Rear Driveshaft Removal

[ukstmoo]

Lazy question to save me jacking up the Griff.

To remove the rear driveshaft is it just a case of removing the allen headed bolts both ends or is it more involved.

[DarkMatter]

I had to release the lower wishbone/damper to allow the hub to move out far enough to make space to get the driveshaft out. (GKN diff on my car)

[Barreti]

Same as Darkmatter for me. I also have a GKN diff.
The nut on the inside of the bottom hub bolts are 16mm by the way.

[swallet]

I too had to remove the lower wishbone bolts.

You can remove the driveshaft by undoing the allen headed bolts from the diff and hub ends but it is too tight to wiggle the assembly our past the lower wishbone unless you detach it from the hub. Thankfully it's just two easily accessible bolts.


Useful guide here if you are going to strip the CV joints:

http://volksweb.relitech.com/cvjoints.htm

[phazed]

I renewed all the CVs. If you are going to the trouble of stripping, fit new good quality ones and forget.

[Barreti]

When you have got it all undone and want to get the driveshaft out here's some useful tips for you.

Get a mate stood by the wheel arch who will wiggle the driveshaft out - hub end CV coming out over the corner by the handbrake cable. You get under the car and don't piss about trying to push or pull the hub, put your foot against the bottom of the hub and shove it. You need a decent bit of movement to get the driveshaft out.
Also if your handbrake cable is cable tied to the wishbone right up by the hub end cut the cable tie to give you a bit of extra give when you shove it.

[ukstmoo]

Thanks Guys,

Useful tips. Will do this over the winter

Steve

[Pagey430]

Interesting post as I will be doing this as one of my winter projects too

However I also have new oil seals for the output flanges on the diff (GKN) and would like to change these also but anyone know how the flanges come out?

[Simon says]

If its a GKN you have to collapse the outer diff case circlips a bit of a bugger in situ with years of accumulated road grime & rust you can see the 2 pegs protruding from behind the output flange once you have contracted this C clip the output flange just pulls out the diff (well should do you may have to use a couple of suitable levers) and the oil seal replacement then becomes easier (not much access though) I would however recommend driveshaft removal completely to gain access in all honesty this job is better with diff on the bench but if I was going to those lengths I would have to open the unit up for a looksie/rebuild I have never tried in situ myself though my only knowledge of the job is the one I stripped a few years back (my spare)... Sorry.

Edited by Simon says on Thursday 18th October 13:07

[Pagey430]

thanks Simon, now I have an idea of what I'm look for I'll check it out this weekend and see how brave I'm feeling. The diff itself and bushes feel fine but if it's to come out no harm in checking, I'm sure the LSD is well passed it's best