Driveshaft dribble.....

[Simon.AU]

After deciding to dig out the R4 van I remembered another reason it had been put to one side, I'd nicked one of its good driveshafts for the white 4. I checked though the stock of noisy shafts to pick the best one out for a look. This was a 1200 mile old recond shaft that developed the rattles early on. I had bought the thing three years before using it so a return under warranty was out of the question, especially as the vendor had since closed.

Anyway, this shaft seemed the best prospect having the later type cast BED outer joint, and likely a decent internal pivot. The universals were removed to reveal why it had worn prematurely, the cups had been distorted when it was put together causing the needles to wear the universal prematurely, no probs I thought, I had a new set of universals. Just pop the old ones out, insert the new ones and off we go, too easy. Only then I discovered the R4 uni joints are smaller by about a couple of mills than the 16 ones I've got. Ah well back to the drawing board :-)

 

[malcolm]

That's gone quickly - I'd had said they'd forgotten to harden the joint, but bent bits would stop the rollers rolling around just as well. If you get completely stuck I might have a couple of secondhand shafts, but they are still on cars. Got a couple of new shafts in Renault boxes I was planning to use.

On the subject of early bits - I've picked up a 750 engine which is in poor condition but is complete enough to have seized. Would that be any use at all over there. I don't think there are any 750s left in the UK that would need the bits.

 

[Simon.AU]

Thanks for the offer, I'll see how I go, I reckon you may need them for your early car. I might even try Marchants Garage when I find the latest part number for the early shafts, I've been luckier than I thought in the past with other stuff.

As for the 750cc motor, not much call for it here either. There are few of the really early cars around, and most of thos have been retrofitted with 845cc kits.