Be it, bearings, gears or blown differentials, over the years we have repaired close to one thousand M32 units. However, in more recent years we have noticed a real scarcity of replacement parts coming in from the manufacturer.
Most Vauxhall owners will know or have heard of the M32 gearbox and the six speed transmission that had a very rocky beginning to its service life.
Where did the M32 gearbox problems start?
The 1st generation of the M32 transmission, fitted around 2004, were plagued with bearing failure. An issue that we saw daily and if not caught early enough, would result in a catastrophic failure. Around 8 years later the 2nd generation model appeared on the market with an updated end casing, allowing for the larger bearings to be fitted. This did cure the issue and could be retrofitted to the earlier models too.
Another weak spot was the gear wear where the synchromesh rings struggled to stop 2nd, 3rd and 4th gears in time when selected, meaning replacements were very common when rebuilding these units. Unfortunately, no real improvement was made with the synchromesh design and this issue is still present today, especially in higher powered set ups.
Is this the end of the M32 gearbox?
A few years ago, we observed a sudden shift - one that occurred almost overnight, and which threw an unexpected spanner in the works.
Where have all the parts gone?
We, like almost every other remanufacturer, use a parts look up system. This main dealer catalogue allows us to pinpoint exact components fitted to a vehicle from its chassis number but without warning it come to light that all Vauxhall vehicles pre-2012, no longer showed any gearbox parts detail. Everything was simply greyed out and no longer specified what was fitted, and more dangerously only references later parts fitted, which do not cross over and will not work with the vehicles set up. The PSA takeover had essentially written off all vehicles before 2012.
It is not uncommon for manufacturers to call an end to producing parts for older vehicles. VW for example, have a cut-off point of roughly 20-25 years, where the vehicle then enters a classic category. In comparison to the Vauxhall catalogue, we can cross reference part numbers and view most of the fitment detail.
Can parts still be purchased?
If you own a pre-2012 M32 it is still possible, for the most part, to be able to obtain gearbox parts if you have the correct part numbers. Nevertheless, there is now a severe lack of replacement parts available, even on items post 2012 M32, such as the updated end casing. With back-order items, like the end case currently exceeding 16 months, the vehicles are now being forced off the road due to lack of repair options.
Another issue that emerged was a spike in crime driven by the shortage of parts during the post-pandemic period. Most people have no choice but to repair rather than replace. This grows the demand in the second hand parts market. This unfortunately, as we have seen before with other high value gearboxes and items like DPF's, fuels the criminal world. Vehicles are stolen and stripped for their components, which are extremely difficult to trace.
What happens next?
With some parts being on backorder for 16 months + now and no update on when they will next be available, it looks like driver’s hands may be forced into scrapping their vehicle in the event of a gearbox fault.
Get in touch
What are your thoughts around this, and should manufacturers be obligated to provide parts for an extended period? Let us know in the comments!
For more information contact Eco Torque today
Tel: 01462 835335
Email: info@eco-torque.co.uk
Eco Torque Ltd, Unit 1A Portland Industrial Estate, Hitchin Road, Arlesey, United Kingdom, SG15 6SG