pan, and has two CV axles coming out of it to drive the front wheels. The transfer case has a single, short prop shaft coming out of it, which transmits torque to the front differential.
The following users liked this post:
Dan G37 (02-11-2019)
Old 02-11-2019, 12:58 PM
  #9  
Dan G37
Registered Member
Thread Starter
 
Dan G37's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 207
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Originally Posted by Selym
Looks like the transfer case. The front differential is next to the engine oil pan, and has two CV axles coming out of it to drive the front wheels. The transfer case has a single, short prop shaft coming out of it, which transmits torque to the front differential.
Thats what I was thinking. The fluid that came out that smelled like ATF but it was dark and thick like gear oil..

Will I have to drop th whole transmission in order to remove the transfer case?
Old 02-11-2019, 01:22 PM
  #10  
ILM-NC G37S
Registered Member

iTrader: (3)
 
ILM-NC G37S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: NC
Posts: 4,060
Received 1,250 Likes on 1,012 Posts
According to 2012 Sedan FSM, the transmission does NOT have to be removed.
The following users liked this post:
Dan G37 (02-11-2019)
Old 02-11-2019, 01:26 PM
  #11  
Dan G37
Registered Member
Thread Starter
 
Dan G37's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 207
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Originally Posted by ILM-NC G37S
According to 2012 Sedan FSM, the transmission does NOT have to be removed.
I've got the 2010 g37x coupe hopefully it's the same idea! Otherwise I can try and change it out myself.

I'm still trying to figure out whether it's the transfer case or the front differential.
Old 02-11-2019, 01:29 PM
  #12  
Selym
Registered Member
 
Selym's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Posts: 648
Received 96 Likes on 80 Posts
Originally Posted by Dan G37
I'm still trying to figure out whether it's the transfer case or the front differential.
The front differential sends torque to the front wheels via CV axles.

The transfer case sits behind the transmission, with a stubby propeller shaft that sends torque to the front differential. The main propeller shaft that transmits torque to the rear diff passes through the transfer case.


The following users liked this post:
Dan G37 (02-11-2019)
Old 02-11-2019, 01:31 PM
  #13  
Dan G37
Registered Member
Thread Starter
 
Dan G37's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 207
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Originally Posted by Selym
The front differential sends torque to the front wheels via CV axles.

The transfer case sits behind the transmission, with a stubby propeller shaft that sends torque to the front differential. The main propeller shaft that transmits torque to the rear diff passes through the transfer case.
So it has to be the transfer case. I'll take more pictures.

Last edited by Dan G37; 02-11-2019 at 01:37 PM.
Old 02-11-2019, 01:56 PM
  #14  
GdaddyNY
Registered Member
 
GdaddyNY's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: NY, New York
Posts: 239
Received 30 Likes on 29 Posts
The reason I ask is because your first pic looks like it has the transmission lines in it, which start at the transmission and do not go past the transfer case (rear of transmission) and go towards the front of the car to the cooler. I could be mistaken, maybe if you can post pictures from different angles?

(edit) I’m crawling under my X Sedan now to see if I can confirm or not
The following users liked this post:
Dan G37 (02-11-2019)
Old 02-11-2019, 02:01 PM
  #15  
Dan G37
Registered Member
Thread Starter
 
Dan G37's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 207
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Originally Posted by GdaddyNY
The reason I ask is because your first pic looks like it has the transmission lines in it, which start at the transmission and do not go past the transfer case (rear of transmission) and go towards the front of the car to the cooler. I could be mistaken, maybe if you can post pictures from different angles?

(edit) I’m crawling under my X Sedan now to see if I can confirm or not
Ill take some pictures right now or even a video.


Quick Reply: Transfer case snapped where driveshaft meets. Need advice please



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:59 AM.