Broken O/S Drive shaft

Broken O/S Drive shaft

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Discussion

aide

Original Poster:

2,276 posts

164 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
quotequote all
Hello

I'm looking for some advice on how to change a drive shaft.

It looks like the drivers side has snapped off at the diff end.

When I put the car in gear and lift the clutch I get nothing, except that the speedo works. I'm guessing that since the speedo sensor is on the diff, and it's reading properly, then all the drive line up to and inside the diff is ok?

Is it just a matter of:

1. Opening the 12 M8 bolts to get the drive shaft out
2. Remove both gaiters
3. Fit new drive shaft
4. Reassemble with plenty of grease
5. Refit with thread lock.
(and/if both cv joints don't feel the same get new ones?)

Any help greatly appreciated.

Best wishes
aide


pmessling

2,284 posts

203 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
quotequote all
The drive shaft is splined and can be really tight. There are two circlips either side of the cv joint.

For the wheel end you might be easier to remove by undoing the hub nut. (Ford Sierra items) extracting the drive shaft and two cvs etc in one go

They are not completed and a extremely clever piece of engineering.


aide

Original Poster:

2,276 posts

164 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
quotequote all
Thanks Peter.

I'll get stuck in after work tomorrow evening..

Best wishes
aide

spitfire4v8

3,991 posts

181 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
Aide for peace of mind go with the dave mac shafts that brummie uses .. other shafts don't seem to be as good (he's been through a few so he should know!)
Also you'll possibly have to undo the top wishbone outer bolt (the one at the top of the hub) to allow the hub to drop outwards before the new shaft goes in .. space is surprisingly tight in there and even though it looks like it should all go in without any dismantling I've often struggled in the past.
Other than that it's quite straightforward.

Paul.B

3,937 posts

264 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
spitfire4v8 said:
Aide for peace of mind go with the dave mac shafts that brummie uses .. other shafts don't seem to be as good (he's been through a few so he should know!)
Also you'll possibly have to undo the top wishbone outer bolt (the one at the top of the hub) to allow the hub to drop outwards before the new shaft goes in .. space is surprisingly tight in there and even though it looks like it should all go in without any dismantling I've often struggled in the past.
Other than that it's quite straightforward.
/\/\/\/\/\ - This. I had to remove the Spring/Damper as well to get the nearside Drive Shaft out on my car.
For peace of mind I would recommend new bolts and a decent lock washer on the bolts when re-assembling. They can become loose. I used Nord-Lock washers, or you could try Schnorr washers.

aide

Original Poster:

2,276 posts

164 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
Thanks Joolz and Paul.

I’ve used Dave Mac in the past for prop shaft rebalancing.

I called Dave Mac and they asked me the length of the shaft and the diameter and number of splines.

Does anyone know these measurements?

Many thanks and kind regards
Adrian

ridds

8,215 posts

244 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
Just ask him for Brummie driveshafts.

They cost a bit more but you'll never break 'em! smile

jackwibble

664 posts

159 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
ridds said:
Just ask him for Brummie driveshafts.

They cost a bit more but you'll never break 'em! smile
They will probably sound strange as well ! biglaugh

aide

Original Poster:

2,276 posts

164 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
Totally fubar'd


aide

Original Poster:

2,276 posts

164 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
Just ordered two Dave Mac Drive shafts.

It was pretty easy to get the broken shaft out and I didn't have to undo the single upper wishbone bolt that attached to the top of the hub.

I'm sure I'll have to undo it to get the new shaft in but if I do, do I have to have the rear wheels aligned afterwards?

spitfire4v8

3,991 posts

181 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
You can get a camber gauge app for your phone .. will be good enough to get the wheel back to the same angle even if you maybe can't trust the absolute values.
The toe setting won't be affected, just the camber.
alternatively just try and mark the hub/wishbone relative position accurately and put it back where it came from. It won't be a mile out.

aide

Original Poster:

2,276 posts

164 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
Thanks Joo, just one other thing that I wanted to ask, I couldn't get the top camber bolt out. I left the nut loose on the bolt and tried to gently ease it out with a rubber mallet but it wouldn't budge. Do I just try harder or should I do something else? scratchchin

Supateg

739 posts

142 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
aide said:
Just ordered two Dave Mac Drive shafts.

It was pretty easy to get the broken shaft out and I didn't have to undo the single upper wishbone bolt that attached to the top of the hub.

I'm sure I'll have to undo it to get the new shaft in but if I do, do I have to have the rear wheels aligned afterwards?
I bet it just fell out!

Sounds like the bolt is seized in the bush sleeve, try a penetrating / de rusting fluid.
Worse case scenario the rubber bush will disintegrate leaving the sleeve on the bolt, meaning you will have to saw the bolt out and replace the bush & bolt.


aide

Original Poster:

2,276 posts

164 months

Thursday 4th September 2014
quotequote all
New shafts arrived.
New bolts and Nord-Lock Washers and I should be good to go.


Supateg

739 posts

142 months

Thursday 4th September 2014
quotequote all
Impressive service

Worth bearing in mind for future.

macdeb

8,508 posts

255 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
What's the cost nowadays? ears

Jhonno

5,766 posts

141 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
quotequote all
Nice new shiney bits!

aide

Original Poster:

2,276 posts

164 months

Thursday 11th September 2014
quotequote all
New bolts and Nord-Lock Washers arrived today.
O/S shaft is in.
Will fit the N/S one tomorrow evening all going well.
zzzZZZ...

aide

Original Poster:

2,276 posts

164 months

Thursday 11th September 2014
quotequote all
macdeb said:
What's the cost nowadays? ears
They were around £290 each. But I think they're worth it due to the lifetime warranty, plus I'm told that they're made to F1 specification. I'm happy as long I never have to touch them again!

aide

Original Poster:

2,276 posts

164 months

Thursday 11th September 2014
quotequote all
Jhonno said:
Nice new shiney bits!
Thanks Dan smile hope you're keeping well!