The OS driveshaft inner gaiter is split.
Discussion
Looking for alternative solution to the rather expensive one I'm now faced with.
The title is taken directly from an email I received today from Phoenix where aside from the service and MOT (which it passed today) they notified me the gaiter is split.
The fix is to replace the whole drive shaft along with a number of hours labour, the part itself over £900 + VAT (welcome to Aston tax).
The car is a 2009 4.3 with less than 30k miles.
Question, is anyone aware of people offering a gaiter replacement without the added expense of the driveshaft?
It seem crazy that this be the only solution to what appears to be a simple part that would be classed as a wear part on most other cars.
The title is taken directly from an email I received today from Phoenix where aside from the service and MOT (which it passed today) they notified me the gaiter is split.
The fix is to replace the whole drive shaft along with a number of hours labour, the part itself over £900 + VAT (welcome to Aston tax).
The car is a 2009 4.3 with less than 30k miles.
Question, is anyone aware of people offering a gaiter replacement without the added expense of the driveshaft?
It seem crazy that this be the only solution to what appears to be a simple part that would be classed as a wear part on most other cars.
john ryan said:
It's always possible to fit a universal stretch gaiter - there is even a you tube video of such on an Aston driveshaft. However, maybe not within the skill set of your service agent, or maybe the joint within is considered damaged.
I spoke with them today, they said they've heard of people using a universal gaiter but it not something they have ever done but felt it's worth a try but they won't do it. The comment was, the universal gaiter wasn't as thick in terms of wall thickness hence, wouldn't last as long so perhaps false economy.
Does anyone know a company that has a solution to this or is buying the OEM part the better option?
The issue with a universal gaiter that stretches over the joint to put it in place (you can get proper pneumatic tools to do it, but the budget option of a plastic cone and some silicone lube spray works fine) is that you still have to unbolt the joint to fit it. Now, depending on joint design, if there's some access and enough combined plunge in the joints to poke it out where you can get at it, you may be able to do this without having to remove the shaft, but if you do have to remove the shaft, well, you're already as deep in the hole for labour costs as putting in a new one.
For my part, on a more mundane car, if I were paying someone else to do the job, yes, I'd put a new one in, but as your shafts are quite pricey, I think I'd weigh up the labour cost of just trying a fresh gaiter and a regreasing on the understanding it may already have reduced the life of the joint, and you could be stumping up to do it properly in the future anyway.
The poster's offer above of a good used shaft seems like a good one.
Note, you can get split gaiters that can be fitted with no dismantling and glue together, but they're less than wonderful, and really only good for "I have to get something on there for my MOT running out tomorrow" scenarios.
There is also the option of having just the boot replaced with a genuine one rather than a universal one - I'm betting Aston have no interest in selling you one on its own, but it's the kind of component will have come from someone else's parts bin, and if anyone can tell you whose, perhaps you can get one from that manufacturer. Same goes for the joint itself. Still involves the labour costs, but removes the qualms over the universal components not lasting as long.
For my part, on a more mundane car, if I were paying someone else to do the job, yes, I'd put a new one in, but as your shafts are quite pricey, I think I'd weigh up the labour cost of just trying a fresh gaiter and a regreasing on the understanding it may already have reduced the life of the joint, and you could be stumping up to do it properly in the future anyway.
The poster's offer above of a good used shaft seems like a good one.
Note, you can get split gaiters that can be fitted with no dismantling and glue together, but they're less than wonderful, and really only good for "I have to get something on there for my MOT running out tomorrow" scenarios.
There is also the option of having just the boot replaced with a genuine one rather than a universal one - I'm betting Aston have no interest in selling you one on its own, but it's the kind of component will have come from someone else's parts bin, and if anyone can tell you whose, perhaps you can get one from that manufacturer. Same goes for the joint itself. Still involves the labour costs, but removes the qualms over the universal components not lasting as long.
Fitted dozens of stretch boots, see cars years on and boots still in good condition, gives you an oppurtunity to re pack the joint with grease as well
Its only there to hold the grease in and dirt out.
Used the plastic cone method no problem finally bought air driven tool we did that many
Its only there to hold the grease in and dirt out.
Used the plastic cone method no problem finally bought air driven tool we did that many
how big is the split?
If its small, then you can get under the car, clean the boot, and apply either superglue and hold it in place or neoprene ( which is what the rubber is made out of) and it'll hold fine. So long as it is a small split ( which I bet it is).
Don't forget to use a syringe to inject some grease into the split before repairing it. And maybe tie a cable tie around it to stop it expanding too much.
Although part of me says that if you are driving an Aston, you should expect Aston sized bills.
If its small, then you can get under the car, clean the boot, and apply either superglue and hold it in place or neoprene ( which is what the rubber is made out of) and it'll hold fine. So long as it is a small split ( which I bet it is).
Don't forget to use a syringe to inject some grease into the split before repairing it. And maybe tie a cable tie around it to stop it expanding too much.
Although part of me says that if you are driving an Aston, you should expect Aston sized bills.
Edited by Dynion Araf Uchaf on Tuesday 5th September 09:22
Astonmartinbits offer a replacement gaiter for a more reasonable £26. https://www.astonmartinbits.com/models/5-V8-Vantag...
You will also need a "CV boot fitting cone" which can be purchased via Ebay or Amazon (using that search term) for £12-£15.
This isn't an unusual task to carry out on a car and there really shouldn't be any Aston tax or Aston mystique about it.
You will also need a "CV boot fitting cone" which can be purchased via Ebay or Amazon (using that search term) for £12-£15.
This isn't an unusual task to carry out on a car and there really shouldn't be any Aston tax or Aston mystique about it.
BiggaJ said:
I spoke with them today, they said they've heard of people using a universal gaiter but it not something they have ever done but felt it's worth a try but they won't do it.
The comment was, the universal gaiter wasn't as thick in terms of wall thickness hence, wouldn't last as long so perhaps false economy.
Does anyone know a company that has a solution to this or is buying the OEM part the better option?
They won’t do it because they’d rather sell you a new shaft at £900 nothing more nothing less .The comment was, the universal gaiter wasn't as thick in terms of wall thickness hence, wouldn't last as long so perhaps false economy.
Does anyone know a company that has a solution to this or is buying the OEM part the better option?
Buster73 said:
BiggaJ said:
I spoke with them today, they said they've heard of people using a universal gaiter but it not something they have ever done but felt it's worth a try but they won't do it.
The comment was, the universal gaiter wasn't as thick in terms of wall thickness hence, wouldn't last as long so perhaps false economy.
Does anyone know a company that has a solution to this or is buying the OEM part the better option?
They won’t do it because they’d rather sell you a new shaft at £900 nothing more nothing less .The comment was, the universal gaiter wasn't as thick in terms of wall thickness hence, wouldn't last as long so perhaps false economy.
Does anyone know a company that has a solution to this or is buying the OEM part the better option?
Edited by BiggaJ on Wednesday 6th September 16:25
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