Drive Shaft Removal

[Gerald-TVR]

Any ideas please. Have been attempting to remove the drive shafts and am having a lot of bother. I have broken two Torx T40 sockets and have only been able to remove 6 bolts.

Is there a special knack to this or do I just have to keep buying more sockets (they are good quality ones not cheap tat)

[ketvrin]

Hi Norman

my experience was -
make sure bolt heads are clean to ensure deepest location of Socket.
Top quality Torx sockets
keep socket as square and located as possible
steady pressure on wrench - no jerking
pray to the car gods
swear regularly and loudly
apply plaster to knuckles as soon as possible

good luck

K

[Gerald-TVR]

Hi Kevin

I think your second point is what I missed out - just off to buy half a dozen T40's

[Barkychoc]

I bought an impact set of torx drivers from Machine Mart - they didn't even look touched when they had undone the lot. Not cheap though just to undo a couple of dozen bolts, though I guess you need to budget for quite a few cheap ones!

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/...

[Gerald-TVR]

No not cheap Chris Draper branded

[spludge]

I used cheap ones and they worked fine, that is after I started using a T45 bit instead of T40 in T45 bolts!

The bits I bought are Torx one end and 10mm hex the other, local motor factor sells them in twin packs for about 2 quid. I put them in a 10mm socket on a short t-bar lined them up square and held tight in the bolt and just gave the t-bar a sharp clout with a hammer. They all came free pretty easily, except the one I mangled with the T40 bit.

K

[mikee boy]

I had one problem one which broke at least 2 torx bits. In the end I ground the head off, removed the driveshaft and then it was easy to remove the threaded stump. Much cheaper than buying another 6 or so torx bits.

[magpies]

Hi Norman

10 of the 12 bolts came out without much bother but for the last 2

I twisted 2 SEALEY torq bits and then went to a proper (Draper I think) torq socket which did the trick (with extensions and breaker bar and a 5 ft scaffold bar for the last little bu@@er. - holding that lot in line took a little effort and a wooden chock.

Mick

[Gerald-TVR]

Got the blers off. Went out a nad bought the expensive Machine Mart Impact Sockets. Tried to removed the first bolt - and -

the bldy torx socket broke.

Went back to my old well worn and twisted draper torx

- cleaned all the crap out of the sockets

- hammered it well home (on the advice of my mechanic)

- then nipped up the bolt before unbolting. And it worked so I've got them all off

[ketvrin]

As the writers in Haynes always say..."allow half an hour each side for an easy job..."

well done Norman

K

[Barkychoc]

Gerald-TVR said:

Got the blers off. Went out a nad bought the expensive Machine Mart Impact Sockets. Tried to removed the first bolt - and -

the bldy torx socket broke.

Went back to my old well worn and twisted draper torx

- cleaned all the crap out of the sockets

- hammered it well home (on the advice of my mechanic)

- then nipped up the bolt before unbolting. And it worked so I've got them all off

Take the buggers back Norman!

[Gerald-TVR]

Already done and got my money back - it was a faulty casting

[magpies]

Well done

how you getting on with the diff removal now that the drive shafts are out of the way?

[Gerald-TVR]

last two bolts at the bottom soaking a I write - more release oil tomorrow while i strip the rear hubs and then diff out I hope

[magpies]

Hi Norman
with the body off will it not come out upwards along with its frame?
Mick

[Barkychoc]

magpies said:

Hi Norman
with the body off will it not come out upwards along with its frame?
Mick

The frame is wider - it has to drop out of the bottom, best pic I could find.
Note rear diff mount is different on V6, this is V8.

[Gerald-TVR]

Problems are copounded both the lower bolts have snapped off leaving a stup in the cradle - now I'm realy stuck. Th only answer I can see is to cut the cradle

[magpies]

Oh fk - suppose it'll be out with the angle grinder.

still look on the bright side - it would be even worse if the body was still on

and its not usually a part that people want - not woth much money so your not losing out much.

[Gerald-TVR]

maybe not but it was going into my 'keeping box'

[Gerald-TVR]

Ita off - what a bldy job. Cried when I carved up the diff cradle



At which point diff fell out on my foot


see the nasty broken bolt - there one the other side as well, took it to my local mechanic lets see if he can get them out