I'm writing this very winded, as I just had to push my car a few blocks in ~30 degree weather, but here goes:

A few hours ago, I drove to a friends house, and about half way through the trip I noticed that when I gave a bit of gas, suddenly my car got loud, and a low toned rumble could be heard. I thought it was my exhaust, but a few neutral revs sounded completely normal.

Several hours later, I began my trek back home with this noise in mind. I tried to repeat the same noise, and it never failed to return when I "goosed" it a bit, increasing speed.

Well, only minutes from my house into a turn, I pressed the accelerator only to hear *CLANK CRUNCH BANG RATTLE RATTLE* as the car lost the ability to stay in gear (without sounding like it was about to blow up) and I coasted to a neutral stop.
I pushed it back to my house in neutral and all the while I could still hear some clicking and rattling as the tires turned over, but being that it is dark and cold as hell, I cannot really inspect much.

So, here I am.
I suspect an axle, because I had a similar event occurr in my old h22a swapped accord. I put too much power down for the stock ones to hold.
But I am still not sure, because I know of a few issues related to this:

Weak Diff
(stock) beaten up clutch
(stock) everything but the motor/gofast goodies. (modified greddy kit)


Now, I can sit in my car (running) and put it into a gear, but when I let off of the clutch, I get the *CLANK CRUNCH RATTLE* **** as the clutch (im guessing) catches a little friction, and it actually moves a few feet/hour, untill the sound becomes too frightening for me to allow it to continue.

So, I am asking the good community of mt.net to point me towards a solution, as I don't know what a broken diff sounds like, nor a miata axle, nor a drive shaft etc.

Thank you so much, and yes, i did use the "search" button

 

Sounds like a diff to me. Good searching, newb Stock 1.6? How much power?

 

I'm not sure on the power, but i've been running 7psi on an intercooled greddy/2.5'' exhaust
It only started showing symptoms within ~hour of blowing up , and I haven't been particularly rough with her

And how would I test for a broken diff?

(anyone in the mid atlantic ( particularly SE Virginia) area got a 1.8torsen swap to sell? )

 

you test by looking under the car, realizing its not a Honda with a broken axle, and saying "my diff is broken"

 

only hoping for the best :(

 

Axle is easy...look underneath and look for brokenness..

Sometimes a diff will explode gloriously also.

I've been there/done that sorta...nothing like looking a rear end...**** is fun.

 

You broke the diff. Unless you answer that question with "I've babied the hell out of the diff" then you probably broke a 1.6 diff. They are stupid weak.

You've already done the test. If it pops and rattles when pushed around in neutral, but it stays silent when you free-rev it in neutral, the diff is borked.

 

I've seen a differential blown on an NA Miata. They ain't all that strong at all.

 

Yeah, I figured as much, and I know the **** is made of butter...but I had hope that I didn't have to replace the diff THIS soon, but **** happens lol.
so I see


Thank you all for the info, I was leaning that way but I was hoping I was wrong lol.
Looks like a new project for me ^^

 

People break that puny piece on stock power.