Good or bad driveshaft?

[petak]

Here is another technical one for you guys.

Is it possible to recognize good from bad driveshaft when you take cv joint boots of?

I have 4 used driveshafts. All of them are with broken cv boots. I do not know their condition before taken of the car.

How can i choose best one?

I can take pictures of cv joints from inside if that would make any difference

Thank you for reading

 

[benchseat]

In my experience driveshafts only reveal themselves as "bad" when the are actually installed, and start knocking when going round sharp corners. If a shaft is bad it will reveal itself when on the "inside" of a corner. Visually there seems to be nothing to see until the shaft actually disintegrates!

It takes some time between when the knocking first starts and when the shaft finally fails, so I should not worry about getting stuck. If you replace the CV boot, install the shaft and then it doesn’t knock on cornering, you’re OK.

 

[AdamWilkes]

.and compare any looseness or roughness in the joints between the shafts you have so as to pick what could be the better ones before fitting.

 

[mr-reno-139]

You can feel the difference once you know you know
inner end is usually ok though
Studying wheel end now
If it is notchy going from one direction to full movement bin it
Also if you lock a pair of mine grips on middle of shaft with car jacked up hold grips and check for noise on joint by rotating rocking tyre back and forth thete will always be some slight free play

9ff the car one pair on splines at outer end and another on centre shaft will also reveal movement and noise
Some shafts were repaired by metal spraying old shafts and re machining also new shaft quality can vary so new may not last longer than a good Second hand genuine shaft

 

[petak]

Here is situation with driveshafts.
Two out of 4 i have striped to smallest part possible.

From one i have used cross for driveshaft that is on my car now as i find out that cross on it was also fell apart.
Second one have same problem. cross is in peaces.

Here are peaces from one driveshaft



At gearbox side one retaining ring was broken and needle bearing felt apart so i dismantle all of them



On wheel side I have taken of security spider inside the hub.


That supposed to stay like this


But with this balls and shafts in between

And now i am in trouble to putt it back in place.
If anyone have idea how to put it back i am listening.

On second driveshaft i did not dismantle wheel side. Just cleaned from grease.

When i try to twist this hub around driveshaft (left-right, torsional move) i can feel some play but can't tell is that play to much or just right.




To me all is looking alright but again this is first driveshaft that i am holding in hands and trying to recognize if it is good.


I agree with you MR-reno-139...once you feel good driveshaft then you know what you need to feel.

Idea is to degrease other two driveshafts and try to compare and notice difference

 

[mr-reno-139]

If you have stripped the wheel end. As far down to inspect if you look closely halfway down. The 3 slotted grooves Close inspection. Will let you see. See a small Mark if you can feel this. With your finger. Easily then the shaft will be noisy when you. Reassemble it.
2 To get the outer end back together. Is quite tricky? Pretty sure the workshop manual mentions. Making a tool to pull the clip back into place. I've never used that. That method and I did have a video. Which I made. To demonstrate but don't seem to be able to find it now. Basically if you clamp the short wheel end part into a heavy vice protecting the spline with aluminium You need to position the clip. Centrally and then then push the drive shaft. Hard down against. The spring button And move the drive shaft. A crossed to full lock position 3 times To engage the clips. Do not attempt to Grease the joint until it is reassembled. As you will not be able to see what's going on. On

 

[petak]

Thank you mr-reno-139....will try to see if manual is saying something....but i understand what you are saying and will try to do it.

 

[mr-reno-139]

Again I have done hundreds over the years
Acquired skill you need to press really hard and then swing shaft across in a wide arc into each of the 3 positions to correspond with clip location

 

[petak]

I think i have find out how good driveshaft supposed to feel.
Zero play at wheel hub when you twist hub and shaft.

My driveshaft no3 is like that.

So instantly i know that driveshaft no2 is no good as it has play.

There is still driveshaft no4 to clean and test.

Mr-reno-139.....i almost manage to clip security spider onto shaft the way you described. But just almost.... Must try some more.

 

[mr-reno-139]

I will try and find video or make a new one for you on Saturday

 

[petak]

TX , mr-reno-139

I'll keep trying.!

 

[petak]

Cv boot put on driveshaft


Repairing needle bearing on cross.
Game of nerves, patience and steady hands.

Needles


Ball in place


ring


And security circlip.
Tricky part to put in place.



Now it is time to put all together.

First goes boot and then cross on shaft.


Be carefull how you put cross on shaft. Side that goes First on shaft has small tapper.




Circlip at the top of shaft

 

[petak]

Grease joint. (Don't forget to put spring in joint before attaching it to shaft - I did )



Put boot in place
And tighten small clamp.
On other side is cicle spring that holds boot in place.


Finished


Tomorrow other one.

 

[mr-reno-139]

1,how did you get outer end back together
2 if you use grease on needle rollers and then use tiny plastic cable tie to hold in place you pull tie tight and then steel ring will go over easily cut tie afterwards
3 well done

 

[petak]

Mr-reno-139

Thank you.

I did not managed to put it back. This is driveshaft no 3.
Still have driveshaft no4. to work on.

I did something simmilar. Greased surface and sricked needles. And then gently put ball ring on it.
Got another tip to use sewing thread to secure needles to place

 

[harbourseal]

Nice tutorial with the pictures.

 

[petak]

Finlay managed to put security clip back to outer joint.

Used M6 long bolt that i have bend at 90°so i can hold security clip in place. IN same time used flat screwdriver to turn security clip where it belongs.

pictures

 

[mr-reno-139]

I am bad I forgot to do this video for you

 

[petak]

You do not have to feel bad.

Basically it is simple task but need to have patience to put it back in place.

It took mi half an hour to position and hold security clip in right place to clip it on shaft.

 

[André4Renaults]

I'm fascinated that you have repaired the shaft! I have always thought they could not be repaired, except by specialist engineers with press machines.