How much play in prop shaft?

[Chuffmeister]

I've removed the propshaft today so I could replace the UJ's (Mr Heath lied when he said removing the exhaust was the most difficult bit!). New UJ's arrived too. I also noticed that there was a very slight amount of play in the propshaft when it was in the car (rotating it with my hands). How much play should there be?

Cheers
Chuffy

Joint at the rear of gearbox marked-up


Four bolts onto the diff


Prop shaft removed

[phazed]

Visible play in the joints?

Or just drive train lash?

None in the first instance, some in the second

[spend]

Chuffmeister said:

.... How much play should there be?

None in the propshaft IMHO ~ even with worn UJ's they'll just clunk as they rotate but they'd have to be really killed for play.

I suspect you're talking jibberish and have confused play in the prop with the lash in the flanges vs box & diff where you are feeling the meshing of spline into box & gears in diff etc.

[Chuffmeister]

I may indeed be talking gibberish... but I'm happy to learn

The propshaft was fitted. I twisted it with two hands and it moved slightly, so I'll assume this is the lash and normal then?

Whilst I'm there, I will also have a go a replacing the oil in the diff and box. what type and how much do I need? Also, are the bolts and nuts used to secure the prop to the diff imperial or metric as in intend to replace them with new ones?

[kris450]

Chuffmeister said:

Also, are the bolts and nuts used to secure the prop to the diff imperial or metric as in intend to replace them with new ones?

On my car at least they were imperial. 3/8" (24 tip) UNF x 1 1/4"

Hope that helps

[Chuffmeister]

kris450 said:

On my car at least they were imperial. 3/8" (24 tip) UNF x 1 1/4"

Hope that helps

Will check it out, thanks!

[phillpot]

spend said:

you are feeling the meshing of spline into box

Jibberish..... if you have play in the gearbox to prop spline something is well fubared!!!!

[SteveSPG]

you can feel the gearbox lash, depending on if you're in gear or not of course, and there will be some play in the diff, so you will feel that too.

bit hard to measure but you will feel a definite movement in the prop due to diff movement.

[Chuffmeister]

I've had a look on YouTube at the vids of moving props and mine is nothing like those. I think the car is in neutral. It is literally a very small movement (about 3 degrees... no jokes), so will assume it is gearbox lash. Anyway, dropped UJ's of at local indie with the prop as I don't have a large enough vice to take the joints out. I should hopefully get them both back this week, so can get it reassembled and the engine mounts done ready for the MOT. I may invest in a tin of POR15 and give it the once over before I put them back.

[spend]

If prop is connected at both ends you can only feel the smaller lash of one end, it is a physical impossibility for the other pinned end to have less lash.....

Like I thought I explained initially.