IMHO don't delay too long in replacing the back box .... had a similar occurrence on the old 2.5, but as a tad tight for cash at the time I kept pulling out the worst and just put off the replacement .....
Until one day I was cruising down the M4 at about 75ish when suddenly lost most of the power ... speed dropped to abysmal, made it to the hard shoulder safely, engine seemed to rev OK in neutral, but totally gutless at any RPM, max speed about 20 mph with the wind behind..
Decided to struggle to the next junction as it was less than 2 miles, so second gear, foot well down, and off we go... about half way and a MAHOOSIVE
BANG from the back (brown trouser moment) and the car accelerates like a scalded cat.
On investigation there was almost nothing left of the rear box, drove home very noisily indeed.
Guess is the wadding all "moved" inside the box and blocked the exhaust system so giving low power, until the pressure built enough for the back box to disintegrate, in an explosive manner !!
Luckily it did no damage .. but could have been different !! I believe JamesV6 had a similar problem but his box didn't disintegrate .. it developed a hole sufficient to run normally .. but the exhaust was blowing on his fuel tank and melted a hole in it .......