Is my transmission hanging low?

[MCBUS]

I was under my bus today and took some pictures of my transmission. It looks like it is hanging lower than it should be. Does anyone have any pictures of their own transmission to compare it to?

I bought the bus several months ago, but I never noticed if that is how the transmission was when I bought it or if it happened since.

Bus is a 1999 International Amtran RE with DT466 HT and MD3060 Transmission. The bus drives fine and no issues that I can tell in the 1000 miles that I have put on it.

Chris

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by MCBUS

I was under my bus today and took some pictures of my transmission. It looks like it is hanging lower than it should be. Does anyone have any pictures of their own transmission to compare it to?

I bought the bus several months ago, but I never noticed if that is how the transmission was when I bought it or if it happened since.

Bus is a 1999 International Amtran RE with DT466 HT and MD3060 Transmission. The bus drives fine and no issues that I can tell in the 1000 miles that I have put on it.

Chris

I'll be interested in what the experts have to say - it doesn't look right to me either with the drive shaft going off at such a sharp angle, but I'm not one of the experts - have you checked the motor/transmission mounts?

[o1marc]

Is it aired up? Looks like if it raises up it will correct the pinion angle.

[MCBUS]

I just went out and ran it to air it up. It does look a little better after doing that, but still looks a bit low in my opinion.

[WARGEAR]

Really get up in there and take pics of the mounts themselves of the trans to the chassis. If they’re compressed looking/cracked apart they might be sagging a bit. Usually the pans of engines and trans (other than the differential) are the lowest hanging components of vehicles. What’s the measurement from the bottom of the pan to the ground?

[cadillackid]

also check your rearmost (pulley side of engine) motor mount for the motor sitting back at an angle.. as well as the 2 front (trans side of engine) motor mounts to make sure they are not compressed completely down.

[Iceni John]

At the very least, squirt in as much grease as you can into the driveshaft's UJs and splines. If it's working at such a great angle it will need all the lubrication you can give it!

I'm also thinking that something's not right. There should be just a few degrees of angle at both ends of the driveshaft (you need a little bit to minimize harmonic vibration), but not as much as your photo shows. What do other buses like yours look like?

John

[magnakansas]

With the bus in the "aired up" condition, the rear of the transmission should be in such a way to "level" the driveshaft. In cruise mode down a highway, the more time the u joints can remain "neutral" or not at an angle, the less power needed, less wear, and less vibration. less wear on transmission output assembly, less wear on pinion bearing of rear axle.

Id say mounts are allowing about three inches of sag at the tail end of the transmission.

william

[ChasingPavement]

I have the same chasis/engine/trans setup that you have, and my motor mounts where replaced 3 years ago. I think yours might slant down just a hair more, and be a bit lower, but I'm not sure, I'll take measurements and more pictures tomorrow when the sun's up. Hope these help

[MCBUS]

Thanks for the great pics: the measurements would be real helpful! I can see yours slants a bit like mine so that’s reassuring!

Chris