Potentially Fatal Breakdown after France and Italy show

[HOLLYWOODSPIDER]

I went to the Best of France and Italy, way better than other shows I have attended. Great venue, well organized and fun. I had a nice shady spot for both of my cars. My favorite part was after everyone had all but left, my friends and I took a few spins around the grass in my spiders, making a little caravan with a few Vespas and that Vespa truck.

On the way home, just after deciding to forgo the 405, the rubber doughnut on my '79 Spider broke itself to a million pieces. I know how dangerous this failure can be. When my '78 broke the doughnut in 1993, it smashed my transmission case to smithereens, deatroyed the tunnel and really messed up my knee with the spinning shifter.

This time, my car was all but unharmed! I was going about 40mph, and heard a noise from the driveline. I immediately knew what had happened. I pulled over and jacked her up. Sure enough, the doughnut was all crumbs. This morning, I bought a doughnut and headed back to sunny, warm Van Nuys, where I spent 3 hours changing the darn thing right there on the side of the road.


If you have a 124 and have not checked the doughnut, DO IT!!!! I am so lucky this thing went when it did. I had driven the car over 200 miles that day, including 85mph on the freeway. I was planning on getting on the 170 freeway just before it happened. I am lucky.

[So Cal Mark]

man, you are lucky. I hope you went out and bought that winning lottery ticket! Very fortunate that no damage was done.
Mental note to self; whenever a new owner posts on this forum suggest a doughnut inspection along with the timing belt!

[Rick)rox]

Just curious, Whats a doughnut?

[So Cal Mark]

Fiat called it a flex joint; a rubber coupler that joined the driveshaft to the transmission. I'd suggest you crawl under your car with a light and take a look at it. It should be inspected every few months

[spidernut]

Walking through a wrecking yard, I saw a Spider that had failure of the donut. I was amazed at how it tore the entire tunnel and part of the driver's floor board apart. Glad to hear your O.K.

[mdrburchette]

Wow, you were lucky! I was also fortunate to avoid a catastrophe with that donut. I drove 3 hours to Asheville for the FFO, heard a ping from under the car and saw something bouncing behind me. I couldn't figure out what it was, since all my bushings were intact. A couple weeks later, I met with a fellow Fiater and heard the same noise, so on the way back home, I stopped by a gas station and they saw a couple chunks gone from the donut. I was able to get home with no problems and promptly ordered a new one.

[tanis]

Mine came apart on me - driving do the highway, suddenly heard this loud knowcking noise..thought I'd trashed my tranny. I towed it home (not on a Flatbead, which was a terrible idea.) Mine actually didn't damage the car at all, I had a crossmember underneath the driveshaft, so whent he donut came apart it couldnt fall more than an inch or so. From the stories, the damage occurs when the driveshaft hits the road and bounces back up and will comethrough the floor....nasty stuff. I ended up changing it on ramps in a 2 inch deep puddle, as I had no garage at the time and it was my driver. Sheesh..glad your ok!
Jon

[bandit]

Has any one seen the metal plates they sell for alfas to protect
the car from the donut going out ? it has 2 pieces and surrounds
the donut each coving about half and is suppose to give you time
to pull over before it falls apart completely .
Alfa's use the same size as Fiat btw ! not sure about all of them
but i know some do .


Daniel

[Torxx]

Scary story.... Glad to hear no injuries this time...

I'll bet the Fiat parts suppiers will get a run of orders for donuts beacuse of your post. I know my next order will include one.

Can anyone suggest what to look for when I check the condition of the donut?? Dryness, craking, and obvious damage I guess.....

[So Cal Mark]

cracks or missing chunks

[C-LEVEL]

is that that du du dud ud noise i hear under my seat when i floor it uphills?im checking mine tomarrow 4 sure!!!!

[mbouse]

if you have owned your Spider for a couple of years and not addressed this situation, just plan on changing the donut. it is less than $30, and takes only six 17mm headed bolts to remove and reinstall. an hour's job, tops. chances of the previous owner fixing this potentially dangerous situation is not high.

then, you won't have to worry about it for another five years or so. i've owned my '80 for 12 years, and have changed it twice. it was one of the first maintenance items i performed on the '78 when i obtained that vehicle this year. cheap insurance.

and yeah, that thud thud sound very well could be a drive train issue. it could be the donut; or the bracket holding the center bearing to the undercarriage. or it might be a u-joint issue. more than one moving component to fail under there.

and.....those plates under the drive train can help, but i'd not rely on them soley. properly installed, properly functioning, undamaged, original design equipment is your first line of defense. lotsa time and energy went into their engineering.

[1976fiatspider]

yikes... glad I read this... will change mine in the spring...
hmmm... perhaps I shouldn't be dumping the clutch and spinning my wheels... (honest, I only did it once!! -- couldnt help myself!)

cheers!!