changing a driveshaft, help please.

22nd October 2013, 17:30

Hey guys.

Well looks like my driveshaft is shiting itself at the mo, so i need to change it.

Im picking one up n Saturday and idealy i want it done asap before the car becomes undriveable!

How hard/easy is it to do yourself? Ive done my brakes before but never done anything to do with shafts or the gearbox, so basically i dont have a clue!

What tools etc would i need?

I dont even know what i would need to remove to get the shaft out.. Noob!

I looked in the FAQ's but the guide in there seems more about removing the strut etc and the pictures are not working.

If someone could write up a little guide for me that would be excellent! Or if anyone from around Newcastle would like to help, even better haha.

Thanks,

Karl.

22nd October 2013, 17:39

which side?

you'll need a 32mm hub nut socket, and the usual arrangement of sockets, most of which a halfords pro 150 piece toolkit will contain.

you need a container at least 2 litres large, and you might as well change the gear oil whilst you are there (2 litres of total 75w80 required, cheap from a dealer)

if the shaft seals are leaking, a good time to change these as well, less than a tenner a pair at a motorfactor.

if you have wheels with a centre cap, remove cap, leave car on the ground, slacken hub nut.

loosen wheel bolts.

jack car up and place on axle stands.

drain the oil

remove the wheel.

remove balljoint pinch bolt.

push lower arm down whilst pushing hub inwards, DO NOT force the clamp open with a chisel, nor should you use a balljoint separator.

on the left side, pull shaft out, replace shaft seal if required, put it all back together.

on right side, loosen the two 11mm nuts, but to not remove them.

push the bolts out to towards right side of car, then rotate through 180 degrees.

pull driveshaft out, it may well be stuck in the bearing carrier, if so use a blunt drift on the inner collar to drive the shaft out.

clean up bearing carrier, add grease/anti seize, refit shaft after replacing shaft seal if required.

torque BJ clamp bolts to 23 lbft, wise to replace these.

torque Hub nut to spec.

22nd October 2013, 17:50

As above, passenger side is easiest other side is a bit of a faf if you've got big hands

22nd October 2013, 18:39

Some people find it a pain to get the ball joint back in, I just took the wishbone off as in the long run it was easier.

22nd October 2013, 18:43

Its the drivers side, sorry should of mentioned that!

Thanks alot for that write up Welshpug!

As far as im aware nothing is leaking, just the cv joint at the wheel is screaming at me!

Wil the wishbone BJ go back in easy enough as ive heard it can be a nightmare?

Also on average, how long shud it take?

22nd October 2013, 19:00

Don't forget the hub nut will tight, specs say 250lbft or something close to that so do it up tight otherwise the bearing won't be pulled into tolerance.

22nd October 2013, 19:06

As said I take the wishbone off, made it easier to get the ball joint in first and put the pinch bolt in, then done the nuts under the carpet up so the thread just caught and finally the middle bolt then tightened everything up. Don't gun the middle bolt right up until the cars back on the ground. Stops the bush twisting.

22nd October 2013, 19:16

I dont even have a torque wrench.. :\

argh taking the wishbone of sounds a mare! No way in hell could i tighten up a bolt with the car on the floor, way to low!

22nd October 2013, 19:34

Just tighten the bastard up. If you can fit your arm under the car when it's down you'll get it.

22nd October 2013, 19:43

best buy a torque wrench then!

22nd October 2013, 20:47

Would be cheaper to go to a garage welshpug ha

if the weather is nice Sunday i may give it a bash.

22nd October 2013, 20:53

Driveshaft nuts are 28mm across flats. I'm quite sure on this, because I lost my 28mm socket and had to buy another!1nfdjhbnobguabfgaofufweu :mad:

32mm is the size for drum hub nuts on the rear.

I had a garage charge me £30 for fitting a driveshaft. simply gave them the nut and the shaft and hey presto! topped up my gearbox oil for me too.

22nd October 2013, 21:00

Get a new pinch bolt before you start. Good idea to change it and there only just over a quid.

24th October 2013, 07:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartinObviously

Driveshaft nuts are 28mm across flats. I'm quite sure on this, because I lost my 28mm socket and had to buy another!1nfdjhbnobguabfgaofufweu :mad:

32mm is the size for drum hub nuts on the rear.

I had a garage charge me £30 for fitting a driveshaft. simply gave them the nut and the shaft and hey presto! topped up my gearbox oil for me too.

Seems the French wanted to be awkward and use different sizes, mine are 30mm lol

24th October 2013, 21:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by danny-vts

Seems the French wanted to be awkward and use different sizes, mine are 30mm lol

Could be a difference between tapered and non tapered types and/or aftermarket nuts. Or it could be me not remembering the exact size

point is, it's not 32

24th October 2013, 22:29

indeed not, its the rear nuts that are 32mm.

25th October 2013, 17:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by welshpug

indeed not, its the rear nuts that are 32mm.

Do you know what size the fronts are? I can't remember if it's 28 or 30 now :/

25th October 2013, 17:46

28 were on mine when I replaced them last week, only remember as I had to use the 28mm impact socket.

25th October 2013, 18:08

its 30

25th October 2013, 18:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by daza919

its 30

fuck this shit, I'm going to my unit to measure both styles of nut.

25th October 2013, 20:15

only ever seen 30mm but I've not worked on many late cars.

well, the rally car I service for uses 35mm...

25th October 2013, 20:57

Different makes of driveshafts have different size nuts? Obviously same thread just bigger outer?

25th October 2013, 21:33

A standard nut is 30mm regardless of age/model.

Front nut