E-Type

1961-1975 / Coupe / Roadster / 2+2 / United Kingdom

Common Transmission and Drivetrain

Rear differential and hub bearing wear

Symptoms

Whining from the rear end, clunking on direction changes, vibration at speed. In extreme cases, the output shaft bearings fail and the halfshaft comes loose.

Cause

The E-Type uses an independent rear suspension with the differential and inboard disc brakes as a single unit. It's heavy, complex, and the bearings take a hammering. Low oil level or incorrect grade accelerates wear.

Fix

Check diff oil level first.

Top up with the correct grade (hypoid 90).

If it's still noisy, the diff needs a rebuild, bearings, seals, possibly a new crown wheel and pinion.

The entire rear subframe usually comes out for this work.

Budget $5,000-8,000 AUD.

Cost mentioned in fix

Budget $5,000-8,000

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// More E-Type problems

Other known issues

Minor Transmission and Drivetrain

Moss gearbox issues (early 3.8 cars)

No synchromesh on first gear (by design), crunching into second, difficulty selecting gears when cold. General agricultural feel.

Critical Transmission and Drivetrain

Clutch hydraulics failure

Clutch pedal goes to the floor, won't return. Difficulty engaging gears or car creeps in gear with the clutch pressed.

Minor Bodywork and Rust

Structural floor pan corrosion

Floor pans rot through, usually starting from the inside where moisture sits under the carpet and sound deadening. The car loses rigidity, doors stop closing properly, scuttle shake increases, the windscreen cracks.

Minor Bodywork and Rust

Sill corrosion (inner and outer)

Sills collapse, doors sag, the car visibly droops in the middle. Outer sills may look fine while the inner sections are completely gone.

Minor Bodywork and Rust

Bonnet corrosion and distortion

The enormous forward-hinged bonnet develops rust in its seams, inner structure, and around the headlight openings. It can also distort if the car has been jacked incorrectly or been in a minor shunt.

Common Bodywork and Rust

Boot floor and rear end corrosion

The boot floor rots, the spare wheel well fills with water, and corrosion spreads to the rear inner wings and battery tray area.

View all 24 E-Type problems